Seminarios 2025
· Seminarios de investigación organizados por el MNCN en colaboración con la Sociedad de Amigos del Museo (SAM) durante 2025 ·
SIX DECADES OF GLOBAL LAND USE CHANGE - WHAT DATA TELLS US ABOUT DYNAMICS, DRIVERS AND IMPACTS
Ponente: Karina Winkler, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)/ Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMKIFU)
Fecha y hora: jueves 22 de mayo de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Abstract: While land use change has shaped our planet for many centuries, knowledge on past land use transitions and their spatiotemporal dynamics remains fragmented. Using a large-scale data harmonisation approach, we shed light on the diverse patterns of global land use change. The presentation will highlight the main land use trends, discuss their drivers and interconnections, and potential environmental impacts. Different types of land use data allow us to learn from the past in order to shape the future - often we just need to bring them together!
FROM GENES TO ECOSYSTEMS: EXPLORING HOST–VECTOR–PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS ACROSS SCALES
Ponente: Maria Jose Ruiz, investigadora postdoctoral, departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Estación Biológica de Doñana
Fecha y hora: viernes 9 de mayo de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Abstract: Understanding vector-borne diseases like avian malaria and West Nile virus requires a cross-scale approach, from genes to ecosystems. In this talk, I explore how ecological factors like habitat fragmentation and climate change interact with host, vector, and pathogen biology. Through three case studies, I examine disease patterns in fragmented tropical landscapes, mosquito transcriptional responses to avian Plasmodium, and multi-omic insights into West Nile virus spread, evolution, and temperature-driven dynamics. By combining genomics, transcriptomics, and landscape ecology, we can better understand the complex forces shaping disease emergence in a rapidly changing world.
THE ROLE OF MUSEUMS IN THE URBANOCENE
Ponente: Eduardo Santana, director del Museo de Ciencias Ambientales de la Universidad de Guadalajara, México
Fecha y hora: viernes 11 de abril de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN (presencial)
Abstract: El dilema comunicativo de los que trabajamos en museos sobre temas ambientales es que si nos limitamos a informar verazmente sobre las negativas e irreversibles tendencias del cambio global, bien pudiéramos colocar en el frontispicio del museo las palabras de Dante en las puertas del infierno: Abandonad toda esperanza los que entráis aquí. La información científica no deja lugar a dudas: la aceleración antropocénica tecnológica y urbanística global, con la concomitante degradación ambiental y el sufrimiento que causan, obligan a repensar la relación sociedad-naturaleza, incluyendo la definición misma de la palabra naturaleza. ¿Deben los “indicadores clave de desempeño museísticos” (KPIs) continuar siendo tasas de visitas físicas o digitales y publicaciones? ¿O debieran medirse en metros cúbicos por segundo, kilovatios por hora, hectáreas, poblaciones mínimas viables, deserción escolar y nuevas legislaciones? Presentamos algunas consideraciones experiencias de educación y transformación socio-ecológica que implementa el Museo de Ciencias Ambientales de la Universidad de Guadalajara, aún en formación, que pudieran ser útiles para aumentar la efectividad de los museos en mejorar el bienestar social.
RETHINKING FOREST PRODUCTION IN THE ATLANTIC FOREST: RESTORATION AND LAND-SHARING STRATEGIES
Ponente: Corina Graciano, INFIVE (CONICET-UNLP), Argentina, Becaria de la Fundación Carolina en el MNCN
Fecha y hora: viernes 28 de marzo de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Abstract: The Atlantic Forest in South America has been drastically reduced by monocultures and exotic tree plantations. To restore this landscape, actions are needed both in rainforest remnants and deforested areas to enhance connectivity between forest patches. Biodiversity of native species can increase with well-managed exotic tree plantations. However, we propose promoting native tree species for timber and non-timber products in planted mixed stands that mimic rainforest structure. These complex plantations enable land-sharing, allowing production while conserving native biodiversity.
OCEANOGRAPHY OF THE EXTREMES: HOW STUDYING REMOTE AREAS AND EXTREME EVENTS CAN HELP SOCIETY ADAPT
Ponente: Camila Fernández, CNRS- Directora centro COPAS COASTAL. Universidad de Concepción, Chile
Fecha y hora: viernes 21 de marzo de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Abstract: Marine science in extreme environments faces unprecedented challenges. In this seminar, I will highlight the latest advancements in observation programs within the fjord ecosystems of Chilean Patagonia and the upwelling system off central Chile. My focus will be on microbial and biogeochemical responses to climate change. I will also present a complete process, from data acquisition in remote areas to its translation into social knowledge.
RETHINKING RESILIENCE: CAN WE MAKE THE CONCEPT USEFUL FOR ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION?
Ponente: Pol Capdevila Lanzaco, Profesor Lector, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona
Fecha y hora: viernes 14 de marzo de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Abstract: The current biodiversity crisis underscores the need to understand the capacity of natural systems to withstand the ongoing global change. As such, resilience—the ability of a system to persist after, and recover from, a disturbance—has become a crucial concept in ecology and conservation. We know that ecosystems have the ability to avoid collapse by being resilient, but this capacity has a limit, a tipping point that, when surpassed, might lead to irreversible collapse. Quantifying the resilience of natural systems is therefore crucial to developing effective management plans. For instance, several international conservation targets have been set to maintain the resilience of natural systems to ongoing global change. However, ecological research has been hampered by a lack of coherent ways to define and quantify resilience comparatively. As a result, resilience has often remained a theoretical concept, with no clear means to be used by empiricists and managers. If ecology is to support an inform policy making, we must rectify this. To address these knowledge gaps, this talk will be divided into three acts. In the first, I will discuss what we have lost—examining whether and how biodiversity is changing. The second act will focus on resilience itself: how ecologists define, quantify, and compare resilience across different study systems, including examples from my own research at the population and community levels. Finally, the third act will explore future directions in resilience research, outlining general guidelines to harmonise resilience studies and strengthen their application in conservation and management.
(Fotografía cedida por Fundación BBVA)
FISHING FOR PHYLOGENIES: CHALLENGES OF RESOLVING FRESHWATER FISH RADIATIONS
Ponente: Fernando Alda, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM)
Fecha y hora: viernes 14 de febrero de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Abstract: Phylogenomics provides unprecedented opportunities to resolve the evolutionary histories of both rapid and ancient radiations, yet it faces significant challenges in disentangling genuine phylogenetic signal from pervasive noise. In this talk, I will examine the promises and pitfalls of leveraging phylogenomic and population genomic methods to model the mechanisms of speciation and diversification in fish radiations, focusing on Neotropical and African systems.
Using neotropical electric fishes (Gymnotiformes) as a case study, I will show how strategic data filtering can markedly improve the resolution of deep phylogenetic nodes and reduce gene tree incongruence. These findings underscore the promise of customized data interrogation techniques in resolving complex radiations—even when confronted with incomplete lineage sampling and extensive homoplasy.
I will also present a comparative evaluation of molecular markers in neotropical cichlids (Heroini). By contrasting ultraconserved elements (UCEs) with exon-based datasets, I will illustrate how intrinsic differences in evolutionary rates and selection pressures influence the signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in systematic discrepancies in inferred phylogenies. This analysis highlights the critical importance of marker selection and the need for ongoing methodological refinement in phylogenomics.
Finally, I will extend the discussion to African riverine cichlids (Lamprologus), demonstrating how the integration of phylogenomic and population genomic data can yield valuable insights into evolutionary processes operating across multiple time scales.
Collectively, these examples advocate for a paradigm shift—from traditional “genealogy interrogation” methods to a more flexible “data interrogation” framework that maximizes phylogenetic signal while minimizing biases and systematic errors. In sum, this work addresses a fundamental challenge in phylogenomic analysis—discriminating genuine evolutionary signal from noise—and, by advancing our understanding of fish radiations, it offers a versatile framework for tackling the broader complexities inherent in the study of diverse evolutionary systems.
THERMAL TOLERANCE IN A WARMING WORLD
Ponente: Enrico Rezende, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Fecha y hora: viernes 31 de enero de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Abstract: Ecosystems are under increasing stress due to global warming, rising average temperatures, and more frequent thermal extremes. Predictive models are urgently needed to anticipate which organisms, communities, and ecosystems may be most vulnerable. While many heuristic approaches are currently in use, few mechanistic models predict vulnerability based on physiological knowledge. My seminar will focus on how termal-tolerance landscapes (describing the probability of survival as influenced by temperature and exposure time in laboratory settings) can be used to predict heat-induced mortality in the field. This approach allows for predictions about the impact of variable thermal regimes without relying on arbitrary temperature indices. Originally developed for animals, thermal landscapes are now being applied to other lineages, including plants. I will discuss the implications of these findings and explore ways to integrate this approach with other stressors, microclimatic data, and ecological interactions to more accurately predict future scenarios.
WHAT SHAPES OUR RIVERS? UNDERSTANDING WATER FLOW AND CHEMISTRY ACROSS ECOREGIONS
Ponente: José L. J. Ledesma, Department of Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences-Spanish National Research Council (MNCN-CSIC)
Fecha y hora: viernes 24 de enero de 12:00 a 13:00
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Abstract: Headwaters form an immense global network that regulates the quantity and quality of water in streams, rivers, and downstream aquatic ecosystems. Riparian zones—soils adjacent to headwater streams—play a pivotal role in determining stream chemistry, as precipitation water often traverses these areas before entering the aquatic compartment. This seminar explores the crucial role of headwater catchments and riparian zones in shaping water flow and chemistry across diverse ecoregions, ranging from boreal to Mediterranean landscapes. Particular attention will be given to carbon cycling, with additional insights into the dynamics of other elements including nitrogen. The presentation will also incorporate modelling approaches to enhance understanding of how climate change and other anthropogenic pressures impact water quantity and quality in fluvial networks, both now and in the future.
· Seminarios de investigación organizados por otras entidades celebrados en el museo durante el año 2025 ·
MOLUSCOS DE LA DIRECTIVA DE HÁBITATS EN ESPAÑA
Ponentes: Carmen Salas (Sociedad Española de Malacología), Rafael Zardoya (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC), Ramón Martínez (TRAGSATEC), Jaime Castañer (Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, DGBBD, SGBTM), Benjamín Gómez (Universidad del País Vasco-UPV/EHU), Alberto Martínez-Ortí (Museu Valencià d’Història Natural), Javier Iglesias (Universidade Santiago de Compostela), Teresa Rodríguez (Universidade Santiago de Compostela), Paz Ondina (Universidade Santiago de Compostela), Keiko Nakamura (SARGA, Gobierno de Aragón), Joaquim Reis (Universidade de Lisboa), Javier Morales (Ecohydros), Miquel Campos (Consorci de l’Estany), José Templado (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC), José Rafael García-March (Universidad Católica de Valencia), Ramón M. Álvarez (Sociedad Española de Malacología), Ángel Luque (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, CIBC-UAM).
Fecha y hora: martes 13 de mayo de 9:30 a 14:45
Lugar: salón de actos del MNCN
Resumen: La Directiva 92/43/CEE del Consejo, de 21 de mayo de 1992, relativa a la conservación de los hábitats naturales y de la fauna y flora silvestres, incluye varias especies de moluscos en España: Elona quimperiana, Geomalacus maculosus y Unio crassus, en España Unio tumidiformis (Anexos II y IV); Margaritifera margaritifera (Anexos II y V); Vertigo angustior y Vertigo moulinsiana (Anexo II); Patella ferruginea, Pinna nobilis, Lithophaga lithophaga y Margaritifera auricularia (= Pseudunio auricularius) (Anexo IV); y Unio elongatulus, en España Unio mancus y Unio ravoisieri (Anexo V).
La Directiva de Hábitats tiene como objetivo la protección de los tipos de hábitats naturales y de los hábitats y las poblaciones de las especies silvestres (exceptuando las aves) de la Unión Europea, mediante el establecimiento de una red ecológica y un régimen jurídico de protección de las especies incluidas en el Anexo II. Esta Directiva insta a establecer vínculos funcionales de esas zonas entre sí y con la matriz territorial que las rodea y mantener la coherencia de la Red Natura 2000. Además, esta Directiva establece un sistema de protección estricto para las especies de interés comunitario del Anexo IV y regula la explotación de las especies silvestres que están incluidas en el anexo V, si bien en España esa explotación está prohibida para las citadas especies de moluscos.
A tal efecto, la Sociedad Española de Malacología (SEM), en colaboración con el Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (MNCN-CSIC), con el apoyo de TRAGSATEC por encargo del Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) y financiado por la Unión Europea (NextGenerationEU), organizan un seminario sobre los moluscos de la Directiva de Hábitats en España.
El propósito de este seminario científico es llevar a cabo una puesta en común y síntesis sobre el estado de conservación y las medidas de gestión de las especies de moluscos de la Directiva de Hábitats en España, mediante sesiones de trabajo a cargo de los intervinientes invitados, especialistas en la materia que colaboran en el Proyecto PRTR-ESMOLINCO.