Articles publicats en revistes (Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals)

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Climatic niche position determines post-fire resilience in Mediterranean forests
(Wiley, 2026-02-19) Codina, Gerard; Sánchez-Pinillos, Martina; Lloret Maya, Francisco; Lecina-Diaz, Judit; Batllori Presas, Enric
Fires are a common and significant disturbance in Mediterranean forest ecosystems with a prominent role in their dynamics. The increased frequency, intensity, and extent of fires due to climate change are, however, expected to exceed forests resilience capacity. It is still unknown how resilience capacity changes across species’ biogeographical ranges in relation to pre- and post-fire environmental variability. We analyzed the resilience of Mediterranean pinewoods (Pinus halepensis and P. nigra) to fire in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula and considered the influence of pre- and post-fire climate conditions typified through the species’ climate niche. To assess forest resilience, we applied the Ecological Dynamic Regime (EDR) framework, a methodological approach to quantify the deviation of disturbed trajectories from their dynamic regimes using three indices: amplitude, recovery, and net change. Then, we evaluated how fire characteristics (severity), site attributes (exposure, rockiness), and deviations in the distance to the niche core and edge of the burned populations (centrality-marginality gradient) modulate their resilience to fire. Over 50% of the burned plots exhibited large net change from their dynamic regimes in the mid-term, denoting poor resilience regardless of the species regenerative strategy, and transitioned to shrublands or a different forest type after the fire. Recovery and net change exhibited differences between the two studied species: forests dominated by P. halepensis were overall more resilient to fire across the study range, especially in moist sites, while burned P. nigra forests showed poor recovery and large net changes after fire. For both species, forests location within the climatic niche before and after fire significantly explained post-fire resilience. In general, forests near their climatic niche core showed higher resilience compared to those close to the dry edge of the niche. Synthesis: Our study reveals that post-fire forest resilience depends not only on fire severity and fire characteristics but also on the climatic niche position of the forests. As climate warms and the frequency and intensity of fires increase, forest species will be pushed towards the dry edge of their climatic niches, likely increasing their vulnerability.
Adaptations to marine environments and the evolution of slow-paced life histories in endotherms
(Nature Publishing Group, 2025-05-08) Sol, Daniel; Prego, Antón; Olivé, Laura; Genovart Millet, Meritxell; Oro, Daniel; Hernández Matías, Antonio, 1974-
All organisms face a certain risk of dying before reproducing, putting strong pressure on individuals to reproduce as early as possible. Despite this, some organisms delay maturity, defer reproduction, and age slowly. The evolution of such slow-paced life is classically attributed to allometric effects and reduced extrinsic mortality, but might also result from the invasion of challenging environments requiring adaptations that boost adult survival yet impose substantial energetic and developmental costs. Here, we reveal that the invasion of marine environments by endotherms may have triggered adaptive shifts towards slow life histories, particularly in pelagic lineages. Such life history convergences may have been facilitated by the slow-paced nature of their non-marine ancestors, and were associated with adaptations for enhanced energy acquisition and storage, enabling a long reproductive lifespan at the expense of extended development. Ancestral traits and lifestyle changes might thus have been important in shaping the evolution of slow life histories.
Disruption of LHT1 function alters ACC homeostasis and ethylene production leading to early senescence in Arabidopsis
(Elsevier, 2026-07-01) Sanchez-Muñoz, Raul; Vanderstraeten, Lisa; Depaepe, Thomas; Cao, Da; Van de Poel, Bram; André, Bruno; Bouchikh, Rashida; Prinsen, Els; Van Der Straeten, Dominique
LHT1, a member of the lysine-histidine amino acid transporter family, has been implicated in a variety of plant physiological processes, yet its function in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) transport and overall plant development remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of LHT1 in ACC uptake, homeostasis, and its physiological impacts in Arabidopsis. Using a heterologous system to study ACC transport and its selectivity, and a series of in planta assays across developmental stages, we characterized the ACC dose-dependent resistance in lht1–5 mutants, revealing that LHT1 plays a crucial role in ACC transport in both immature and adult plants. Additionally, we explored the involvement of LHT1 in senescence through grafting experiments and manipulation of ACC levels, confirming that disrupted ACC and ethylene dynamics govern the early senescence phenotype of lht1–5 mutants. Our findings suggest that LHT1 is essential not only for maintaining ACC homeostasis but also for modulating ethylene production and timing of senescence, paving the way for a deeper understanding of ACC transport in plant physiology.
Cytochrome P450 CYP81D11 boosts CO2 assimilation and limits ROS damage under stress
(American Society of Plant Biologists, 2025-10-17) Depaepe, Thomas
Chloroplasts are remarkable photosynthetic structures that fuel plants with energy-rich molecules, sustaining nearly all life on Earth. Yet, chloroplasts are also highly sensitive to environmental changes. For example, when water runs short or sunlight becomes too intense, the energy absorbed by photosynthetic pigments and its use in downstream photochemical reactions become imbalanced. This condition, known as photoinhibition, leads to the accumulation of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause oxidative stress (Li and Kim 2022). Among ROS, singlet oxygen (1O2) is particularly dangerous. Unlike other ROS molecules, 1O2 is not formed by electron transfer. 1O2 is produced by direct energy transfer from chlorophyll or PSII reaction centers to oxygen, creating a reactive form that can damage many biomolecules in its vicinity. For example, peroxidation of lipids in thylakoid membranes by 1O2 can produce reactive carbonyl species (RCS) such as malondialdehyde and acrolein. Fortunately, plants have evolved strategies to prevent photoinhibition.
Association analysis between polygenic risk scores and traits: practical guidelines and tutorial with an illustrative data set of schizophrenia
(Frontiers Media, 2025-08-21) Irigoien, Itziar; Mas-Bermejo, Patricia; Papiol, Sergi; Barrantes Vidal, Neus; Rosa de la Cruz, Araceli; Arenas Solà, Concepción
Most methodological Polygenic Risk Score (PRS)-related papers explain the laborious process of computing the PRS in great depth. Afterwards, as a last step, it is generally described that to test a possible association between a PRS and a trait of interest, an analysis through regression models (linear or logistic, depending on data type) should be carried out adjusting for covariates (e.g., sex, age, clinical information, or genetic ancestry-based Principal Components). When covariates are included, measurements such as the increment on the variance explained by the addition of the PRS to the model or the significance of the PRS term are usually reported. However, the association study between PRSs and a trait is a complex concern that requires proper modeling and analysis, since interactions and validation conditions represent crucial aspects. Even though excellent papers explain how to use and interpret the results obtained with such regression models, sometimes important information from the previously calculated PRS may be lost, partly due to the automation of analyses. With this guide, we intend to fill a gap in association studies between PRSs and a trait and to facilitate the analysis, obtaining statistically correct results. It contains a motivating real data case analyzed exhaustively to illustrate how to face a real analysis. Besides, it is accompanied by four examples, called Working Examples, which present different situations the researcher may encounter along with the R code for analyzing all these data sets and the corresponding application of the steps in this guide.
Effect of ocean acidification on the oxygen consumption of the sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) and Arbacia lixula (Linnaeus, 1758) living in CO2 natural gradients
(Frontiers Media, 2025-02-04) Fernández-Vilert, Robert; Arranz, Vanessa; Martín-Huete, Marta; Hernández, José Carlos; González-Delgado, Sara; Pérez Portela, Rocío
Ocean acidification (OA) stands out as one of the main threats to marine ecosystems. OA leads to a reduction in the availability of carbonate ions, which are essential for marine calcifiers such as echinoderms. We aim to understand the physiological responses of two sea urchin species, Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula to low pH conditions and determine whether their responses result from phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation. The study is divided into two parts: plasticity response over time, measuring respiration rates of individuals from the Mediterranean Sea exposed to low pH over seven days, and adaptation and plasticity under changing pH, analyzing individuals inhabiting a pH gradient in a natural CO2 vent system located in La Palma Island, Spain. Over the seven days of low pH exposure, distinct patterns in respiration rates were revealed, with both species demonstrating potential for acclimatization. Notably, P. lividus and A. lixula displayed unsynchronized acidosis/alkalosis cycles, suggesting different physiological mechanisms. Additionally, environmental history seemed to influence adaptive capacity, as specimens from fluctuating pH environments exhibited respiration rates similar to those from stable environments with heightened phenotypic plasticity. Overall, our results suggest that both species possess the capacity for metabolic plasticity, which may enhance their resilience to future OA scenarios but likely involve energetic costs. Moreover, CO2 vent systems may serve as OA refugia, facilitating long-term survival. Understanding the plastic responses versus adaptations is crucial for predicting the effects of OA on species distribution and abundance of marine organisms in response to ongoing climate change.
Optimization of cereal productivity and physiological performance under desert conditions: varying irrigation, salinity and planting density levels
(Frontiers Media, 2025-03-06) García-Caparros, Pedro; Al-Dakheel, Abdullah J.; Serret Molins, M. Dolors; Araus Ortega, José Luis
Adequate irrigation with low-quality water, aligned with the specific water requirements of crops, will be critical for the future establishment of cereal crops on marginally fertile soils. This approach is essential to support global food security. To identify suitable cereal species and genotypes for these challenging conditions with the aim of optimizing yield and resilience, three different cereal species were tested under sandy soil conditions at the experimental fields of ICBA (Dubai, UAE). The experimental design employed a factorial combination split-plot arrangement including five primary factors: crop species (barley, triticale and finger millet), genotypes (3 in barley, 3 in triticale and 2 in finger millet), salinity levels (2 and 10 dS m-1), irrigation levels (100%, 150%, and 200% ETo), and planting densities (30 and 50 cm of spacing between rows). Agronomic parameters (e.g. plant height, grain yield, total plant dry weight and harvest index) and physiological parameters [Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) readings, together with nitrogen and carbon concentration isotopic composition, chlorophyll, flavonoids, and anthocyanins concentrations in flag leaves and the Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI)] exhibited distinct genotypic responses across the species investigated. Regarding grain yield, salt stress did not impact barley and finger millet, whereas triticale experienced a reduction of nearly one third of its yield. Increased irrigation led to higher grain yields only in barley, while increased planting density significantly improved grain yield across all species examined demonstrating its potential as a simple agronomic intervention. Physiological responses highlighted reduced nitrogen isotope composition under both salt stress and higher planting density in all species. Nevertheless, the response to irrigation varied among species exhibiting significant negative correlations with aerial plant dry matter. In contrast, carbon isotope composition did not display a clear pattern in any of the species studied under different agronomic treatments. These results underscore the importance of selecting salt and drought tolerant species and optimizing planting density to maximize productivity on marginal soils. Future research should focus on refining irrigation strategies and identification of high-performing genotypes to improve cereal cultivation in arid regions, contributing to global food security.
How Did Evolution Halve Genome Size During an Oceanic Island Colonization?
(Oxford University Press, 2025-09-01) Pisarenco, Vadim A.; Boada Figueras, Adrià; Olivé Muñiz, Marta; Escuer Pifarré, Paula; Macías Hernández, Nuria; Arnedo Lombarte, Miquel Àngel; Librado, Pablo; Sánchez-Gracia, Alejandro; Guirao Rico, Sara; Rozas Liras, Julio A.
Red devil spiders of the genus Dysdera colonized the Canary Islands and underwent an extraordinary diversification. Notably, their genomes are nearly half the size of their mainland counterparts (∼1.7 vs. ∼3.3 Gb). This offers a unique model to solve long-standing debates regarding the roles of adaptive and nonadaptive forces on shaping genome size evolution. To address these, we conducted comprehensive genomic analyses based on three high-quality chromosome-level assemblies, including two newly generated ones. We find that insular species experienced a reduction in genome size, affecting all genomic elements, including intronic and intergenic regions, with transposable element (TE) loss accounting for most of this contraction. Additionally, autosomes experienced a disproportionate reduction compared to the X chromosome. Paradoxically, island species exhibit higher levels of nucleotide diversity and recombination, lower TE activity in recent times, and evidence of intensified natural selection, collectively pointing to larger long-term effective population sizes in species from the Canary Islands. Overall, our findings align with the nonadaptive mutational hazard hypothesis, supporting purifying selection against slightly deleterious DNA and TE insertions as the primary mechanism driving genome size reduction.
The Diamesinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in high-altitude Andean streams using morphological and molecular approaches
(John Wiley & Sons, 2024-11-27) Hoyos Jaramillo, Diana C.; Acosta Rivas, Carlos Raúl; Ribera Almerje, Carles; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Prat i Fornells, Narcís
Diamesinae is one of the 11 subfamilies of Chironomidae, characterized by its preference for cold waters, typically found in mountainous regions. We aimed to study the biodiversity and distribution of two genera of this subfamily found in high-altitude streams in the Andes (Paraheptagyia Brundin, 1966 and Limaya Brundin, 1966), by combining morphological and molecular analyses. A database with 190 larval specimens of Diamesinae (160 of Paraheptagyia and 22 for Limaya), collected between July and October of 2011 from 20 streams in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, at altitudes above 2000 m a.s.l. was used. Paraheptagyia was found in the three countries, whereas Limaya was only found in Ecuador and Peru. Morphological analyses were based on 105 larvae mountings, using several measurements (26 measurements for Limaya and 25 for Paraheptagyia) and specimens for each morphotaxon. As a result, the head capsule width and the antennal ratio (AR) were the most valuable differentiators to distinguish between two morphotypes of Limaya, whereas Paraheptagyia could not be distinguished by using morphological characters. We employed the ABGD, ASAP, and bPTP methods, and supported them with distance matrices and haplotype networks, to delineate operational taxonomic units (OTU) based on 130 molecular sequences (113 for Paraheptagyia and 17 for Limaya). For Limaya, we identified two OTUs with all methods, one from Ecuador and one from Peru. As for Paraheptagyia, we identified between seven and nine OTUs, of which we found the majority in Peru, and two occurred in both Ecuador and Colombia. We hypothesize that the presence of the Huancabamba depression on the border between Ecuador and Peru likely acts as a genetic barrier, limiting gene flow. The difference in branch length between Peruvian and Ecuadorian/Colombian species supports Brundin's (1966) hypothesis of a south-to-north colonization pattern and the Gondwanan origin of both genera.
Effect of irrigation salinity on yield and quality of seeds in different quinoa genotypes
(Elsevier B.V., 2025-05-01) Yousfi, Salima; Shahid, Mohammad; Thushar, Sumitha; Ferreira, João Pedro; Serret Molins, M. Dolors; Araus Ortega, José Luis
Subtropical arid regions face challenges such as high temperatures, poor soil fertility, and saline soils and water. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is well-suited for these areas, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, where it is cultivated with saline irrigation. This study evaluated the seed yield and quality of eleven quinoa genotypes under two salinity levels (1 and 15 dSm−1) in sandy soils at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (Dubai, UAE). Key traits measured included seed yield (SY), biomass, plant height (PH), days to flowering (DF) and maturity (DM), thousand seed weight (TSW), and carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope composition, alongside nitrogen, mineral, and essential amino acid content. Salinity reduced PH and biomass by 20 %, TSW by 6 %, and SY by 30 %, although the ICBA-Q5 variety showed positive effects on SY and biomass under saline conditions. Salinity increased δ13C and δ15N and had a minor impact on minerals, with moderate increases in zinc and sulfur. Amino acids showed slight reductions in isoleucine, leucine, and threonine. Genotypic effects were more significant than salinity, with Ames-13757 performing best for SY and biomass under both control and saline conditions, and NSL-106399 displaying the highest amino acid content under salinity. δ13C and DF negatively correlated with SY, while δ15N was linked negatively to some minerals and amino acids. The study found a low trade-off between seed yield and quality under salinity. Quinoa is highly adaptable to saline irrigation in the UAE, and genotype selection is key for optimizing yield and quality.
Active restoration of a long-lived octocoral drives rapid functional recovery in a temperate reef
(American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2025-03-14) Zentner, Yanis; Garrabou, Joaquim; Margarit, Núria; Rovira Mestres, Graciel·la; Gómez-Gras, David; Linares Prats, Cristina
Whether restoration actions achieve full ecological recovery is still debated. This is particularly controversial in the marine realm, where the success of restoration is mostly evaluated in terms of the short-term survival of transplanted organisms. In view of this, we combined population and trait-based approaches to explore the long-term effectiveness of active restoration of a key Mediterranean octocoral. For this purpose, an assemblage with restored Corallium rubrum colonies was monitored over 10 years and compared with a nearby reference site. Our results revealed growth of the transplanted colonies followed by a change in the functional structure (i.e., dominance and diversity of traits) of the restored assemblage. This change was related not only to the development of the coral but also to the arrival and/or increase of species with different traits. Overall, our findings provide an example of how active restoration of long-lived octocorals can be an effective tool for recovering high-diverse coralligenous assemblages at decadal timescales.
Electroantennographic and Behavioral Response of Female Moroccan locusts [Dociostaurus maroccanus (Thunberg, 1815) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)] to Male-Specific Aldehydes
(MDPI, 2026-02-01) Tarantino, Elisa; Fürstenau, Benjamin; Corbella-Martorell, Claudia; Rodríguez, Iria; Coca-Abia, María Milagro; Quero, Carmen; López, Sergio
The Moroccan locust Dociostaurus maroccanus (Thunberg, 1815) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) is recognized as a serious pest of pastures and crops in many Mediterranean countries. So far, the identification of chemical compounds involved in intraspecific communication has been elusive, with only one male-specific compound, namely (2E,7R,11R)-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-2-enal (2E,7R,11R-phytal), proposed as candidate sex pheromone component. Previous works reported that males also release the sex-specific long-chain aldehydes tetradecanal and hexadecanal, although no evidence of their role in chemical signaling has been presented so far. Here we additionally report another male-specific compound, viz. pentadecanal, and also report the electroantennographic and behavioral responses of virgin and mated females to these three aldehydes. We first demonstrated that their release is age-dependent, with emission overall peaking at 1–2 weeks after fledging. Solid-phase microextraction analyses from male hind legs suggest that these aldehydes are released from this body part. Overall, the antennae of virgin and mated females exhibited a dose-dependent response to increasing concentrations of each aldehyde, except for the response of virgin females to hexadecanal. Significant differences were observed between virgin and mated females at all doses of hexadecanal, while the mating status did not influence the response to tetradecanal and pentadecanal. Furthermore, the behavioral response of females varied according to their mating status. Specifically, mated females showed a significant preference for tetradecanal and pentadecanal, whereas a slight but non-significant attraction to hexadecanal was observed on virgin females. These findings provide new insights into the sexual communication of the species, although further research is needed to decipher their ecological function, especially on mated females.
TREHS: An open-access software tool for investigating and evaluating temporary river regimes as a first step for their ecological status assessment
(Elsevier B.V., 2017-12-31) Gallart Gallego, Francesc; Cid Puey, Núria; Latron, Jérôme; Llorens, Pilar; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Jeuffroy, Justin; Jiménez-Argudo, Sara-María; Vega, Rosa-María; Solà, Carolina; Soria, Maria; Bardina, Mònica; Hernández-Casahuga, Antoni-Josep; Fidalgo, Aránzazu; Estrela, Teodoro; Munné, Antoni (Munné i Torras); Prat i Fornells, Narcís
When the regime of a river is not perennial, there are four main difficulties with the use of hydrographs for assessing hydrological alteration: i) the main hydrological features relevant for biological communities are not quantitative (discharges) but qualitative (phases such as flowing water, stagnant pools or lack of surface water), ii) stream flow records do not inform on the temporal occurrence of stagnant pools, iii) as most of the temporary streams are ungauged, their regime has to be evaluated by alternative methods such as remote sensing or citizen science, and iv) the biological quality assessment of the ecological status of a temporary stream must follow a sampling schedule and references adapted to the flow- pool-dry regime. To overcome these challenges within an operational approach, the freely available software tool TREHS has been developed within the EU LIFE TRIVERS project. This software permits the input of information from flow simulations obtained with any rainfall-runoff model (to set an unimpacted reference stream regime) and compares this with the information obtained from flow gauging records (if available) and interviews with local people, as well as instantaneous observations by individuals and interpretation of ground-level or aerial photographs. Up to six metrics defining the permanence of water flow, the presence of stagnant pools and their temporal patterns of occurrence are used to determine natural and observed river regimes and to assess the degree of hydrological alteration. A new regime classification specifically designed for temporary rivers was developed using the metrics that measure the relative permanence of the three main phases: flow, disconnected pools and dry stream bed. Finally, the software characterizes the differences between the natural and actual regimes, diagnoses the hydrological status (degree of hydrological alteration), assesses the significance and robustness of the diagnosis and recommends the best periods for biological quality samplings.
Reading rivers from libraries: A participatory initiative to assess and improve urbanised rivers using citizen science
(Elsevier, 2025-08-01) Fortuño Estrada, Pau; Codina, Marina; Herrera, José Luis; Álvarez, Montserrat; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Walteros-Rodríguez, Jeymmy Milena; López-Rodríguez, Nieves; Fernández Calero, José María; Sánchez-Campaña, Carlota; Acosta Rivas, Carlos Raúl; Prat i Fornells, Narcís; Soria, Maria
Public libraries can serve as a key starting point for initiating citizen participation projects related to the local environment. To illustrate this, we implemented the Llegim el riu project, a citizen participatory initiative aimed at engaging citizens in the assessment and management of rivers close to urban municipalities in the province of Barcelona. After a training exercise led by researchers, citizens and stakeholders were involved in both the diagnosis and the co-creation process of measures. To that purpose, several approaches were used such as interviews, surveys, workshops, dissemination of science, environmental education activities and citizen science tools. In particular, the project comprises 8 steps, where steps 1–5 were considered as the first round of the project, conducted in a training format and dynamized by university researchers and an NGO, while steps 6–8 were considered as the second round and conducted as a reinforcement. These steps consisted of: (1) a local tandem training (i.e. environmental and library technicians from each municipality), (2) a stakeholder field trip using the RiuNet citizen science tool to assess an urban river from each municipality, (3) an analysis of all available data from each sampling site, (4) a co-creation process of measures, (5) a second local tandem training, (6) same as step 2 but dynamized by both researchers and local tandem, (7) a review of the co-created measures, and (8) an implementation of at least one of the co-created measures. The third and subsequent rounds were the same as the second, but entirely dynamized by the local tandem. Citizen participation enhances the effectiveness of adaptive river management approaches by creating resilient and sustainable solutions for urban rivers, crucial for tackling current and future global challenges.
Retos y oportunidades para la evaluación del estado ecológico en ríos temporales
(Asociación Española de Ecología Terrestre, 2024-04-26) Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Sánchez-Montoya, María del Mar; Cid Puey, Núria; Acosta Rivas, Carlos Raul; Arce, María Isabel; Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel; Cunillera-Montcusí, David; de las Heras, Paloma; Díaz-Redondo, María; Ersoy, Zeynep; Fernández Calero, José María; Flor Arnau, Núria; Fortuño Estrada, Pau; Freixinos, Zeus; Gomà Martínez, Joan; López-Pintor, Antonio; López-Rodríguez, Manuel Jesús; López-Rodríguez, Nieves; Mellado-Díaz, Andrés; Miñano-Martínez, Jesús; Morcillo, Felipe; Munné, Antoni (Munné i Torras); Ordeix i Rigo, Marc, 1966-; Piñero-Fernández, Martí; Quevedo Ortiz, Guillermo; Roblas, Neftalí; Rodríguez Lozano, Pablo; Rovira, José Vicente; Sánchez-Campaña, Carlota; Sánchez-Nogueras, Judit; Soria, Maria; Suárez-Alonso, M.L.; Tierno de Figueroa, José Manuel; Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario; Vinyoles Cartanyà, Dolors; Gallart Gallego, Francesc; Prat i Fornells, Narcís
Los ríos temporales (RTs) son ecosistemas fluviales en los que los efectos de las perturbaciones antrópicas se mezclan con los de la propia perturbación natural que impone la temporalidad del flujo. A pesar de los avances en el conocimiento de los RTs, todavía persisten muchas lagunas de conocimiento que limitan el desarrollo de metodologías adecuadas para la evaluación de su estado ecológico. En esta revisión identificamos los retos actuales para la correcta evaluación del estado ecológico de los RTs y analizamos las oportunidades existentes para hacerles frente. Estos retos se centran en: la diferenciación entre RTs naturales o hidrológicamente impactados, la diferenciación entre perturbaciones naturales y antrópicas, el desarrollo de índices biológicos para pozas desconectadas y cauces secos, la adaptación de los índices hidrogeomorfológicos, y la aplicación de la teoría de metacomunidades en RTs. Las oportunidades están relacionadas con: el uso de nuevas herramientas moleculares, la existencia de índices alternativos a los tradicionales, la disponibilidad de datos para poder hacer modelización, y la implicación social en la evaluación del estado hidrológico y ecológico. La revisión se centra mayoritariamente en el conocimiento científico y de gestión acumulado desde la implementación de la DMA en España, pero recoge experiencias en otros RTs del mundo para guiar acciones de conservación y gestión en estos ecosistemas únicos y altamente amenazados por el cambio global.
A Proposal to Classify and Assess Ecological Status in Mediterranean Temporary Rivers: Research Insights to Solve Management Needs
(MDPI, 2021-03-01) Munné, Antoni; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Cid Puey, Núria; Gallart Gallego, Francesc; Solà, Carolina; Bardina, Mònica; Rovira, Albert; Sierra, Clara; Soria, Maria; Fortuño Estrada, Pau; Llorens, Pilar; Latron, Jerome; Estrela, Teodoro; Fidalgo, Arancha; Serrano, Inmaculada; Jimenez, Sara; Vega, Rosa; Prat i Fornells, Narcís
The biomonitoring methods implemented by water authorities are mostly developed for perennial rivers, and do not apply to temporary rivers (TRs). We propose a new classification for TRs to better assess their ecological status. It arises from the LIFE+ TRivers project, which was conducted in the Catalan and the Júcar Mediterranean river basin districts (RBD). The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) provided two systems to set river types (systems A or B from Annex II), which have been officially used by water authorities across Europe to set “national river types” (NRTs). However, essential hydrological variables for TRs are largely omitted. NRTs established according to the WFD were compared with TR categories obtained by using a ainfallrunoff model, “natural flows prescribed regimes” (NFPRs), and with “aquatic phases regimes” (APRs) calculated by using TREHS software. The biological quality indices currently used in Spain, based on acroinvertebrates and diatoms (IBMWP, IMMI-T, and IPS), were compared with a “general degradation” gradient in order to analyze the two TR river classification procedures (NFPR and APR). The results showed that NRTs did not properly classify TRs, and that the APR classification identified ecologically meaningful categories, especially those related to stagnant phases. Four “management temporary river categories” based on APRs are proposed to be used for water managers to properly assess the ecological status of TRs.
As time goes by: 20 years of changes in the aquatic macroinvertebrate metacommunity of Mediterranean river networks
(John Wiley & Sons, 2020) Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel; Gutiérrez-Cánovas, Cayetano; Acosta Rivas, Carlos Raúl; Castro-López, Daniel; Cid Puey, Núria; Fortuño Estrada, Pau; Munné, Antoni; Múrria i Farnós, Cesc; Pimentão, Ana Rita; Sarremejane, Romain; Soria, Maria; Tarrats Sada, Pol; Verkaik, Iraima; Prat i Fornells, Narcís; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria
Aim To analyse temporal metacommunity dynamics in river networks in relation to hydrological conditions and dispersal. Location Fifteen river reaches from the Llobregat, Besòs and Foix catchments in the North‐Eastern Iberian Peninsula. Taxon Aquatic macroinvertebrates belonging to 99 different families. Methods We sampled aquatic macroinvertebrate communities during spring in 20 consecutive years. We built two environmental distances (one related with water chemistry and another one with river flow regime) and two spatial distances (network distance and topographic distance). Then we used Mantel tests (accounting for spatial autocorrelation) to relate macroinvertebrate dissimilarity with environmental and spatial distances. Additionally, we determined the dry and wet years using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and we classified macroinvertebrate families based on their ability to fly and to drift. Finally, we ran a linear regression model including the correlation value (r) of each Mantel test as response variable and distance type (environmental or spatial), SPI, dispersal mode, their pairwise interactions and a three‐way interaction as predictor variables. Results Metacommunity organization varied over time and it was significantly affected by precipitation, which can be related to river network connectivity. The environmental filters, mainly the flow regime, were generally more important than the spatial filters in explaining community dissimilarity over the study period. However, this depended on the dispersal abilities of the organisms. Network fragmentation due to flow intermittence during the dry years significantly reduced the dispersal capacity of strong aerial dispersers, leading to spatially structured metacommunities. For strong drift dispersers, community dissimilarity patterns were generally best explained by environmental filters regardless of SPI. Main conclusions A significant temporal variation in metacommunity organization can be expected in highly dynamic systems (e.g. Mediterranean rivers) and it might depend on the dispersal modes and abilities of the organisms, since they determine the response to changes in environmental and landscape filters.
Biodiversity in perennial and intermittent rivers: a meta-analysis
(Wiley, 2017-06-20) Soria, Maria; Leigh, Catherine; Datry, Thibault; Bini, Luis Mauricio; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria
Comprehensive knowledge of the effects of disturbances on biodiversity is crucial for conservation and management, not least because ecosystems with low biodiversity may be the most vulnerable. In rivers, the role of disturbance in shaping aquatic biodiversity has mainly focused on floods. Perennial rivers (PRs) often flood, whereas intermittent rivers (IRs) flood, stop flowing and dry. Despite the recent and significant increase in research on IRs, controversy remains about whether they are more or less biodiverse than PRs. Our aim was to determine (Q1) if PRs and IRs differ in biodiversity and (Q2) if the direction and magnitude of the differences (effect sizes) are related to environmental (climate, season, habitat, longitudinal zonation and anthropogenic disturbance) and/or biological factors (taxonomic group). We conducted a meta-analysis on 44 published studies of PR and IR biodiversity that had replicated data. We applied random effects models to the data to obtain weighted mean effect sizes for differences between PRs and IRs, and their confidence intervals, by first considering all studies and then by splitting studies into groups on the basis of the above factors. We found that biodiversity was significantly higher in PRs than in IRs (Q1). We also detected significant differences (PRs> IRs) in studies of macroinvertebrates, in those conducted within arid and temperate climates, dry and wet sampling seasons, headwaters, and regions subject to different levels of anthropogenic disturbance (Q2). Our meta-analysis suggests that the expected increase in the prevalence of IRs in certain regions of the world due to global change could result in a decrease in freshwater biodiversity. To better manage and preserve aquatic biodiversity under future global change scenarios and to avoid potential ecosystem consequences of biodiversity loss, conservation efforts should be targeted towards those environmental conditions or taxonomic groups with significant differences (PRs > IRs).
Natural disturbances and connectivity drive seasonal taxonomic and trait patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities across Europe
(John Wiley & Sons, 2025-05-10) Chalmandrier, Loïc; Cunillera-Montcusí, David; López-Rojo, Naiara; Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel; Csabai, Zoltán; Soria, Maria; Foulquier, Arnaud; Jabot, Franck; Miliša, Marko; Mykrä, Heikki; Pařil, Petr; Pernecker, Bálint; Polovic,, Luka; Sarremejane, Romain; Snåre, Henna; Datry, Thibault; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Munoz, François
Aim Understanding the joint influence of natural disturbance regime, connectivity and biogeography on the seasonal variation of community structure. Location Drying river networks (DRN) in Europe. Time Period Present. Major Taxa Studied Aquatic macroinvertebrates. Methods We analyse the taxonomic and trait structure of 638 macroinvertebrate communities sampled across 125 reaches with perennial and intermittent streamflow, surveyed in six DRNs across Europe, up to six times over 1 year. Results Richness and trait diversity of macroinvertebrate communities decreased with increasing drying frequency, but increased with spatio-temporal connectivity in reaches with long drying events. Communities experiencing frequent drying events had higher relative abundance of taxa with a long lifecycle and drying resistance traits. Communities experiencing long drying events compensated by high spatio-temporal connectivity, and had more taxa with high fecundity and high dispersal ability. Taxa richness peaked in summer but that pattern was more prominent when drying frequency was high. Trait diversity decreased throughout the year, showing increasing abiotic stress as the year progressed. Communities changed from communities of mobile, fecund, short-lived taxa in spring and autumn to communities of long-lived taxa in summer. However, when drying frequency increased, autumn communities shifted towards communities of long-lived taxa. Macroinvertebrate community trait structure changed across Europe. It opposed communities from Mediterranean and/or upland DRNs (with more fecund and mobile taxa) to lowland DRNs (with more long-lived taxa). Main Conclusions Frequency and duration of drying events and spatio-temporal connectivity drive divergent macroinvertebrate community structures, suggesting the presence of an ecological threshold that explains the variability of disturbed ecosystems across broad spatial scales. These factors also influence seasonal variations, with macroinvertebrate communities shaped by distinct trait-filtering processes throughout the year based on drying frequency. Ultimately, spatio-temporal connectivity plays a crucial role in sustaining species richness and trait diversity in reaches experiencing intense drying.
Importancia de la conservación de ríos tributarios de cabecera como fuente de biodiversidad: río Lía (Santa Juana, región del Biobío, Chile)
(Asociación Española de Ecología Terrestre, 2019-12-01) Soria, Maria; Díaz, María E.; Beltrán, Maribel; Figueroa, Ricardo
Los ríos mediterráneos se encuentran entre los que reportan mayores pérdidas de biodiversidad en el mundo. En Chile, se han realizado esfuerzos por conocer y proteger estos ecosistemas, pero aún quedan muchos ríos sin estudiar. Este trabajo realiza una breve caracterización de la calidad biológica, fisicoquímica e hidromorfológica del río Lía. Los resultados mostraron que existe una mayor biodiversidad y calidad del agua y el bosque de ribera en los puntos de cabecera. Para mejorar el equilibrio entre el uso de los recursos hídricos y el mantenimiento de estos ecosistemas, se deberían proponer medidas de conservación para la cabecera de dicho río.

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