Plant’s Lego
How are plants organized in the world? Why have they evolved this way? Francisco Lloret answers that after researcher Carlos Herrera was granted with the Haeckel Price in ecology.
To Carlos
Sergio Osorio defends his doctoral thesis and shows that the rules of ecology can still be revised
Are the insects which begin their adult life in the coldest months the largest? An accepted paradigm within ecology, Bergmann's rule, says that organisms in the coldest regions of the Earth tend to be larger. Two months ago, Sergio Osorio presented his doctoral thesis at CREAF in which he analyzed this principle to test if seasonality is also related with body size.
Earth observation can help conserve protected natural areas
To celebrate passing its halfway point, the European project ECOPOTENTIAL is organizing a photo exhibition and a workshop that will generate awareness of innovations in the field of remote sensing which can be applied to the management, monitoring and conservation of protected natural areas.
Men from wealthy countries are getting taller because their diet is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus
Mean male height in countries with a high level of GDP is 23 cm greater than in countries with a low level, a difference that has risen by 1.5 cm over the last 30 years. Thanks to a more varied diet rich in animal products, the annual nitrogen and phosphorus intake of people in wealthy countries is practically twice that of those in poor countries.
How the forests of the Iberian Peninsula have changed over 25 years?
The increase in drought episodes and the lack of water in the soil have favored Mediterranean species. At the same time, conifers are losing ground because they are less adapted to droughts. These trends correspond to the period of 1987 to 2012 and have been confirmed through satellite remote sensing images.
Four Spanish scientists receive the Nature award
Yesterday, the 4th of December, the Nature Award for Mentoring took place, the awards for four exemplary scientific tutors. It was held for the first time in Spain, under a panel of judges chaired by Josep Peñuelas and met at CREAF months ago. The winners are Lluís Torner, Margarita Salas, Carlos López-Otín and Carlos Belmonte. Congratulations!!
For the time being, forests are helping to slow CO2 accumulation and climate change
A study led by CREAF shows that decreases in pollutant deposition and the increase in atmospheric CO2 have stimulated photosynthesis and carbon sequestration in forests. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how carbon circulates in the atmosphere, in living organisms, oceans, and soils in order to anticipate the effects of climate change.
Why are there so many plants?
Which characteristics of the environment and living beings can explain the great diversity of plants and life in general on Earth?