Artículos (Biología Vegetal y Ecología)

URI permanente para esta colecciónhttps://hdl.handle.net/11441/10819

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A bird song detector for improving bird identification through deep learning: A case study from Doñana
(Elsevier, 2025-07-02) Márquez Rodríguez, Alba; Mohedano Muñoz, Miguel Ángel; Marín Jiménez, Manuel J.; Santamaría García, Eduardo; Bastianelli, Giulia; Jordano Barbudo, Pedro D.; Orejuela Mendoza, Ivanova Claribel; Mendoza Sagrera, Irene; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España; European Union (UE); Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España
Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), which uses devices like automatic audio recorders, has become a fundamental tool in conserving and managing natural ecosystems. However, the large volume of unsupervised audio data that PAM generates poses a major challenge for extracting meaningful information. Deep Learning techniques, particularly automated species identification models based on computer vision, offer a promising solution. BirdNET, a widely used model for bird identification, has shown success in many study systems but is limited at local scale due to biases in its training data, which focus on specific locations and target sounds rather than entire soundscapes. A key challenge in bird species detection is that many recordings either lack target species or contain overlapping vocalizations, complicating automatic identification. To overcome these problems, we developed a three-stage pipeline for automatic bird vocalization identification in Doñana National Park (SW Spain), a wetland facing significant conservation threats. We deployed AudioMoth recorders in three main habitats across nine different locations within Doñana, and the manual annotation of 461 min of audio data, resulting in 3749 annotations covering 34 classes. Our working pipeline included, first, the development of a Bird Song Detector to isolate bird vocalizations, using spectrograms as graphical representations of bird audio data and applying image processing methods. Second, we classified bird species training custom classifiers at the local scale with BirdNET’s embeddings. The best-performing detection model incorporated synthetic background audios through data augmentation and an environmental sound library (ESC-50). Applying the Bird Song Detector before classification improved species identification, as all classification models performed better when analyzing only the segments where birds were detected. Specifically, the combination of the Bird Song Detector and fine-tuned BirdNET increased weighted precision (from 0.18 to 0.37), recall (from 0.21 to 0.30), and F1 score (from 0.17 to 0.28), compared to the baseline without the Bird Song Detector. Our approach demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating a Bird Song Detector with fine-tuned classification models for bird identification at local soundscapes. These findings highlight the need to adapt general-purpose tools for specific ecological challenges, as demonstrated in Doñana. Automatically detecting bird species serves for tracking the health status of this threatened ecosystem, given the sensitivity of birds to environmental changes, and helps in the design of conservation measures for reducing biodiversity loss.
Feasibility of an aquaponic system composed of a living wall coupled with an ornamental pond with fish in real-life conditions
(Wiley-VCH, 2025) Fernández Cabanás, Víctor Manuel; Martínez Millán, Leonardo; Suárez Cáceres, Gina Patricia; Fernández Cañero, Rafael; Rossini Oliva, Sabina; Fernández Espinosa, Antonio José; Franco Salas, Antonio; Pérez Urrestarazu, Luis; Agronomía; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ingeniería Aeroespacial y Mecánica de Fluidos; Química Analítica
Green and blue infrastructures are often combined to create pleasant urban landscapes and provide new ecosystems in the built environment. New techniques for building integrated vegetation systems, such as vertical greening, are becoming common. In this work, we evaluate a case study of a combined aquaponic system composed of a living wall (LW) coupled to an ornamental pond with fish. The system allows the metabolic waste of fish and the unconsumed feed to be converted by a bacterial population into mineral nutrients that are used by the plants in the LW. For this purpose, the pond water was recirculated through a 7.2 m2 LW planted with 11 different ornamental plant species. The objectives of the study were (1) assessing the performance of LW vegetation irrigated with water from a pond and (2) monitoring the pond water quality with the LW used as a biofilter. The evolution of vegetation growth was monitored for 1 year by image analysis, and the concentration of some nutrients in the water was determined pre- and post-coupling. Vegetation cover increased from 30% to almost 100% after 1 year. Iron, magnesium, and nitrogen content increased in the LW plants after coupling with the pond. Electrical conductivity increased slightly with time, keeping below 500 µS cm−1. Nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates in the water were significantly reduced after the pond was coupled with the LW. Overall, the combination of both systems proved to be successful, optimizing the use of water and fertilizers with a circular economy focus.
Unravelling the Significance of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase in Phosphate Starvation Responses
(Wiley, 2025-09-24) Pérez López, Jesús; Osa Fernández, Clara de la; Gandullo Tovar, Jacinto Manuel; Gigli‐Bisceglia, Nora; Coleto, Inmaculada; Feria Bourrellier, Ana Belén; Echevarría Ruiz de Vargas, Cristina; Testerink, Christa; Marino, Daniel; García-Mauriño Ruiz-Berdejo, Sofía; Monreal Hermoso, José Antonio; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Junta de Andalucía; Gobierno Vasco; Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO). España
Low phosphate availability is a major concern for agriculture. Plants develop a plethora of responses to improve phosphate acquisition, known as phosphate starvation responses (PSR). Among them, the induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) has been described in many plants. However, most studies have been conducted in the absence of phosphate, thus the real impact of PEPC in PSR is missing as there is no phosphate to take up. In this study, we used modified sorghum plants silenced in the main PEPC isozyme in roots, SbPPC3, and analyzed the role of PEPC in the presence of insoluble calcium phosphate (PCa), showing a phosphate starvation phenotype in silenced but not in WT plants. Interestingly, root exudation of citrate was not reduced in silenced plants, probably due to a higher citrate synthase activity, but it was reduced for succinate, another compound with phosphate solubilisation capacity. Finally, silenced plants accumulated less P in roots with PCa, leading to a reduced phosphate acquisition efficiency (PAE). Our results show, for the first time, the actual role of PEPC in phosphate solubilisation through succinate exudation, proposing PPC3 as a specific target to improve PAE in plants.
Trophic Interactions Are Key to Understanding the Effects of Global Change on the Distribution and Functional Role of the Brown Bear
(Wiley, 2025-06-04) Lucas Ibáñez, Pablo Miguel; Thuiller, Wilfried; Talluto, Lauren; Polaina, Ester; Albrecht, Jörg; Selva, Nuria; Pollock, Laura J.; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España; European Union (UE); Junta de Andalucía
Biotic interactions are expected to influence species' responses to global changes, but they are rarely considered across broad spatial extents. Abiotic factors are thought to operate at larger spatial scales, while biotic factors, such as species interactions, are considered more important at local scales within communities, in part because of the knowledge gap on species interactions at large spatial scales (i.e., the Eltonian shortfall). We assessed, at a continental scale, (i) the importance of biotic interactions, through food webs, on species distributions, and (ii) how biotic interactions under scenarios of climate and land-use change may affect the distribution of the brown bear (Ursus arctos). We built a highly detailed, spatially dynamic, and empirically sampled food web based on the energy contribution of 276 brown bear food species from different taxa (plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates) and their ensemble habitat models at high resolution across Europe. Then, combining energy contribution and predicted habitat of food species, we modelled energy contribution across space and included these layers within Bayesian-based models of the brown bear distribution in Europe. The inclusion of biotic interactions considerably improved our understanding of brown bear distribution at large (continental) scales compared with Bayesian models including only abiotic factors (climate and land use). Predicted future range shifts, which included changes in the distribution of food species, varied greatly when considering various scenarios of change in biotic factors, providing a warning that future indirect climate and land-use change are likely to have strong but highly uncertain impacts on species biogeography. Our study confirmed that advancing our understanding of ecological networks of species interactions will improve future projections of biodiversity change, especially for modelling species distributions and their functional role under climate and land-use change scenarios, which is key for effective conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Tree Canopies Drive δ13C and δ15N Patterns in Mediterranean Wood Pastures of the Iberian Peninsula
(MDPI, 2025-05-22) Ibáñez, Mercedes; Aljazairi, Salvador; Leiva Morales, María José; Chocarro, Chocarro; Werner, Ronald A.; Ghashghaie, Jaleh; Sebastià, Maria Teresa; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España
Mediterranean wood pastures are the result of traditional silvo-pastoral uses that shaped these ecosystems into a mosaic of trees and open grassland. This ecosystem structure is generally associated with increased soil fertility under tree canopies. However, the response of herbaceous plant functional types (PFTs)—grasses, legumes, and non-legume forbs—to these heterogeneous microenvironments (under the canopy vs. open grassland) remains largely unknown, particularly regarding carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) acquisition and use. Even less is known about how different tree species and environmental conditions influence these responses. In this study, we aim to assess how tree canopies influence carbon and nitrogen cycling by comparing the effects of traditional oak stands and pine plantations on herbaceous PFTs and soil dynamics. For that we use C and N content and natural isotopic abundances (δ13C and δ15N) as proxies for biogeochemical cycling. Our results show that ecosystem C and N patterns depend not only on herbaceous PFTs and the presence or absence of tree canopies but also on tree species identity and environmental conditions, including climate. In particular, pine-dominated plantations exhibited lower nitrogen availability compared to those dominated by oak, suggesting that oak stands may contribute more effectively to enhance soil fertility in Mediterranean wood pastures. Furthermore, the canopy effect was more pronounced under harsher environmental conditions, highlighting the role of trees in buffering environmental stress, particularly in arid regions. This suggests that changes in tree cover and tree species may drive complex changes in ecosystem C and N storage and cycling.
Soil Prokaryotic Diversity Responds to Seasonality in Dehesas, Modulated by Tree Identity and Canopy Effect
(MDPI, 2025-07-05) Manjón Cabeza, José; Ibáñez, Mercedes; Leiva Morales, María José; Chocarro, Cristina; Lanzén, Anders; Epelde, Lur; Sebastià, Maria Teresa; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO). España; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España
Dehesas are mosaics of open grassland and standalone trees that are diversity reservoirs. However, they have recently faced abandonment and intensification, being replaced by plantations of fast-growing trees or subject to encroachment. Following a change in dehesa communities and structure, a change in soil microbial diversity and functionality in dehesas is expected, but dehesas’ microbial diversity is still a big unknown. In this work, we bring to light the soil prokaryotic taxonomic diversity in dehesa ecosystems and present a first approach to assessing their metabolic diversity through metabarcoding data. For this, we compared three dehesas dominated by different tree species: (i) one dehesa dominated by Quercus ilex; (ii) one dominated by Pinus pinea; and (iii) one dominated by a mixture of Q. ilex and Q. suber. At each dehesa, samples were taken under the canopy and in the open grassland, as well as through two seasons of peak vegetation productivity (autumn and spring). Our results show the following findings: (1) seasonality plays an important role in prokaryotic richness, showing higher values in autumn, and higher evenness in spring; (2) the effect of seasonality on the soil’s prokaryotic diversity is often modulated by the effect of tree species and canopy; (3) taxonomic diversity is driven mainly by the site effects, i.e., the opposite of the metabolic diversity that seemed to be driven by complex interactions among seasons, tree species, and canopies.
Interspecific Competition and Intraspecific Facilitation Shape Coastal Dune Shrub Responses to Experimental Drought
(MDPI, 2025-08) Zunzunegui González, María; Esquivias Segura, María de la Paz; Díaz Antunes-Barradas, María Cruz; Gallego Fernández, Juan Bautista; Álvarez Cansino, Leonor; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MEC). España
We investigated how water restriction affects plant–plant interactions in two Mediterranean shrubs, Thymus carnosus Boiss and Retama monosperma (L.) Boiss, to test whether intra- and interspecific interactions between these species respond differently to drought. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with 5-month-old seedlings under three interaction types (interspecific, isolation, and intraspecific). After a 7-month growth phase, a water restriction treatment was imposed, and shoot water potential and photochemical efficiency of chlorophyll were monitored weekly. Biomass allocation and stable isotope composition were analysed at the end of the experiment. Retama plants growing alone exhibited the highest relative elongation rate (9.6 cm day−1 per plant), whereas for the combinations involving Thymus, the highest relative elongation rate occurred under intraspecific competition (3.63 cm day−1 per plant). Results showed a negative effect of Retama on Thymus regarding drought response, while Thymus exhibited an intraspecific facilitation effect, improving growth and reducing water stress. Although Thymus produced less biomass than Retama—with Retama producing over 2 g root biomass per plant compared to 0.25 g in Thymus and >7 g aboveground biomass versus 2.7 g in Thymus—it maintained better physiological response to drought than Retama, where all combinations involving Retama showed water potential below −2.3 MPa in both species. These findings reveal contrasting strategies: Retama prioritises rapid growth but is drought-sensitive, whereas Thymus benefits from intraspecific facilitation that enhances drought tolerance. Our results highlight how drought can alter the balance between competition and facilitation in plant interactions, with implications for Mediterranean plant communities’ dynamics under climate change.
Ecophysiological Keys to the Success of a Native-Expansive Mediterranean Species in Threatened Coastal Dune Habitats
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-07-29) Fernández Martínez, Mario; Jiménez Carrasco, Carmen; Díaz Barradas, María Cruz; Gallego Fernández, Juan Bautista; Zunzunegui González, María; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico
Range-expanding species, or neonatives, are native plants that spread beyond their original range due to recent climate or human-induced environmental changes. Retama monosperma was initially planted near the Guadalquivir estuary for dune stabilisation. However, changes in the sedimentary regime and animal-mediated dispersal have facilitated its exponential expansion, threatening endemic species and critical dune habitats. The main objective of this study was to identify the key functional traits that may explain the competitive advantage and rapid spread of R. monosperma in coastal dune ecosystems. We compared its seasonal responses with those of three co-occurring woody species, two native (Juniperus phoenicea and J. macrocarpa) and one naturalised (Pinus pinea), at two sites differing in groundwater availability within a coastal dune area (Doñana National Park, Spain). We measured water relations, leaf traits, stomatal conductance, photochemical efficiency, stable isotopes, and shoot elongation in 12 individuals per species. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant effects of species and species × season interaction for relative water content, shoot elongation, effective photochemical efficiency, and stable isotopes. R. monosperma showed significantly higher shoot elongation, relative water content, and photochemical efficiency in summer compared with the other species. Stable isotope data confirmed its nitrogen-fixing capacity. This characteristic, along with the higher seasonal plasticity, contributes to its competitive advantage. Given the ecological fragility of coastal dunes, understanding the functional traits favouring the success of neonatives such as R. monosperma is essential for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.
Functional traits and soil water availability shape competitive interactions in a diploid–polyploid complex
(Wiley, 2025-07-02) Rodríguez Parra, Alba; López Jurado, Javier; Mateos Naranjo, Enrique; Balao Robles, Francisco J.; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España; Agencia de Innovación y Desarrollo de Andalucía; Universidad de Sevilla; RNM204: Ecología Reproductiva de Plantas; RNM035: Ecología Funcional Aplicada
1. Even within those polyploid plant species that become established initially, only a few persist in the long term. Competitive interactions between polyploids and their ancestral cytotypes in secondary contact zones can contribute to local extinctions. Environmental factors such as water availability and functional trait divergence may influence these interactions. 2. We conducted a greenhouse competition experiment with four cytotypes (2x, 4x, 6x and 12x) of Dianthus broteri under two contrasting irrigation regimes. We estimated niche and fitness differences and predicted the pairwise competitive outcomes. Additionally, we explored the influence of leaf physiological functional traits (SLA, AN , gs, LDMC, Fv/Fm and iWUE) on competitive interactions. 3. Soil water availability modified the competitive dynamics between cytotypes and predicted competitive exclusion. Under high water availability, lower ploidy levels (2x and 4x) outcompeted higher ploidy cytotypes (12x and 6x), while the latter exhibited greater competitive abilities under low water availability. These differences were explained by functional traits related to competitive effects (SLA) and competition tolerance (AN , Fv/Fm and iWUE). 4. Synthesis. Our study emphasises that the long-term fate of polyploids largely depends on water availability, with high polyploids having a competitive advantage in arid environments. This ultimately highlights the role of functional traits in shaping the competitive dynamics between cytotypes.
Fine-scale genetic differentiation in the bee-specialized Antirrhinum charidemi covaries more strongly with spatial isolation than with corolla colour
(Oxford Academic, 2025-03-24) Heuertz, Myriam; Escudero Lirio, Marcial; Gómez, José María; Vargas, Pablo; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; RNM210: Ecología, Evolución y Conservación de la Biodiversidad
The snapdragon Antirrhinum majus has been a model species for genetics, plant development, and evolution since the 19th century. Recent studies have expanded the focus to the entire Antirrhinum genus as a model system for rapid evolution (26 species in < 5 million years). However, in-depth studies to reconstruct microevolution in additional snapdragon species are lacking. This study aimed to explore to what extent potential pollinators, flower colour morphs, spatial and environmental factors contribute to differentiation in a small population of the Mediterranean A. charidemi (south-eastern Spain). We studied a population of approximately 200 A. charidemi individuals with either pink or white corollas, characterized by strong topographic heterogeneity (horizontal extension of 120 × 80 meters; 40-meter altitude difference) and diversity in environmental factors (substrate, vegetation). The study analysed pollinator preference for either white or pink corollas, genetic diversity using 13 nuclear SSR loci and three plastid haplotypes, and the spatial population structure. Flower visitors displayed some indication of preference for pink corollas (five of ten bee species) and flower colour morphs were genetically differentiated. However, the strongest pattern of genetic differentiation was associated with a fine-scale spatio-topographic isolation in the population, with five topo-genetic subpopulations and a pollen-to-seed dispersal distance ratio of 4.32. Our results agree with similar patterns of strong spatial genetic isolation found in A. charidemi at larger scales: phylogeographic differentiation of populations and phylogenetic relationships within a south-eastern Iberian Antirrhinum clade. Despite the extreme corolla specialization for bee pollination, spatial isolation appears to be the predominant factor driving short- and long-term differentiation in A. charidemi. We argue that a comprehensive understanding of early stages of rapid evolution requires detailed investigation of fine-scale evolutionary drivers, including both spatial isolation (topography) and ecological factors (e.g. pollination fauna).
Dynamics of post fire plant community assembly in Doñana coastal dunes
(Springer Nature, 2025-06-06) Chozas, Sergio; Mira, André F.; Serrano, Manuel; Medina, Nagore G.; Hortal, Joaquín; Díaz Antunes-Barradas, María Cruz; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España
Fire significantly contributes to the distribution, composition, and functioning of ecosystems. It is also among the most damaging disturbances, exacerbated by increasing fire intensity and extent due to climate change. However, some ecosystems, like Mediterranean scrublands, recover quickly due to species’ adaptations to frequent fire regimes. This study investigates the community assembly processes during a secondary succession following the fire in a dune system within Doñana Natural Park, Southern Spain. To achieve this, three shrub communities were characterised along a coast-to-inland gradient over two consecutive years using a Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling ordination. Then, a set of ecophysiological and structural traits of the dominant shrub species were analysed through a Principal Component Analysis, and correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationships between the three communities and the studied traits. Finally, to investigate the spatial structure of the shrub communities, a co-occurrence network was constructed and Moran’s I analyses were conducted. The results revealed that natural secondary succession has restored shrub communities along the gradient to states similar to those existing before the fire, indicating a consistent recovery pattern. Although species composition was comparable across zones, community spatial structure and several traits varied from coastal to interior areas, with more complex co-occurrence networks observed inland. Overall, the results underline the significance of environmental filters and species interactions in shaping community assembly during secondary succession after fire. Furthermore, they highlight that post fire community responses can be predicted through mechanisms linking the regional species pool, regeneration traits, and physical heterogeneity.
Transcontinental Patterns in Floral Pigment Abundance Among Animal-pollinated Species
(Nature Research, 2025) Narbona, Eduardo; Valle García, José Carlos del; Whittall, Justen B.; León Osper, Melissa; Buide, M. Luisa; Pulgar, Iñigo; Gutiérrez de Camargo, María Gabriela; Cerdeira Morellato, Leonor Patricia; Rodríguez Castañeda, Nancy L.; Rossi, Victor; Ortiz Ballesteros, Pedro Luis; Arista Palmero, Montserrat; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España; Junta de Andalucía; São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP); Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. Brasil; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)
Flower color arises primarily from pigments that serve dual functions: attracting pollinators and mitigating environmental stresses. Among major pigment types, anthocyanins and UV-absorbing phenylpropanoids (UAPs) fulfill one or both roles and should be widespread. Our review of the UV-vis absorption profiles of major floral pigments demonstrates that UAPs are the primary UV protectants. Next, we analyzed the floral pigment composition of 926 animal-pollinated species from California, Southern Spain, and Southeastern Brazil. UAPs were ubiquitous (the “dark matter” of the flower). Among the remaining pigment types, ~ 56% of species had anthocyanins, ~ 37% had carotenoids, and ~ 17% had chlorophylls (some species had > 1 pigment type). Pigment abundance varied in response to abiotic and biotic factors, particularly with pollinator type in California. Despite regional differences in environmental filtering, pollination guilds, and relatedness, UAPs are omnipresent and there is a transcontinental stable distribution of flower colors and their underlying floral pigments.
Pathological and serological insights into Lagovirus diseases dynamics in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus): A nine-year longitudinal study
(Elsevier, 2025-05) Estruch, Josep; Cavadini, Patrizia; Lavazza, Antonio; Capucci, Lorenzo; Abrantes, Joana; Lopes, Ana M.; Almeida, Tereza; Neimanis, Aleksija; Lavín, Santiago; Rouco Zufiaurre, Carlos; Serrano, Emmanuel; Velarde, Roser; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España
The European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV; GII.1) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2;,GI.2) are pathogenic lagoviruses affecting the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus). EBHSV/GII.1 causes,periodic epidemics, while RHDV2/GI.2 infections emerge from spillover events in areas where hares are sympatric with European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, the overlap of,these species provides a unique opportunity to investigate how the epidemiology of these viruses correlates with,disease course. We analysed the presence of lagoviruses in 113 European brown hare carcasses recovered in,Catalonia (NE Spain) between 2015 and 2024. Animals were necropsied, and tissue and serum samples were,collected for histopathology, virological investigation, and serology. Sera from hunted hares apparently healthy,(n = 89, 2015–2023) were also included in the study. PCR on liver samples (n = 58) and virological ELISA on,positive sera (n = 52) confirmed 28 EBHSV/GII.1 and 24 RHDV2/GI.2 cases. After the first EBHSV/GII.1,detection in 2016, antibody titres decreased progressively until 2020–2021, coinciding with an outbreak. No,conclusive seropositivity for RHDV2/GI.2 was observed during the study. Pathology revealed more acute lesions,in RHDV2/GI.2-infected hares compared to EBHSV/GII.1. These lesions, resulting in sudden death due to a,deficient immune response, may explain this distinct epidemiological scenario. Despite a decade of circulation,,RHDV2/GI.2 has not fully adapted to hares. However, ongoing monitoring is essential, as mutations or recombination events could increase its epizootic potential. The co-circulation of both lagoviruses, combined with,other co-factors, might jeopardise the viability of European brown hare populations at the southern limit of their,range.
Influence of Nitrogen Bioavailability on the Anaerobic Co-Digestion of the Aegagropiles of the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica with Different Nitrogen-Rich Substrates: Process Performance and Kinetic Analysis
(Mdpi, 2025-03-07) Lama Calvente, David de la; Mancilla Leytón, Juan Manuel; Garrido Murillo, Iván; Rojas Carrillo, Javier; Borja, Rafael; Fernández Rodríguez, María José; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España
The shedding of leaves by Posidonia oceanica (P. oceanica) in autumn results in the,accumulation of shoreline debris, contributing to significant economic, social, and environmental problems. Due to the lack of alternative solutions, this waste biomass is disposed of,in landfills, incurring an economic cost for the disposal process. In the context of the circular,economy, anaerobic digestion (AD) can serve as a highly efficient biological alternative for,treating and valorizing wastes with a high organic load. The aim of this research was to comparatively evaluate the performance and kinetics of the AD of ashore P. oceanica biomass and,its anaerobic co-digestion (co-AD) with different nitrogen-rich co-substrates. To evaluate,the effect of the nitrogen source in the co-AD system, peptone, casein, synthetic casein, urea,,and the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata were used as co-substrates in biomethanization,tests at a mesophilic temperature (35 ± 2,◦C). The lowest methane yield was achieved for,the sole AD of P. oceanica (79 ± 3 NL CH4 kg−1 VS), while the highest yields were found,for the three co-ADs of P. oceanica with proteins (i.e., peptone, casein, and synthetic casein),,showing no significant differences among them (380 ± 30 − 420 ± 30 NL CH4 kg−1 VS).,Additionally, the first-order kinetics and the transference function model were proven and,allowed for adequately fitting the experimental results of methane production with time.
Impacts of elevated temperature and CO2 concentration on carbon metabolism in an endangered carnation: Consequences for biomass allocation and flowering
(Elsevier, 2024-05) López Jurado, Javier; Balao Robles, Francisco J.; Mateos Naranjo, Enrique; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Junta de Andalucía; Universidad de Sevilla; European Union (UE); Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España
One of the greatest threats to plant function and fitness is global warming, characterised by a combination of,increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations and temperatures. However, their effects on plant physiology, growth,,and reproduction remain unclear, particularly for rare species that support vulnerable ecosystem functions. Here,,we investigated these effects on leaf and whole-plant functional traits of the rare endangered C3 species Dianthus,inoxianus. Mature plants were grown for 18 weeks in controlled-environment chambers under four environmental scenarios that combined day/night air temperatures (ambient: 25/20 ◦C or elevated: 29/24 ◦C) with CO2,concentrations (400 ppm or 700 ppm). Under elevated temperature, D. inoxianus exhibited impaired photosynthetic capacity but also employed an avoidance strategy by prioritising accelerated reproduction (earlier,flowering) and biomass allocation to roots for future resprouting. Elevated CO2 induced photosynthesis acclimation and biochemical constraints, preventing growth enhancement, but also mitigated the loss of stomatal,functionality and carboxylation capacity loss caused by elevated temperature. Although plants sustained gas,exchange under combined elevated CO2 and temperature, assimilation rates decreased. Such a decline, linked to,reduced photoprotection capacity and photosystem performance, was accompanied by an advanced onset of,flowering and reduced flower production. These changes suggest that the vulnerability of D. inoxianus might,increase under climate change, with additional stressors potentially exacerbating photoinhibition. Our findings,offer critical insights into the complex relationships between threatened species and their environment, underscoring the need for preventive conservation measures for D. inoxianus to address the challenges posed by more,extreme or prolonged environmental stresses.
Identifying conservation priorities of a pantropical plant lineage: a case study in Scleria (Cyperaceae)
(Asociación Española de Ecología Terrestre, 2025-05-02) Díaz, Javier Galán; Bachman, Steven P.; Forest, Félix; Escudero Lirio, Marcial; Rotton, Hannah; Larridon, Isabel; Biología Vegetal y Ecología
Scleria is a pantropical genus of annual and perennial herbs and the sixth largest genus in the Cyperaceae family with around 261 species. In this study, we produced preliminary extinction risk assessments for the ~30% of Scleria species that do not yet have a global Red List assessment and followed the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE2) and Ecologically Distinct and Globally Endangered (EoDGE) protocols to identify evolutionary and ecologically unique Scleria species at greatest risk of extinction and hotspots of rare and endangered species. Our results indicate that 38 of the 78 Scleria species not yet included in the Red List, and 26% of species in the genus, are potentially threatened with extinction. The risk of extinction is not equally distributed across the phylogeny, and the Afrotropics and the Neotropics accumulate most threatened species. Eleven ecoregions mostly from four African (Madagascar, D.R. Congo, Zambia and Tanzania) and two South American (Brazil, Venezuela) countries accumulate almost half of Scleria species and stand out in terms of their sum of EDGE2 scores. Phylogenetic and functional distinctiveness metrics were largely uncorrelated, and the EcoDGE metric mostly points towards South American countries as reservoirs of ecologically distinctive and endangered species: Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Guyana and Dominican Republic. Recent methodological advances in the identification of species at-risk of extinction and the novel EDGE2 framework emerge as powerful tools to identify conservation priorities.
Functional traits predict changes in floral phenology underclimate change in a highly diverse Mediterranean community
(Wiley, 2025-04-09) Pareja Bonilla, Daniel; Ortiz Ballesteros, Pedro Luis; Cerdeira Morellato, Leonor Patricia; Arista, Montserrat; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Universidad de Sevilla; Junta de Andalucía; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)
1. Plants are shifting their flowering phenology in response to climate change, buttrends differ between species and communities. Functional traits can largely ex-plain how different species respond to climate change by shifting their phenology,and can therefore help predicting which species will be most affected by climatechange. 2. Here we studied how functional traits affected the response to climate changeof the flowering phenology of 269 species from a Mediterranean community be-tween two periods in the last 35 years. 3. We used circular statistics to assess whether the community means for the startof flowering, start of intense flowering, end of intense flowering, and end of flow-ering had advanced in the last 35 years. Then, we fitted generalised linear mixedmodels to assess the influence of vegetative and reproductive functional traitson the shift of the start of flowering, start of intense flowering, end of intenseflowering, end of flowering, flowering duration, and intense flowering duration. 4. The flowering phenology of our study community advanced significantly in re-sponse to climate change, and both vegetative and reproductive functional traitsinfluenced phenological change. We demonstrated that woody species, shortones, species with wider leaves, high specific leaf area (SLA) values, larger flow-ers, early flowering, or short flowering periods were advancing more the start oftheir flowering, while taller plants, species with high SLA values, or early flower-ing were advancing more the end of their flowering. Consistently, taller specieswith wider leaves and early flowering species with short flowering time durationwere increasing more the duration of their flowering. 5. We showed that phenological shifts associated with climate change are condi-tioned by functional traits in a different way than previously reported for higherlatitudes, indicating that these responses are highly context dependent. In ourMediterranean community, reproductive traits were important for predictingspecies flowering shifts, indicating that plant species reproduction during thehottest and driest periods of the year—the Mediterranean resting season—may be compromised, along with the persistence of animals that depend on floralresources.
Ecophysiological and biochemical responses to cold and heat waves of native Spartina maritima, alien S. densifora and their reciprocal hybrids
(Springer, 2025-04-01) Álvarez Morales, Rosario; Fernandez-Gonzalez, Salvador A.; Perera Bonaño, Adrián; Cires Segura, Alfonso de; Castillo Segura, Jesús Manuel; Gallego Tevar, Blanca; Biología Vegetal y Ecología
Extreme climatic events, such as cold and heat waves, are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged due,to climate change. Simultaneously, invasive alien plant species are altering the composition of plant communities. Both,climate change and the introduction of alien species pose signifcant threats to biodiversity. We studied the responses of 25,biochemical and physiological functional traits for native Spartina maritima, alien invasive S. densifora and their reciprocal,hybrids to changing environmental conditions during a cold snap in winter and a heat wave in summer in Guadiana Marshes,(Southwest Iberian Peninsula). These four closely related taxa responded diferently to seasonal environmental fuctuations.,Both hybrid taxa, particularly S. maritima×densifora, exhibited transgressive responses, allowing them to display a wider,range of acclimation responses to air temperature compared to their parental species. Native S. maritima also demonstrated a,relatively high acclimation capacity to seasonal meteorological changes. In contrast, alien S. densifora presented few acclimation responses to seasonal environmental changes, responding primarily to sediment salinity rather than to air temperature.,Even so, all four studied Spartina taxa appear to be well-adapted to the occurrence of cold and heat waves in the Gulf of,Cadiz. These fndings underscore the complexity of plant acclimation strategies in response to extreme climatic events and,highlight the potential for hybrid taxa to face the future dynamics of salt marshes under climate change.
Earlywood vessel characteristics are early indicators of drought-induced decline in ring-porous oak species within the Mediterranean Basin
(Elsevier, 2025-06-10) Colangelo, Michele; Gazol, Antonio; Camarero, J. Julio; Borghetti, Marco; Sánchez Salguero, Raúl; Matías Resina, Luis; Castellaneta, Maria; Nola, Paola; Ripullone, Francesco; Biología Vegetal y Ecología; European Union (UE); Gobierno de Italia
Heat and drought stress have triggered forest dieback episodes worldwide, affecting oak forests, particularly in,hotspots of climate change such as the Mediterranean Basin. However, forecasting dieback is not straightforward.,In this study, we used the earlywood anatomy to improve dieback forecasts in five oak species characterized by,different drought sensitivity (i.e. from high to low Quercus robur, Q. cerris, Q. frainetto and Q. canariensis, Q.,humilis, Q. pubescens) across Italy and Spain. We measured radial growth, expressed as basal area increment,(BAI), earlywood hydraulic diameter (Dh) and vessel area of coexisting non-declining (ND) and declining (D),trees in each stand. Then, we calculated the product between the coefficient of variation (CV) of vessel area and a,spatial aggregation index (AI). High CV × AI values indicate regularly spaced vessels with variable area of,vessels, while low values correspond to clustered vessels with similar area. ND trees showed higher BAI values,than D trees from 10 to 40 years before the dieback onset, when ND trees grew 20–50 % more than the D trees.,We observed a decline in the vessel area CV several decades prior to dieback in D trees, with the exception of Q. cerris. The AI showed higher values in ND than in D trees. Consequently, the CV × AI product was consistently,higher in ND than in D trees. The CV × AI divergence between ND and D trees was pronounced in the wettest,sites, specifically for Q. robur and Q. humilis. Time series of CV × AI effectively differentiated trees based on their,vigor. Wood anatomy variables could be used to enhance predictions of vulnerability to drought-induced,dieback. This study can help identify vulnerable trees before the onset of dieback symptoms, serving as a tool,to support the management of forests prone to drought.
A review on the distribution and habitat features of Chara canescens in the Iberian Peninsula: sexual populations revisited
(Asociación Ibérica de Limnología, 2024-07-11) Arnal, Adriana; Rodrigo, María A.; Bernhardt, Karl Georg; Guarino, Riccardo; Troía, Angelo; Turner, Barbara; Weitzel, Johanna; Schubert, Hendrik; García Murillo, Pablo; Biología Vegetal y Ecología
Chara canescens, mainly distributed in Europe and the African Mediterranean coast, is the only Charophyceae species capable of,reproducing parthenogenetically, the asexual populations being common; however, the sexual ones are rare. In this study we compile,all the literature and herbaria data concerning the presence of C. canescens in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands over,several decades, analysing the historical and spatial distribution of the species and the limnological characteristics of its habitats.,A decline in the number of records in the literature and herbarium sheets since 2010 was detected. Most of the populations are,concentrated in Castilla-La Mancha, Andalucía and Castilla-León. The species lives in brackish waterbodies, both in coastal areas and,endorheic shallow small lakes, and the majority of these locations do not exhibit a good conservation status. The only three locations,with sexual populations previously cited in the literature (Bodón Blanco –Valladolid- and Las Eras –Segovia- lakes and Lucio Largo –,Doñana-) were revisited in June 2023. Sexual populations of C. canescens in the two former lakes occurred, but the lake in the Doñana,National Park was completely dry. Two new sexual populations of the species were found in La Iglesia and Caballo Alba lakes(Segovia), increasing the citation to five sexual populations. A description of population (coverage, male:female ratio) and individual,(reproductive features) variables for the four C. canescens sexual populations are provided. The analysed limnological variables (water,chemistry, other hydrophytes and marginal vegetation) showed that the lakes harbouring these populations exhibited signs of pollution,,as well as altered and unstructured marginal vegetation. The genetic diversity of the species depends on the sexual populations, which,are very rare in Europe, and are mainly concentrated in Spain. Therefore, the preservation of these inner brackish-water habitats in essential for th implementation of transnational effective conservation measures to protect this relevant and particular species.

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