🔍 The project investigates how Ophrys balearica hybridizes with other species of the genus #Ophrys
Shedding light on species boundaries, pollination strategies, and evolutionary dynamics 🌸🐝
🌼 At the center of the study is Ophrys balearica, the only orchid endemic to the Balearic Islands
A key species to understand how isolation and evolution shape island flora 🌍
👨🔬 Rubén Arco, a Biology student @uib.cat, is developing his research under the supervision of Dra. Joana Cursach
His work focuses on one of the most fascinating processes in plant evolution: natural hybridization 🔬
🌸 Spring is here and orchids are in full bloom!
We’re in the field working on Rubén Arco’s Bachelor’s thesis, a Botany project exploring orchid diversity in the Balearic Islands 🌿👇
#Botany #Orchids #PlantScience #Evolution #Biodiversity #BalearicIslands #SomUIB #BOTLAND
🚀 Aquesta primera versió ja inclou totes les espècies registrades a Balears i s’anirà actualitzant amb noves imatges i coneixement científic
#Botànica #FloraBalear #Biodiversitat #IllesBalears #Botany #PlantID #Flora #Biodiversity #Mediterranean #Science #EdTech #CitizenScience
🎓 És una eina educativa pensada per a estudiants i professionals, però també accessible per a qualsevol persona interessada en la natura 🌍💚
🌼 L’objectiu és fomentar el coneixement i la difusió de la flora balear, i facilitar-ne la identificació
📱 Disponible a la plataforma #Biodibal, l’eina inclou claus dicotòmiques per identificar les espècies de plantes vasculars de les illes 🌱
👉 Cada espècie incorpora imatges i enllaços directes dins la plataforma, facilitant una identificació clara, visual i intuïtiva 🔍
El projecte ha estat dirigit pel Dr. Llorenç Gil, amb la col·laboració d’investigadors de BOTLAND 👩🔬👨🔬: Marcello Cerrato, Carles Cardona, Arnau Ribas-Serra, Lluís Salom i Pere Miquel Mir Rosselló.
@uib.cat #somuib
🌿✨ Presentam la primera versió online de les claus de determinació de la flora vascular de les Illes Balears, desenvolupada amb l’eina digital Genially!
uibuniversitat.genially.com/6724af505c9f...
✨ The findings highlight the importance of integrating multiple ecological and functional traits to improve extinction-risk assessments in island floras. 🌺
#BOTLAND #Botany #Science #Endemism #Biodiversity #Conservation #BalearicIslands #Mediterranean @uib.cat
⏳ Flowering duration — species with shorter flowering periods tended to show greater vulnerability.
🏔️🌊 Habitat — endemic plants restricted to mountain or coastal environments presented higher risk levels.
📊 The results highlight three key traits related to higher vulnerability:
🌸 Flower colour — species with blue, purple, pink or red flowers were more vulnerable than those with white or yellow flowers.
🔬 The study analyses floral, reproductive and ecological traits of 155 insect-pollinated endemic plant species from the Balearic Islands to evaluate whether plant traits and habitat can help predict their potential vulnerability.
🚨📷NEW PAPER ALERT📢🌿
Dr. Joana Cursach and Dr. @miquelcapo.bsky.social, together with Dr. Theodora Petanidou #UniAthens and Dr. Amparo Lázaro (@imedea.bsky.social ), published a new study in #BiodiversityAndConservation (@springernature.com)
doi.org/10.1007/s105...
The dataset is openly available and will be periodically updated 📊
#Pollinators #CitizenScience #Biodiversity #MediterraneanPlants
These images were collected through a participatory platform developed within the project, highlighting the value of citizen science for biodiversity research.
The study presents an open dataset of plant–pollinator interactions based on photographs documenting insect floral visits across the Mediterranean.
Within this context, the #LIFE4Pollinators project (LIFE18/GIE/IT/000755) promotes the conservation of wild bees and other pollinators through awareness actions and citizen science 👥📷
www.life4pollinators.eu/en
Pollinators play a key role in terrestrial ecosystems and agricultural production 🌍🌱, yet their populations have experienced an alarming decline in recent decades.
🚨📷NEW PAPER ALERT📷
Group member Dr. @miquelcapo.bsky.social has collaborated in a new study presenting a database of plant–pollinator interactions in the Mediterranean 🐝🌼
doi.org/10.26786/192...
@jpollecol.bsky.social
Individu de Prunus persica de Cala Llonga (Santa Eulària des Riu). Prunus persica from Cala Llonga (Santa Eulària des Riu).
Nou #BSHNB 69 Any 2026. Espècies al·lòctones d’origen agrari prèviament no registrades a les Illes Pitiüses. @botland-uib.bsky.social @uib.cat @uab.cat bshnb.shnb.org/2026/02/24/e...
🚨🚨
Han entrevistado a @raquelmuga.bsky.social junto con Ana Traveset sobre el efecto de especies invasoras en las islas. 🌱🐐🌷🐍🦜🏝️
Échale un ojo! 👇
www.diariodemallorca.es/mallorca/202...
Population monitoring and habitat conservation are essential to ensure its long-term survival.
#Botany #BOTLAND #SomUIB #Endemism #Mallorca #Conservation #Biodiversity #ScientificResearch #Plants #Dunes #SileneMediterranea
⚠️Silene migjornensis is also exhibits very low levels of genetic diversity, increasing its vulnerability.
📉 The combination of:
– Low genetic diversity
– Fragile habitat
– Extremely restricted distribution
🚩🚩🚩
indicates a high level of threat
Silene migjornensis is a highly restricted species linked to fragile and vulnerable dune ecosystems.
🔬 The study shows it is phylogenetically close to:
• Silene colorata
• Silene sericea
• Silene arabica
• Silene reverchonii
🚨📄NEW PAPER ALERT📄🚨
This month, Dr. Joana Cursach and Dr. Llorenç Gil have published a study on Silene migjornensis, an endemic plant from Mallorca with only one known population in the dune systems of the island’s south.
Events like #EcoFlor2026 highlight the importance of scientific dialogue and collaboration in advancing ecological research.
#FloralBiology #PlantEcology #AEET
He shared results from one of his PhD chapters', contributing to ongoing discussions in plant ecology and floral biology.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with international experts, receive feedback, and build new connections for future collaborations and research.
Last week, Joshua Borràs, PhD candidate at BOTLAND, presented his research at the XXIII EcoFlor Meeting in Tortosa — an annual congress from the Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology @eco-aeet.bsky.social, focused on floral ecology.
#EcoFlor26 @ecoflor.bsky.social
@joshuaborras.bsky.social and @tonijosep.bsky.social presented a talk and a poster showcasing the research we carry out within BOTLAND, sharing real, ongoing scientific work developed at the university.
A key event to bring university research closer to students and inspire future scientists.