Press releases

A study led by the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) concludes that the high mortality of Iberian wolf explains why their population has remained stagnant in recent decades. Reducing the mortality rate of the Iberian wolf is key to improve the conservation status of the species, classified as “Vulnerable” in Spain and “In danger” in Portugal by the UICN

Morales-González, A., Fernández-Gil, A., Quevedo, M., Kramer-Schadt, S., Paniw, M. & Revilla, E. (2026). Resident mortality determines grey wolf range dynamics. Journal of Applied Ecology, 63, e70465. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.70465

 The two platforms allow users to explore, visualise and download high-resolution environmental data. Hydromet provides near real-time hydrometeorological information from the Doñana marshes at five-minute intervals, while Meteo Palacio offers access to a historical meteorological dataset spanning more than 45 years of continuous observations.

Researchers from the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) and the University of Milan have identified four new species of tiny blood-feeding flies belonging to the genus Leptoconops, an insect group of importance for public and animal health. The discovery was made during mosquito surveillance campaigns carried out to monitor the presence of West Nile virus across Andalusia.

Paun-Tanase DI, González MA, Magallanes S, Naro G, Epis S, Figuerola J (2026) Hidden diversity in Europe: new species and a revised taxonomy of the subgenus Leptoconops (Leptoconops) (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae). ZooKeys 1279: 201-239. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1279.186179

An international study involving the Doñana Biological Station shows that the wintering areas of the European pied flycatcher are determined by both genetic inheritance and natal environment. The research reveals that all birds, from Spain to Siberia, migrate via the Iberian Peninsula and the West African coast, representing a major detour for Siberian populations. Understanding the links between breeding and wintering areas improves predictions of how migratory species may adapt to climate change.

Lamers, K.P., Ouwehand, J., Ubels, R., Nicolaus, M., Camacho, C., Potti, J. … & Both, C. 2026. Innate factors and ontog-eny determine non-breeding areas of migrant songbirds. Science, DOI: /doi/10.1126/science.ads0532

An international study led by the University of Freiburg, with the participation of the Doñana Biological Station – CSIC, has analyzed wildlife activity in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone before, during, and after the 2022 Russian occupation. The results reveal immediate changes in the activity patterns of several mammal species due to military activity, with impacts varying depending on the species and the intensity of the disturbance


Svitlana Kudrenko, Richard Bischof, Andreas Zedrosser, Nuria Selva, Kateryna Korepanova, Denys Vishnevskiy, Martin Gahbauer, Serhii Obrizan, Serhii Domashevskiy, Oleksandr Borsuk, Alona Varukha, Marco Heurich. Changes in wildlife activity patterns in response to war in Ucraine. Science www.doi.org/10.1126/science.aed1493

A study, led by the Doñana Biological Station reveals high mortality rates of the Iberian pear, a small tree endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, over the last two decades. Despite the rigorous regularization of land use in the Doñana National Park, high densities of herbivores, together with the overexploitation of aquifers and long droughts, exacerbate the decline of the Iberian pear.


Fedriani, J.M., Garrote, P.J., Morera, B., Calvo, G., Zywiec, M., Ayllón, D., Leiva, M.J., Wiegand, T., Deli-bes, M. (2026). Wild pears in peril: does National Park protection ensure tree conservation? Biological Conservation, in press.

10.4% of Europe’s bee species are endangered. While honeybee populations are on the rise, wild bees are in decline. The decline of pollinators, such as bees and other insects, is estimated to have slashed global fruit yields by 25% and nut production by more than 20%

A study involving the Doñana Biological Station (EBD) and the Arid Zones Experimental Station (EEZA) has analyzed 62 bird-parasite interactions across 14 European populations at various latitudes, comparing two periods separated by an 11-year interval. These variations are also contingent upon the parasite species; overall, a decline in infection intensity has been observed in recent years.

A. Pape Møller, S. Merino, J.J. Soler, F. Adriaensen, A. Cantarero, T. Eeva, J. Figuerola, M. García-del Río, J. Garrido-Bautista, D. Heylen, A. Marzal, E. Matthysen, P. Matyjasiak, A. C. Norte, M. Ruiz. Rodríguez, M. Svobodová, E. Szöllősi, J. Török, F. Valera, J. Veiga y N. Ziane (2026) Temporal changes in intensity of bird parasite infections are dependent on latitude in the Western Palearctic. PlosONE. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0346587

Researchers from the Doñana BIological Station (EBD-CSIC) has found a specimen of sea lamprey in the Rivera de Huelva, one of the main Guadalquivir’s main tributaries. The species is critically endangered in Spain and was considered almost ex-tinct in the Andalusian river.

Study reveals that nightjars, a nocturnal visually-oriented bird, depend on moonlight to forage efficiently on insects and maintain their energy balance. Data collected over more than a decade uncover a suite of adaptations that allow them to survive moonless periods, although only full moons provide enough energy to meet the high costs of reproduction and migration.

Camacho, C., Norevik, G., Sáez-Gómez, P., Hidalgo-Rodríguez, P., Rabadán-González, J., Åkesson, S. & Hedenström, A. Moonlight drives the energy balance and annual cycle of a nocturnal forag-er. Science Advances, in press. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aed8204.