Press releases

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.

A study led by the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) and the University of A Coruña analyzes the factors that shape Iberian wolf movement. High human population, settlements and roads are the main factors limiting their movements. Vegetation acts as a buffer, providing refuge from these negative effects.

Ferreiro Arias, I., Martínez Rueda, I., García, E. J., Palacios Sánchez, V., Sazatornil, V., Rodríguez, A., López-Bao, J. V., & Llaneza, L. (2026). Human disturbance, prey availability and refuge cover shape wolf movements in anthropized landscapes. Behavioral Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arag037

This is the conclusion of a study co-led by the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) after analyzing Google Earth images of more than 1,300 ponds between 2000 and 2022. The study identifies climatic factors and intensive agriculture as the main causes of the degradation of these habitats of great ecological value.
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Arnanz, C., & Florencio, M. (2026). Temporary ponds in peninsular Spain: insights for the conservation of a threatened habitat under global change. Journal of Environmental Management, 404, 129433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129433

Birds are the most diverse group, with 417 species in the Doñana Biosphere Reserve, followed by fish with 182 species
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Jacinto Román, Alberto M. Arias, José L. Arroyo, Giulia Bastianelli, Javier Calzada, Miguel Clavero, M. Dolores Cobo, Carmen Díaz-Paniagua, Carlos Ibañez, Javier Juste, Antonio Martínez, Jesús Nogueras, Leónidas de los Reyes, Eloy Revilla, Rubén Rodríguez, Eduardo José Rodríguez-Rodríguez, José L. del Valle, Guyonne F. E. Janss, Zulima Tablado, Marcello D’Amico, Laetitia M. Navarro. Updated checklist of the vertebrate fauna of the Doñana Biosphere Reserve, Spain. ZooKeys (2026). https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1269.166028

With participation from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the study shows that similar plant populations can evolve in very different ways in response to climate change.

A study led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) reveals a worrying increase in pangolins and other protected vertebrates in urban markets and rural areas destined for human consumption. Threatened species are reaching higher prices, a factor that could further intensify the pressure on their populations.
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José L. Tella, Íñigo Palacios-Martínez, Pedro Romero-Vidal, Guillermo Blanco, Javier Juste. Wildlife consumption is widespread across Equatorial Guinea and hunted species are more threatened now than 35 years ago. Biological Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111775