Rafael is a phylogenetic plant ecologist whose research sits at the intersection of community ecology, macroecology, phylogenetics, and human well-being. His scientific career revolves around three interconnected themes: (1) understanding the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that jointly shape species assemblages at both community and macroecological scales, (2) the development, improvement, and critical assessment of phylogenetic methods, and (3) exploring the links between biodiversity and human well-being. While diverse, these research lines are unified by a strong phylogenetic perspective, with plants as his primary passion and study system.
Education & Career
• PhD in Integrative Biology from the Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain.
• Affiliated with the GloCEE – Global Change Ecology and Evolution Group, within the Department of Life Sciences at the Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Additionally, he holds a position as a researcher at the Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), indicated through institutional listings and Google Scholar affiliation.
Research Focus
Rafael’s work centres on:
• Ecological and evolutionary drivers of species assemblages at multiple spatial scales
• Development and refinement of phylogenetic methods for ecology and biodiversity research
• Exploring how biodiversity underpins ecosystem services and human well-being
• Plant phylogenetics as a cross-cutting framework for ecological and evolutionary research
Current Projects
• Investigating community assembly and macroecological biodiversity patterns in plants
• Testing and improving methods in comparative phylogenetics and eco-phylogenetics
• Assessing the role of biodiversity and phylogenetic diversity in supporting human well-being and ecosystem services
Professional Consultancy & Teaching
Rafael contributes his expertise in phylogenetic ecology and comparative analyses to academic and applied research projects. He also supervises and trains postgraduate students in biodiversity science, macroecology, and phylogenetic methods, and regularly contributes to collaborative, interdisciplinary projects at the interface of ecology, evolution, and conservation.
Links
• ResearchGate
• Google Scholar
• University Profile
• Personal Site