About the talk

Fire is a major ecological and evolutionary force in Mediterranean ecosystems, acting as a frequent disturbance that shapes biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. Ants, as an abundant and conspicuous group, play a key role in these environments by providing essential ecosystem services. However, the impacts of fire on this group have been scarcely explored. In my thesis project, I will investigate the effects of fire on both taxonomic and functional diversity, as well as on their ecological functions, through field experiments in shrubland and forest habitats affected by fire. By studying this key faunal group, the results could provide valuable insights into the resilience of Mediterranean ecosystems to fire.

About the speaker

I graduated in Biology from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (2019). I then interned at the University of Cambridge, using D. melanogaster to study the genetics of parasitism susceptibility, and later worked at the University of the Azores assessing invasive arthropods' environmental risks. In 2021, I pursued a Master’s in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at Pablo de Olavide University, joining Jordi Figuerola’s lab (EBD-CSIC) through a JAE-Intro grant to study mosquito diet effects on pathogen interactions. I then worked as a lab technician at EBD-CSIC, first in the Molecular Ecology Lab (2022-2023) and later at Viktor Baranov’s Lab (2023-2024) on fossil Chironomidae larvae. In spring 2024, I began my PhD at EBD-CSIC as part of the ECOFIRE project, where I am investigating the effects of fire on ant diversity and ecological functions.