García González, María Begoña

Biography

I work in the dynamics and conservation of mountain plant diversity: population dynamics, plant-animal interactions, and life history evolution. At the species and population level, I often use an integrative approach (the whole life cycle and matrix models) at large spatial and temporal scales, to explore plant adaptations, understand plant performance under present conditions, and project viability in future scenarios. Different fitness components (germination, growth, survival, fecundity…) are assembled to show their weighted importance and to get overall comparative parameters. I am also interested in testing the extent to what species at the limit of distribution show distinctive ecological or demographic traits compared to central populations, particularly for the Pyrenean flora.

Research Interest

My highest effort at present is invested in the coordination of a monitoring network for plant population trends and habitat changes in the Aragon region, which involves almost two hundred volunteers and rangers. An important part of such network is developed under a LIFE+ European project. Annual population censuses, abundances, or individual monitoring is being done for more than 150 plant species and 250 populations across NE Spain.