Rey Simo Ana

Investigación

Dr. Ana Rey is a senior scientist working in the Department of Biogeography and Global Change since 2012. Her expertise include biogeochemical cycles in terrestrial ecosystems and gas exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere in response to global change.

My main research interest has been to study how human-induced changes are altering the carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems in order to understand how they will respond to global change drivers. In particular, I have studied the impact of increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration, increased ultraviolet radiation, increased temperature and changes in precipitation patterns, or land use changes on forests and terrestrial ecosystems. I have investigated at different temporal (from short to long-term predictions) and spatial scales (local and regional and European scales), and in different biomes (temperate, boreal, tropical, Mediterranean, Antarctic, and drylands).

I was trained as a Plant Ecophysiologist during my Ph.D at Edinburgh University. After that I worked for several years in Edinburgh on several European projects dealing with carbon and nitrogen cycling in European forests. I have also worked as a research scientist in several Universities and International Research Institutions such as Biosphere 2 centre (Columbia University), National Centre for Atmospheric Research (Boulder, Colorado), Stanford University or Davis University. As a Visiting Expert in FAO, I worked on a project dealing with carbon sequestration strategies in drylands. Living in Italy for several years, I have long collaborated with the University of Viterbo, CNR-Rome and INGV.

After 20 years working abroad, I became a permanent researcher at CSIC in 2007. Since then I have concentrated my research mainly on Mediterranean and arid ecosystems. Current research interests are the impact of human activities and global change drivers on terrestrial ecosystems, studying physiological and ecological processes and mechanisms ranging from microbial to landscape and global scales. Currently I am working on a project to understand biotic and abiotic mechanisms of litter decomposition in drylands in collaboration with the Hebrew University, factors controlling carbon sequestration and carbon stocks in drylands of the world in collaboration with Dr. C. Plaza (CSIC) and Prof. F. Maestre (UA), the modulating role of lithology in the vulnerability of Mediterranean forests to drought in collaboration with the University of Jaén or the impact of grazing and climate change of tropical dry forests in collaboration with the University Rey Juan Carlos and UTPL in Ecuador, among others.