18.12.13

Sampling campaign the Cabrera Archipelago

Last week, we joined other members of the Concorda project and sailed into Conillera ("Rabbit Island") to install 55 collectors of seabird guano.

The visit, during which samples of atmospheric deposition from a collector placed at neighboring Cabrera Island were also taken, was a (long-awaited) success: Conillera has no harbour, so we needed almost perfect sea conditions to be able to jump into the rocky shores. Rough terrein demanded also the use of ropes to disembarck the material, and made the transport and installation of the collectors challenging. But we had a perfect winter day, cold and sunny, and enjoyed the exhuberant autumn bloom of local daffodils Narcissus tazzeta.

Two days later, we had the second annual meeting of the Concorda Project - a great opportunity to learn from the diverse expertise of its multidisciplinar consortium.

1.12.13

LSE moves to Sevilla and becomes SEG

Last October 15th, the Laboratory of Spatial Ecology moved to the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) at Sevilla (SW Spain), and became the Spatial Ecology Group - which is part of the Department of Wetland Ecology.

We celebrated the move with  a barbecue, where preeminent researchers from EBD showed that they can also do reasonable soccer; and a morning of birdwatching in the marismas -where we enjoyed recently-arrived geese, cranes, waders, resident flamingoes, raptors, and our all-times favourite: ducks.

For a few months, we will be finishing-off existing work projects at Mallorca - and part of the Group's personnel will be based there. And we hope to continue our collaborations with former colleagues at IMEDEA for years to come.


Farewell Mallorca, which was a great place to be and do research - and welcome Sevilla, which will hopefully meet our high expectations!