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Knowing how wildlife populations change is decisive for improving the management and conservation of biodiversity.

The red coral colonies that were transplanted a decade ago on the seabed of the Medes Islands have survived successfully. They are very similar to the original communities and have contributed to the recovery of the functioning of the coral reef, a habitat where species usually grow very slowly.

Over the last decade, glaciers in Spain have experienced an accelerated retreat, with a significant loss of extension and thickness.

The study, now featured on the cover of Science , provides a ground-breaking perspective on the evolutionary history of molluscs. An international team of experts has resolved long-standing questions about the evolutionary history of molluscs, one of the most diverse zoological groups on the planet. The study, now featured on the cover of Science , reconstructs the family tree of molluscs and provides a ground-breaking perspective on their evolutionary history.

Emerging pollutants are compounds - microplastics, oils, dyes, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, etc. that end up in aquatic ecosystems and can pose an environmental and health risk.

There are still many unknowns about the causes leading to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) shift - a critical climate phenomenon in the Northern Hemisphere - to the east and west of Iceland. To date, some hypotheses suggested that this process known to the international scientific community might be related to the impact of greenhouse gases on the planet.

Chimpanzees are the animals with the most complex memory, apart from humans. They remember where and when ripe fruits are available, and use this information to decide which trees they will visit and even where they will sleep to eat these fruits first thing in the morning. However, the cognitive strategies they use to find foods of animal origin rather than plant origin are not yet well understood.

A research project led by the Desertification Research Centre (CIDE, UV-CSIC-GVA) has successfully predicted the ecological interactions that occur in little-analysed plant communities based on coexistence patterns from a well-studied ecosystem in Alicante. The study employed transfer learning, a machine learning technique that introduces a new approach to biodiversity research and conservation.

Scientists from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) and Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) have created an early warning system based on artificial intelligence to predict massive outbreaks of cyanobacteria in fresh waters. Using machine learning and deep learning models, the system could help protect aquatic ecosystems and improve water management.

Two studies conducted by the Cavanilles Institute (ICBiBe) of the University of Valencia provide new insights into the factors affecting the survival and territory occupancy of the Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata) in the Valencian Community. Human activities and biodiversity loss in its habitat call for conservation actions to ensure the long-term survival of this iconic bird of prey, which is currently endangered.

An international research team, including participation from the University of Valencia, has published an article in Nature Geoscience advocating for a more collaborative and balanced approach between artificial intelligence (AI) and Earth sciences. The study supports the creation of a new field-AIXES (Artificial Intelligence and Earth Sciences)-that will enhance both areas and provide benefits in tackling future environmental challenges.

An international team of scientists, led by professor Veronika Eyring from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the University of Bremen, and with participation from the University of Valencia, has published an innovative approach that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with Earth system models to improve the accuracy and speed of climate simulations.

Some ostracoderms-primitive vertebrates without fins or jaws-colonised for the first time the marine pelagic realm over 400 million years ago. These fish optimised their headshields to rise from the seabed and move efficiently through ocean waters, compensating for their lack of fins. This is the main finding of a study co-led by a team from the Cavanilles Institute of the University of Valencia and recently published in Nature Communications Biology.

A study carried out by the Autonomous University of Madrid, the University of Alcalá and GREFA, has revealed the presence of microplastics and artificial fibers in birds. The results have been published in the journal "Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety". Plastic pollution is a global problem. Most plastics end up in the natural environment due to our mismanagement of our waste.

The research provides valuable insight into the impact of agricultural activities in two protected areas. Credits: Pixabay A study on phytosanitary products in protected areas of Spain has revealed the widespread presence of these substances - some banned since 2009 - in the national parks of Doñana and Tablas de Daimiel.

A systematic review conducted by researchers from the Department of Ecology at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) reveals the paucity of studies on the impact of photovoltaic plants on biodiversity. This review, published in Conservation Letters, helps to better understand these effects, as well as to guide future research efforts that prioritize knowledge gaps.

A team of biologists, with the participation of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), has discovered a new species of piranha in the upper Madeira River system in Bolivia. The newly identified Serrasalmus magallanesi adds a new link to the rich biodiversity of the Amazon basin. This finding underscores the importance of continuing research on the region's ichthyofauna for its proper conservation.

Research staff from the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology of the Universitat de València and the Gandia Campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València have studied the consequences of climate change on the productivity of two species of passerine birds. The results show that extreme weather conditions, such as warmer temperatures and higher frequent torrential rainfall could threaten the preservation of the population of these birds.

A team from the Global Change Unit-IPL of the University of Valencia has just published the first high-resolution local climate zone (LCZ) map of Valencia in the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, based on satellite data. The study aims to analyse the effects of the 'heat island' and 'heat wave' phenomena in major Mediterranean cities and to provide mitigation measures to improve the environment and public health.

Developed by a UC3M spin-off, the company Hiili Measuring energy consumption derived from digital activity from a scientific point of view is the challenge faced by Hiili, S.L. , a compa