Fernández-Palacios Lab

Towards the human-induced “eemification” of the recent Holocene: a perspective from the Canary Islands The ruling climate conditions during the Last Interglacial, the Eemian (ca. 130–120 ky BP), were warmer and, consequently, the sea level stood 8–10 m higher than today. Ongoing human-induced climate c...

“Eemification” is a new term coined for describing the gradual human-induced transition from the Holocene towards the warmer Eemian (130-120 Ka BP) conditions. We exemplify here this on-going transition with the changes observed in the last decades in the Canary Islands’ climate and biodiversity.

Island Biology 2026 - Registration & Key Information Registration & Key Information

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Registration & Call for Symposia open! more info: sites.google.com/view/island-...

A new paleo record from Tenerife combines shell middens and agricultural terraces to reveal shellfish gathering strategies and coastal vegetation change over 1000 years of human-environment interaction. doi.org/10.1177/0959... @cienciaull.bsky.social

El registro paleoecológico de Vega de Arucas: 28,000 años de clima, vegetación e incendios YouTube video by Álvaro Castilla Beltrán

Lead by Pili Martin Ramos 😊we present a new palaeoecological record in the Canary Islands, which reveals how climate, vegetation, and fire changed on the islands over the last 28,000 years 🌍
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
@fdezpalacioslab.bsky.social @ferpalenrique.bsky.social and more 😊🏝️

👀 Algo te observa entre las sombras…
En esta noche de #Halloween 🎃 no solo los espíritus están al acecho.

Mira a este búho real 🦉, dueño y señor de la oscuridad. 🌌👻
📍Parque Nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel

📍Hoy traemos una curiosidad del Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido

🌸 Algunos lirios azules o de montaña presentan flores hipocromáticas, una alteración genética que reduce sus pigmentos y les da ese tono blanquecino🤍

Eso sí, siguen fotosintetizando con total normalidad 🌞

Our new book “Los Bosques Termófilos. Canarias, Madeira y Cabo Verde” about Macaronesian thermophilous woodland is out now! It was recently presented in Lanzarote at the Sala Saramago, hosted by Fundación César Manrique. Thanks to everyone who joined us!

At #FloraMac2025 in Terceira, presenting our latest research on Macaronesia extinctions, fine root biomass and traits of Canarian woody plants, and carbon storage in Canarian forests. Thanks to the organizers for a great symposium! floramac2025.weebly.com

Human transformation of past terrestrial ecosystems Nature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 19 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s44358-025-00081-6Human actions have shaped ecosystems for thousands of years, and have profound effects on biodiversity and environmental processes. This Review explores the ways that humans have modified past ecosystems and the methods available for researchers to study these changes, as well as indicating how understanding historic change can inform conservation strategies.

New online! Human transformation of past terrestrial ecosystems

Artist reconstruction of the Madeiran Scops Owl (Otus mauli) from Madeira Island. CREDIT: Pau Oliver

A survey of all known extinctions in Macaronesia (the Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, the Canaries, and Cabo Verde) finds that half of the islands’ birds have been lost. Many birds, including the Madeiran owl, were lost after humans arrived. In PNAS Nexus: academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...