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Biodiversity of Deserts and Arid Regions - BIODESERTS

BIODESERTS aims to develop leading research in deserts and arid regions and the group´s objectives are to:

1) Assess biodiversity distribution patterns: map distribution areas of particular taxonomic groups and of biodiversity hotspots, identify environmental and physiological factors related to biodiversity distribution, and develop multi-time and -scale ecological models of species distribution;

2) To understand evolutionary and landscape processes: identify phylogenetic relationships in desert-ranged taxa, assess phylogeographic patterns and of diversification mechanisms, identify population structure and geographical barriers in the landscape to gene flow and population connectivity;

3) Contribute for conservation planning: identify threatened species, evaluate regional conservation statuses, determine relevant genetic conservation units in endangered desert- dwelling taxa, and simulate the effects of climate change on biodiversity distribution.

Studies are developed in North Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, and Iran. The group is committed to gather reliable data at useful scales and produce outputs of high scientific standard, to be used as guidelines for conservation policies, such as:

1) Providing technology transfer to developing countries, by sharing experiences, knowledge, technologies, and methodological tools developed for optimizing biodiversity conservation among local governments, universities and other institutions;

2) Promoting capacity building in developing countries, by strengthening the skills, competencies and abilities of people and communities to promote biodiversity conservation and environmentally-friend attitudes;

3) Promoting science dissemination in civil society, by building awareness of the environment and the cultural, economic and ecological importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services.