Mario Alamo del Olmo

Investigación

My research focuses on understanding how insects respond to environmental change, with particular emphasis on climate-driven processes and their ecological consequences. I approach these questions from an entomological perspective grounded in ecology, using insects as a study group to address biological hypotheses related to species responses and vulnerability under changing environmental conditions. 

A central focus of my work is on diurnal butterflies (Papilionoidea), which I study both as individual species and as a model system for broader ecological questions. Butterflies allow the integration of species-level biology with ecological processes, linking behaviour, distributions, and ecological interactions. While butterflies constitute a core component of my research, my interests extend to terrestrial insects more broadly. 

My work examines insect responses mainly at the species level, integrating biology, ecology, and conservation, while also addressing patterns across wider ecological scales. I am particularly interested in how microclimate, habitat structure, and environmental gradients shape species distributions, behaviour, and ecological interactions in Mediterranean and mountain systems, primarily within the Iberian Peninsula. 

Methodologically, I combine intensive fieldwork with quantitative ecological analyses, including the study of species ecology, interaction networks, and biogeographical patterns. A key aim of my research is to contribute ecological evidence relevant to insect conservation, particularly in relation to drivers of species decline. In parallel, I remain actively involved in science communication and outreach related to insect ecology and biodiversity conservation.