Island Ecology and Biogeography Research Group
(Grupo de Investigación Interuniversitario de
Ecología y Biogeografía Insular, ULL-ULPGC)
(updated: May 2006)
Hi, you have reached the web page of the Island Ecology and Biogegraphy Research Group at the Universities of La Laguna (Tenerife) and Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Canary Islands, SPAIN. On these pages you will find brief explanations about our research, publications, activities, students and staff. You can feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We encourage students of biology to check this page where they can find Ecology-related hyperlinks and other useful information.
This page is performed by
Dr. José María
Fernández-Palacios, associate professor
at
La Laguna University. Our research program
deals mainly about the ecological analysis of the Canarian
terrestrial ecosystems in a very broad sense, including the analysis of the
structure and dynamics of the Canarian forests (laurel forest, pine forest and
thermophillous woodlands) and of the Canarian scrubs (coastal and summit scrub).
We also are active in ecological restoration, habitat fragmentation, plant
conservation and palaovegetation studies. In our personal
web-pages you will find more information about
our
research and publications. We also count
with a number of well trained students belonging to our
or other Universities, that are learning the science of Ecology by performing field
work for different research projects.
40. Arévalo, J.R. & Fernández-Palacios, J.M. Treefall gap and regeneration in the laurel forest: is it a matter of sizes? Plant Ecology, in press.
39. Delgado, J.D., Arévalo, J.R. & Fernández-Palacios, J.M. Road edge effects on the abundance of the lizard Gallotia galloti (Sauria: Lacertidae) on two Canary Islands Forests. Biodiversity and Conservation. In press.
38. Arteaga, M., González-Delgado, G., Delgado, J.D., Arévalo, J.R. & Fernández-Palacios, J.M. Seed vs seedling spatial patterns in Picconia excelsa (Oleaceae) in the Canarian laurel forest. Flora, in press.
37. Otto, R., Krüsi, B.O., Burga, C.A. & Fernández-Palacios, J.M. 2006. Old-field succession along a precipitation gradient in the semi-arid coastal region of Tenerife. Journal of Arid Environments, 65: 156-178.
36. Arévalo, J.R. & Fernández-Palacios, J.M. 2005. Gradient analysis of exotic Pinus radiata plantations and potential restoration of natural vegetation in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). Acta Oecologica 27: 1-8.36.
35. Arévalo, J.R. & Fernández-Palacios, J.M. 2005. From pine plantations in natural stands. Ecological restoration of a Pinus canariensis Sweet, ex Spreng forest. Plant Ecology, 181: 217-224.
34. Arévalo, J.R., Naranjo, A. & Salas, M. 2005. Regeneration in a mixed stand of native Pinus canariensis and introduced Pinus pinea species. Acta Oecologica 28: 87-94.
33. Aboal, J.R., Arévalo, J.R. & Fernández, A. 2005. Allometric relationships of different tree species and stand above ground biomass in the Gomera laurel forest (Canary Islands). Flora 200: 264-274.
31. Arévalo, J.R., Delgado, J.D., Otto, R., Naranjo, A., Salas, M. & Fernandez-Palacios, J.M. 2005. Distribution of alien vs. native plat species on roadside communities along an altitudinal gradient in Tenerife and Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 7: 185-202.
30. García-Ramírez, A., Delgado, J.D., Foronda, P. Abreu, N. 2005. Haematozoans, mites and body condition in the oceanic island lizard Gallotia atlantica (Petres and Doria 1882) (Reptilia: Lacertidae). Journal of Natural History, 39: 1299-1305.
28. Delgado, J.D., Núñez, J., Riera, R. & Monterroso, O. 2003. Abundance and diversity patterns of annelids from intertidal sandy beaches in Iceland. Hydrobiologia 496: 311-319.
27. Palmer, M.W., Arévalo, J.R., Cobo, M.C. & Earls, P.G. 2003. Species richness and soil reaction in a Northeastern Oklahoma landscape. Folia Geobotanica 38: 1-9.
25. Delgado, J.D. 2002. Interaction between introduced rats and a frugivory bird-plant system in a relict island forest. Journal of Natural History. 36: 1247-1258.
24. Arévalo, J.R. 2002. Distribution of trees and saplings at the edge of cross timber forest. Natural Areas Journal 22: 99-107.
23. Morici, C. 2002. Coccothrinax boschiana. Palms 46: 14-18.
20. Palmer, M.W., McAlister, S.D., Arévalo, J.R. & DeCoster, J.K. 2000. Changes in the understory during 14 years following catastrophic windtrow in two Minnesota forests. Journal Vegetation Science 11: 841-854.
18. Arévalo, J.R., DeCoster, J.K., McAlister, S.D. & Palmer, M.W. 2000. Changes in two Minnesota forests during fourteen years following catastrophic windhrow. Journal Vegetation Science 11: 833-840.
17. Delgado, J.D. 2000. Selection and treatment of fleshy fruits by the ship rat (Rattus rattus E.) in the canarian laurel forest. Mammalia 64: 11-18
16. Marrero-Gómez, M., Arévalo, J.R., Bañares-Baudet, A. & Carqué, E. 2000. Competition effects in the establishment of the endangered Echium acanthocarpum (Boraginacea) in the Canary Islands. Biological Conservation 94: 183-190.
15. Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & Andersson, C. 2000. Geographical determinants of the biological richness in the macaronesian region. Acta Phytogeographica Suecica 85: 41-50.
13. Arévalo, J.R., Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & Palmer, M. 1999. Tree regeneration and predicted future dynamics in a laurel forest (Tenerife, Canary Islands). Journal of Vegetation Science 10: 861-868.
12. Nogales, M., Valido, A., Medina, F.M., Delgado, J.D. 1999. Frugivory and factors influencing visitation by birds at "Balo" (Plocama pendula Ait., Rubiaceae) plants in the Canary Islands. Ecoscience 6: 531-538.
11. Nogales, M., Delgado, J.D. & Medina F. M. 1998. Shrikes, lizards and Licium intricatum (Solanaceae) fruits: a case of indirect seed dispersal on an oceanic island (Alegranza, Canary Islands). Journal of Ecology 86: 866-871.
10. Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & Arévalo, J.R. 1998. Tree strategies regeneration of the trees in the laurel forest of Tenerife (The Canary Islands). Plant Ecology 127: 21-29.
9. Arévalo, J.R. & Fernández-Palacios, J.M. 1998. Treefall gap characteristics and its influence on regeneration in the laurel forest of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Journal of Vegetation Science 9:297-306.
8. Jiménez, J.F., Valladares, B., Fernández-Palacios, J.M., de Armas, F. & del Castillo, A. 1997. A serologic study of humans toxiocariasis in the Canary Islands (Spain). Environmental Influences. Am J Trop Med Hyg 56: 113-115.
7. Carreira J.A., Arévalo, J.R. & Niell, F.X. 1995. Soil degradation and nutrient availability in fire-prone mediterranean shrublands of southeastern Spain. Arid Soil Research and Rehabilitation 10: 55-56 .
6. Rusch, G. & Fernandez-Palacios, J.M. 1995. The influence of spatial heterogeneity on regeneration by seed in a limestone grassland. Journal of Vegetation Science 6: 417-426.
5. Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & de Nicolás, J.P. 1995. Altitudinal pattern of vegetation variation on Tenerife. Journal of Vegetation Science 6: 183-190.
4. Arévalo J.R., Carreira, J.A. & Niell, F.X. 1994. Kinetic parameters of phosphatase activity along a xerix dolomitic soil-chronosequence related to wildfires. Geomicrobiology Journal 11: 235-246.
3. Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & Andersson, C. 1993. Species composition and within archipelago co-occurrence patterns in the Canary Islands. Ecography, 16:31-36.
2. Fernández-Palacios, J.M. 1992. Climatic responses of plant species on Tenerife (Canary Islands). Journal of Vegetation Science 3: 595-602.
1. de Nicolás, J.P., Fernández-Palacios, J.M., Nieto, E. & Ferrer, F. 1989. Inter-island floristic similarities in the Macaronesian region. Vegetatio 84: 117-125.
Books published
7. Whittaker, R.J. & Fernández-Palacios, J.M. Island Biogeography. Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press. In press.
6. Fernández-Palacios, J.M., Arévalo, J.R, Delgado, J.D. & Otto, R. 2004. Canarias: Ecología, Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo. Centro de la Cultura Popular de Canarias. 200 pp.
5. Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & Morici, C. (eds.). 2004. Ecología Insular / Island Ecology. Asociación Española de Ecología Terrestre (AEET)-Cabildo Insular de la Palma. 438 pp.
4. Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & Martín Esquivel, J.L. (eds.). 2001. Naturaleza de las Islas Canarias. Ecología y Conservación. Turquesa Ediciones. 474 pp.
3. Fernández-Palacios, J.M., Bacallado, J.A. & Belmonte, J.A. (eds.). 1999. Ecología y Cultura en Canarias. Museo de las Ciencias y el Cosmos. 202 pp.
2. Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & de los Santos, A. 1996. Ecología de las Islas Canarias. Muestreo y análisis de poblaciones y comunidades. Sociedad La Cosmológica de Santa Cruz de la Palma.
1. Aguilera, F., Brito, A., Castilla, C. Díaz, A., Fernández-Palacios, J.M., Rodríguez, A., Sabaté, F, & Sánchez, J. 1994. Canarias: Economía, Ecología y Medio Ambiente. Francisco Lemus Editor, 389 pp.
Current financed research projects
Mycorrhiza inoculation in containerized Pinus canariensis seedlings
We are evaluating the effect of mycorrhiza inoculation in the survivorship of containerized Pinus canariensis in greenhouse and also in the field after plantation, one of the main problems of restoration programs in the different island of the archipelago. Financed by the Canarian Government.
Laurel forest monitoring
We are studying temporal and spatial changes in the canopy composition of the laurel forest of Anaga (NE Tenerife). We are also studying tree regeneration, the dynamics of the seedling community and habitat restoration. These projects are financed by the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife, the Rolle Foundation (Germany) and British Petroleum Oil-España.
Thermophillous woodlands restoration project
In this project we have to restore with thermophillous woodlands (mainly planting Juniperus, Olea and Retama) a deforested ravine due to goat overgrazing in the Teno Rural Park on Tenerife. This project is financed by the European Union Life Programm and the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife.
Coastal shrub restoration project
In this project we are evaluating different management activities to restore the coastal shrub ecosystem in three protected areas of Tenerife (Acantilado de La Hondura, Montaña Amarilla and Montaña Roja). This project is financed by in the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife.
Monitoring fire effects in the pine forest
We are monitoring the effect of intense fires that affected the Pinus canariensis forest of La Palma. The field work and the data analysis are to reveal the effect of the fire on the species richness, the forest structure and the spatial variability of resources availability. This project is financed by the Cabildo Insular de La Palma and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología.
Ph.D. and Graduation Thesis defended
(19) Graduation Thesis: “Análisis de la variación en la disponibilidad de nitrógeno y fósforo a lo largo de una cronosecuencia geológica en Canarias” defended by Alfredo Bermúdez Ferrer, March 2006.
(18) Graduation Thesis: “Estudio de las poblaciones de Atractylis preauxiana y su posible tendencia en Tenerife” defended by Javier Méndez Hernández, March 2006.
(17) Graduation Thesis: “Evolución de la vegetación a través del registro fósil en la laguna de La Laguna (Tenerife, Islas Canarias) y su relación con el clima y la actividad humana en el pasado” defended by Lea de Nascimento Reyes, March 2006.
(16) Graduation Thesis: “La ecología insular de las palmeras y el caso de Canarias” defended by Carlo Morici. March 2006.
(15) Graduation Thesis: “Invasiones de ardillas en islas” defended by Marta López Darias, March 2005.
(14) Graduation Thesis: “Análisis de la variación florística en un gradiente ambiental en terrazas abandonadas en la Punta del Sol (Tenerife)” defended by Tamar de La Concepción Sánchez, March 2005.
(13) Graduation Thesis: “La cantidad de información como variable de estado en la modelización termoestsdística del ecosistema” defended by Ricardo Rodríguez de la Vega, October 2005.
(12) Graduation Thesis: “Análisis de la estructura espacial del matorral costero de Tenerife” defended by Carlos González Escudero, October 2004.
(11) Graduation Thesis: "Influencia de la edad y estructura del bosque sobre briófitos epífitos de área de monteverde (La Palma)" defended by Jairo Lorente. La Laguna University. September 2004.
(10) Graduation Thesis: "Alelopatía e interacciones suelo-mantillo en la laurisilva canaria" defended by Óscar Socas. La Laguna University. July 2004.
(9) Graduation Thesis: “Seguimiento de la restauración ecológica de los espacios costeros de Montaña Amarilla y Acantilado de La Hondura” defended by Gustavo Morales Morales Mach 2004.
(8) Graduation Thesis: “Análisis de la dispersión de individuos aislados de palo blanco (Picconia excelsa)”. defended by Manuel Bravo Arteaga, March 2004.
(7) Ph. D. Thesis: "Efecto de borde en las carreteras de la laurisilva y pinar de Tenerife" defended by Juan Domingo Delgado. La Laguna University. February 2004.
(6) Ph. D. Thesis: "Räumliche und zeitliche Variabilität des Sukkulentenbuschs auf Tenerife und ihre ökologische Interpretation" defended by Rüdiger Otto. Zurich University. March 2003.
(5) Graduation Thesis: "Análisis de la regeneración del monteverde tras el abandono de su aprovechamiento forestal. El caso de Breña Baja La Palma" defended by Alfredo Bermúdez. La Laguna University. July 2002.
(4) Graduation
Thesis: “Dinámica temporal y espacial de la lluvia de frutos en la laurisilva (Anaga-Tenerife)” defended by Luciana Carvalho.
La Laguna University. March 2002.
(3)
Graduation Thesis:
“Análisis de
la estructura y composición de parcelas permanentes en la laurisilva de Anaga
(Tenerife)” defended by Guacimara González Delgado.
La Laguna University. March 2002.
(2) Master Thesis: “The effect of Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus ssp globulus plantations on the recovery of the native laurel forest at Agua García (Canary Islands): Issues of ecological restoration”defended by Lauren Ward. Oxford University. Septiembre 2000.
(1) Ph. D. Thesis "Organización espacial y temporal de la laurisilva de Anaga, Tenerife. Islas Canarias" defended by José Ramón Arévalo Sierra. La Laguna University. May 1998.
Yearly our research group is offering within the students of the last courses of Biology and Agronomic graduation (ULL) a research grant for collaboration in ecological projects. The amount of the award is 1,000 Euros.
* 1999: (21 applications) The winner of the grant was the student
Esther Morera Bello.
She helped us with projects related with pine forest dynamics.
* 2000: (14 applications) The winner of the grant wast the student Lea do Nascimento. She collaborated with projects related with laurel forest dynamics.
* 2001: (5 applications) The winner of the grant wast the student Gloria García Fariña. She collaborated with projects related with pine forest dynamics.
* 2002: (10 applications) The winner of the grant was the student Aitana Llorca. She helped us with research related with different topics.
* 2003: (6 applications) The winner of the grant was the student Tinixara Mesa. She worked with us in different research projects simultaneously.
* 2004: (6 applications) The winner of the grant was the student Candelaria Rodríguez. She will help us in different research projects.
* 2005: (4 applications) The winner of the grant was the student Silvia Fernández Lugo. She will help us in different research projects.
Guest researchers and Ph.D. students
During the last years some researchers and Ph.D. students coming from abroad have spent some time among us, either helping us to improve our formation in Ecology through courses in the case or the colleagues or forming themselves in Ecology through the collaboration with us in our research projects, and attending to our ecology courses in the case of the students. Among them we remember especially:
- Lauren Ward (Australia, from Oxford University, visiting us in 2000): She worked in her Master Degree in the diferential regeneration existing in the Laurel forest, Pinus canariensis forest, Eucalyptus globulus plantations and Pinus radiata plantations.
- Luciana Carvalho (Brasil, Belo Horizonte University, visiting us in 2000-2002): She stayed among us for a couple of years working with her graduation thesis that has dealt with the fruit rain in the laurel forest.
- Nadine Bauer (Germany, from Berlin University, visiting us in 2001): She stayed with us for a year compliting her "Diplom Arbeit" which deals with the biometry of laurel forest tree species fruits.
- Florence Villaume (France, from the Montpellier University, visiting us in April-May 2004): She stayed among us for two months and helped us in the pine forest research project in La Palma, where she obtained material for her "Report on practical Ecology"
- Miamaria Runnquist (Sweden, Agricultural University of Uppsala, visiting us in November 2004): She will work with filed experiments dealing with alelopathic effects in the laurel forest.
- Dr. Markus von Gaisberg and Dr. Christian Stierstorfer (Germany, University of Regensburg, visiting us in November 2004): We will colaborate with them in the biogegraphical and ecological analyzing and proccesing of their very valuable Flora of El Hierro databank.
- Pascal Meuwly and Sonia Schaffner (Switzerland, Federal Insttue of Technology, January-August 2005). They have collaborate in the field data collection of the Juniperus LIFE research project.
Our courses
The teachers of the group hold nowadays these teaching responsabilities:
José María Fernández-Palacios: Island Ecology, Environment and Sustainable Development, Ecology of Agricultural Systems.
José Ramón Arévalo: Limnology, Ecological Impact Assesment, Methods and Techniques in Ecology, Advanced Cuantitative Ecology.
Juan Domingo Delgado: Engineering and Environment
Agustín Naranjo: Biogeography, GIS, (at the Geography Department, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University)
Please visit their personal webpages for programms, timetables, organization, etc. of the different subjects (information only in spanish).
Head (Asociate Professor): José María Fernández-Palacios
Assistant Professors: José Ramón Arévalo, Juan Domingo Delgado, Agustín Naranjo
Researcher associate: Rüdiger Otto
Advanced Ph. D. Students: Guacimara Glez. Delgado, Carlos Glez. Escudero, (Ministerio de Educación grant), Gustavo Morales (project grant) Manuel Arteaga, Tamar de la Concepción (Cajacanarias grant), Marta López Darias (CSIC grant) & Óscar Socas (project grant)
Ph. D. Students: Lea de Nascimento, Carlo Morici, Alfredo Bermúdez, Gloria García Fariña, Javier Méndez (project grant), Aitana Llorca, Tinixara Mesa & Iñaki Losana (Collaboration grant).
Research colleagues and other interesting links
Michael Palmer The Ordination Web Page: A very useful page for multivariate analysis, probably the best of the web in the subject..
Robert J. Whittaker. Professor of Geography at Oxford University, UK. Editor of Journal of Biogeography.
Katherine Willis. Professor of Geography at Oxford University, UK
Martin Zobel. Professor of Ecology at Tartu University. Estonia. Editor of Ecography.
Peter Dittrich. Professor of Ecology at LM University, Munich, Germany.
Antonio Gallardo. Professor of Ecology at Vigo University, Spain.
Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología Universidad de La Laguna
La Laguna, 38206, Tenerife
Islas Canarias, ESPAÑA
Phone: +34 922 318363 Fax: + 34 922 318311