LAURA CONCOSTRINA
Biography
I am an ecologist focused on understanding the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and how this relationship is modulated by natural and human-driven environmental factors.
I obtained my PhD in Natural Resource Conservation from the URJC. Later, I obtained two Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions at the University of Lisboa (Portugal, 2014-2016) and the URJC (2018-2020) to better understand the role of functional traits as indicators of global change and as contributors to ecosystem functioning and services. I have been a visiting scholar in the Department of Biological Science at Hiroshima University (Japan, 2013) and in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University (USA, 2014). Currently, I am working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Freshwater Ecosystems group at Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria “IHCantabria” focused on evaluating the role of riparian zones in ecosystem functioning in the face of climate and land use change.
Since 2008, I have authored 19 publications (13 as first author) in SJR-indexed journals (h-index = 11, 643 citations) in the fields of biodiversity, applied ecology and environmental sciences and in collaboration with a total of 80 co-authors from Spain, Mexico, Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, Sweden and others. I have participated in more than 20 research projects (5 as PI) related to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services, global change, habitat degradation and restoration, river ecology and Nature-Based Solutions. I have disseminated my work in more than 30 scientific congresses, workshops and national and international courses in the academic, social and industry sector. I have participated in 4 grade and 4 advanced university courses. I have supervised / am supervising 3 Final Degree Projects, 2 Master Degree Projects and 1 PhD thesis. I have also developed policy-oriented products (e.g., factsheets, policy briefs) and participated in Open Days of science to share scientific knowledge with the general public and decision makers.
RESEARCH LINES
Monitoring and assessment of the spatio-temporal dynamics of freshwater and riparian ecosystems
Modelling ecosystem functions and processes associated to riparian zones
Quantifying riparian ecosystem services
Gaining scientific evidence on the effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions
PUBLICATIONS
Larsen, S., Alvarez-Martinez, J. M., Barquin, J., Bruno, M. C., Zubiri, L. C., Gallitelli, L., … & Schulz, R. (2023). RIPARIANET-Prioritising riparian ecotones to sustain and connect multiple biodiversity and functional components in river networks. Research Ideas and Outcomes, 9, e108807.
Barquín, J., Concostrina-Zubiri, L., Pérez-Silos, I., Hernández-Romero, G., Vélez-Martín, A., & Álvarez-Martínez, J. M. (2022). Monoculture plantations fuel fires amid heat waves. Science, 377(6614), 1498-1498.
Concostrina‐Zubiri, L., Prieto, M., Hurtado, P., Escudero, A., & Martínez, I. (2022). Functional diversity regulates the effects of habitat degradation on biocrust phylogenetic and taxonomic diversities. Ecological Applications, 32(5), e2599.
Concostrina‐Zubiri, L., Valencia, E., Ochoa, V., Gozalo, B., Mendoza, B. J., & Maestre, F. T. (2022). Biocrust‐forming lichens increase soil available phosphorus under simulated climate change. European Journal of Soil Science, 73(4), e13284.
Concostrina‐Zubiri, L., Valencia, E., Ochoa, V., Gozalo, B., Mendoza, B. J., & Maestre, F. T. (2021). Species‐specific effects of biocrust‐forming lichens on soil properties under simulated climate change are driven by functional traits. New Phytologist, 230(1), 101-115.