Source = www.sibecol-aeet-meeting2025.org
We’re thrilled to announce that four members of the Araújo Lab will be presenting their latest research at the upcoming SIBECOL-AEET 2025 Meeting. The meeting will bring together some of the leading voices in ecology and environmental science.
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Here’s a quick overview of what our team will be sharing:
Armand Rausell-Moreno
Optimising background points in species distribution models: Effects on present and future projections
Species Distribution Models (SDMs) are at the heart of much of what we do in the Araújo Lab, and Armand’s work takes a closer look at a surprisingly underexplored component: background sampling. His study uses simulations of 290 virtual species to test how different background point strategies affect the accuracy of SDMs — both for current and future projections. The findings are practical and actionable, showing that sampling background absences proportional to presence points or to the study area both work well, and that optimal ratios vary with species prevalence. This work helps tighten the methodological foundations of SDMs, which is crucial as we use them to guide conservation in a changing climate.
Georgios Vagenas
Enhancing aquatic Species Distribution Models (aSDMs) by utilizing the Ichthyofauna of the Iberian Peninsula as a proxy
SDMs have long been used in terrestrial systems, but applying them in aquatic environments comes with extra challenges. Georgios’ talk introduces a refined modelling framework tailored for freshwater systems, using Iberian fish species as a test case. His analysis shows that integrating hydroclimatic and spatial data — especially climate-related variables — greatly improves predictive performance. By addressing the structural and ecological complexity of river systems, this research contributes to making aquatic SDMs more reliable and ecologically meaningful.
Nico Merino
From empirical data to ecological dynamics: modelling tetrapod communities across the Iberian Peninsula
Nico’s work builds on our lab’s long-standing interest in community ecology and ecosystem stability. He presents a hybrid modelling framework that combines empirical species data, climate variables, and biotic interactions to simulate how tetrapod communities respond to different ecological pressures. Using a generalized Lotka-Volterra model across 5000 spatially explicit communities, the study explores how traits like species richness and network connectivity influence resilience to disturbances. This is a significant step toward linking theory with real-world conservation, helping to identify which ecosystems are most vulnerable to change.
Shahar Chaikin
Widespread marine fish biomass decline under long-term warming and heatwaves
Shahar’s presentation addresses one of the most urgent ecological questions of our time: how marine heatwaves (MHWs) and long-term warming affect global fish populations. Analyzing data from over 1,500 species across three major oceanic regions, the results show clear biomass declines associated with MHWs — often more severe than those caused by long-term warming alone. Populations near the warm edge of their range are hit the hardest, but even those in cooler zones aren’t safe. This work adds critical evidence to the growing call for climate action and more adaptive fisheries management strategies.
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We’re proud to see such a strong showing from our lab at SIBECOL this year, each presentation contributing a unique piece to the larger puzzle of how biodiversity responds to environmental change. Whether you’re interested in models, mechanisms, or management, there’s something in this lineup for everyone.
If you’re attending SIBECOL, we hope to see you there!