Blas M. BenitoCurriculum Vitae

University of GranadaDepartment of Ecology

Group of Terrestrial EcologyAvda. del Mediterráneo S/N

18006 Granada (Spain)T +34 958249748B blasbp@ugr.es

www.blasbenito.com

Education

University

2009 Ph.D. in Biology, Thesis (translated title): ecoinformatics applied to con-servation: simulation of global change effects in the distributionof andalusian flora, directed by Peñas, J., and Lorite, J., Department of Bo-tany, University of Granada, Spain, (web page - document - slideshow).

2009 Master Degree in Geographic Information Systems UNIGIS, Final project(translated title): automated workflow to simulate potential rangeshift of plant species under different climate change scenarios,directed by Compte, M., University of Girona, Spain, (document - slideshow).

2008 National DEA (~ Master Degree) in Environmental Biology, Research project(translated title): global warming in sierra nevada: potential distribu-tion models of plant communities under different climatic changescenarios, directed by Lorite, J., Department of Botany, University of Granada,Spain), (document - slideshow).

2006 Master Degree in Environmental Management and Consulting, Final project(translated title): sustainability of greenhouse crops in eastern anda-lusia: perspectives of future and proposals of management, Univer-sity of Cadiz, Spain, (pdf).

2003 Graduate in Biology, University of Granada, Spain.

Specialization courses

2012 Ecological consequences of climate change: integrating research approaches,Doñana Biological Station, 60 hours.Teachers: Araújo, M.B., Bildstein, K., Chuine, I., Hampe, A., Valladares, F., Finlayson, C.,Tejedo, M., Negro, J.J. (flyer)

1/11

2011 Introduction to the programming language Perl, E-learning Centre, Universityof Granada, 30 hours.

2011 Introduction to the programming language Python, E-learning Centre, Univer-sity of Granada, 30 hours.

2011 Analysis of Ecological Data with R, Andalusian Environmental Centre (CEAMA),32 hours.

2007 III Workshop in Ecological Niche Modeling , GBIF-Spain, 21 hours (link).

2006 Geostatistic in Remote Sensing, National Congress in Geographic InformationTechnologies, Granada (Spain), 8 hours.

2006 Population Modelling and Population Viability Analysis, ECCB Congress, Eger(Hungary), 8 hours.

2005 I Workshop in Ecological Niche Modeling, GBIF-Spain, 21 hours (link).

English skills

Reading (advanced) - Writing (intermediate) - Speaking (intermediate)

Computing skills

OperatingSystems

GNU/Linux, Windows Text LYX, LATEX, Writer

ProgrammingLanguages

Python, Octave/Matlab, Bash, R,Perl

Software GIS GRASS, gvSIG, Quantum GIS, Arc-Gis, Geomedia, Idrisi, SAGA GIS

Ecoinformatics Kepler, MaxEnt, OpenMode-ller, BIOMOD, dismo, ModEco,NetLogo

Statistics R, SPSS, Statistica, Weka, Open-Bugs

DDBB PostgreSQL-PostGIS, SQlite Graphic Design The Gimp, Scribus, Inkscape

2/11

Research experience and scientific production

Professional career

2012 - 2014 Postdoctoral fellowship, Government of Andalusia, Department of Ecology, Te-rrestrial Ecology Research Group - University of Granada, Spain.

2010 - 2012 Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Ecology, Terrestrial Ecology ResearchGroup - University of Granada, Spain.

2006 - 2010 Predoctoral fellowship, Government of Andalusia, Department of Botany - Uni-versity of Granada.

Research lines

Modeling of species’ range dynamics with Hybrid Models.Simulation of palaeoecological processes with Agent-Based Models.Plant-bird dispersal interactions in heterogeneous landscapes.Analysis of macroecological patterns.Biodiversity Conservation.Ecoinformatics.

Articles in refereed journals (under review and in preparation)

In prep. Optimizing spatial modelling for cryptic species: the importance of sam-pling, grain size, and model algorithm for maximizing modelling performan-ce, Benito, B.M., Marfil-Daza, C., Moreno-Rueda, G., target journal: methods inecology and evolution.

In prep. Modelling and simulating plant range-shift mediated by biotic interactionsunder climatic change with Agent-Based Models, Benito, B.M., Pérez-Pérez,R., Pérez-Luque, A.J., Zamora, R., target journal: ecological modelling.

In prep. Maytenus senegalensis subsp. europaeus distribution modeling. Priority ha-bitat loss in the Mediterranean Basin., Mendoza-Fernández, J.A., Martínez-Hernández, F., Pérez-García, F. J., Garrido-Becerra, J.A., Benito, B.M., Salmerón-Sánchez, E., Guirado, J., Merlo, M.E., Mota, J.F., plant biosystems.

In prep. Range-wide phylogeography of Astragalus edulis Bunge (Fabaceae),Martínez-Ortega, M.M., Barrios de León, S.B., Bobo-Pinilla, J., Benito, B.M., Pe-ñas, J., target journal: molecular ecology.

Under review The mystery of the Amazonian Pacarana (Dinomys branickii), Saavedra-Rodríguez, C.A., Benito, B.M., Giraldo-López, A., Kattan, G.H., biodiversityand conservation (pdf).

3/11

Under review Distribution and conservation of the relict interaction between the butterflyAgriades zullichi and its foodplant (Andosace vitaliana nevadensis), Barea-Azcón, J.M., Benito, B.M., Olivares, F.J., Ruiz, H., Martín, J., García, A.L., López,R., biodiversity and conservation (pdf).

Articles in refereed journals (published or in press)

Accepted Model repositories in ecology: a conceptual framework and real implemen-tation in a Global Change Monitoring Program, Bonet, F.J., Pérez-Pérez, R.,Benito, B.M., Albuquerque, F., Zamora, R., environmental modelling &software (pdf).

Accepted Forecasting plant range collapse in a Mediterranean hotspot: when dispersaluncertainties matter, Benito, B.M., Lorite, J., Pérez-Pérez, R., Gómez-Aparicio,L., Peñas , J., diversity and distributions (pdf).

2013 Interdisciplinary climate change collaborations are essential for early-careerscientists, Gornish, E., Hamilton, J., Barberán, A., Benito, B.M., Binzer, A., De-Meester, J., Gruwez, R., Moreira, B., Taheri, S., Tomiolo, S., Vinagre, V., Vuarin,P., Weaver, J., eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union 94: 16(view at publisher - pdf).

2013 Comparing the performance of species distribution models of Zostera mari-na: implications for conservation, Valle, M., van Katwijk, M.M., de Jong, D.J.,Bouma, T.J., Schipper, A.M., Chust, G., Benito, B.M., Garmendia, J.M., Borja, A.,journal of sea research (view at publisher - pdf).

2013 The impact of modeling choices in the predictive performance of richnessmaps derived from species-distribution models: guidelines to build betterdiversity models, Benito, B.M., Cayuela, L., Albuquerque, F.S., methods inecology and evolution (view at publisher - pdf).

2013 European Bird diversity is “well” represented by Special Protected Areas:mission accomplished?, Albuquerque, F.S., Assunção-Albuquerque, M.J.T., Zamo-ra, R., Benito, B.M., Cayuela, L., biological conservation 159: 45-50 (viewat publisher - pdf).

2012 ModeleR: an enviromental model repository as Knowledge base for Experts,Pérez-Pérez, R., Benito, B.M., Bonet, F.J., expert systems with applica-tions (view at publisher - pdf).

2012 Modelling spatial and temporal variability of intertidal Zostera Marina onthe Ems estuary, Dutch Wadden Sea, Valle, M., Benito, B.M., van Katwijk,M., de Jong, D., Borja, A., Chust, G., revista de investigación marina 19(6):409 - 412 (view at publisher - pdf).

2012 The International Network of Forest Inventory Plots (BIOTREE-NET) inMesoamerica: advances, challenges and future perspectives, Cayuela, L., ...Benito, B.M., ... , ecosistemas 21 (1-2): 126-135 (view at publisher - pdf).

4/11

2011 Habitat fragmentation in arid zones: a case study of Linaria nigricans underland use changes (SE Spain), Peñas, J., Benito, B.M., Lorite, J., Ballesteros, M.,Cañadas, E.M., Martinez-Ortega, M., environmental management 48; 168-176(view at publisher - pdf).

2011 Simulating potential effects of climate warming on altitudinal patterns of keyspecies in mediterranean-alpine ecosystems, Benito, B.M., Lorite, J., Peñas,climatic change 108 (3): 417-483 (view at publisher - pdf).

2010 First record for Polygala balansae Cosson in Europe, Lorite, J., Peñas, J.,Benito, B.M., Cañadas, E., Valle, F., annales botanici fennici 47: 10 - 15(view at publisher - pdf).

2010 Past and present potential distribution of the iberian Abies species: a phy-togeographic approach using fossil pollen data and niche-based models,Alba-Sánchez, F., López-Sáez, J.A., Benito, B.M., Linares, J.C., Nieto-Lugilde, D.,López-Merino, L., diversity and distributions 16: 214-218 (view at publisher- pdf).

2009 Assessing extinction-risk of endangered plants using species distribution mo-dels: a case study of habitat depletion caused by the spread of greenhouses,Benito, B.M., Martínez-Ortega, M.M., Muñoz, L.M., Lorite, J., Peñas, J. , biodi-versity and conservation 18: 2509 - 2520 (view at publisher - pdf).

2009 Palaeopalynological history and model of eligibility of the Abies alba in thePyrenees mountain range, Sánchez, F.A., Sáez, J.A.L., Benito, B.M., Merino,L.L., pirineos 164: 93 - 116 (view at publisher - pdf).

2008 Astragalus peregrinus subsp. warionis and A. gutattus (fabaceae): new forthe Iberian peninsula, Peñas, J., Benito, B.M., Lorite, J., Concepción Morales,M., Martínez-Ortega, M.M., phyton 48(1): 155 - 167 (view at publisher - pdf).

2007 Species distribution models applied to biodiversity conservation in the sout-heastern Iberian peninsula, Benito, B.M., Peñas, J., geofocus 7: 100 - 119(view at publisher - pdf).

2007 Novel records of endangered plants in the arid plains of Granada (Basin ofGuadix and Baza), Gutiérrez, L., Del Río, J., Navarro, F.B., Lorite, J., Benito,B.M. et al. , lagascalia 27: 407 - 415 (view at publisher - pdf).

Book chapters

2012 Species distribution models and range shift, Benito, B.M., in: global chan-ge observatory of sierra nevada: monitoring methods (Eds. Aspizua,R., Barea-Azcón, J.M., Bonet, F.J., Pérez-Luque, A.J., Zamora, R.), pages 96-97,Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía (pdf).

2012 Future simulated climate, Benito, B.M., Pérez, R., Reyes, P., in: global chan-ge observatory of sierra nevada: monitoring methods (Eds. Aspizua,R., Barea-Azcón, J.M., Bonet, F.J., Pérez-Luque, A.J., Zamora, R.), pages 28-31,Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía (pdf).

5/11

2011 Ononis tridentata subsp. crassifolia (Dufour ex Boiss.) Nyman, Ballesteros,M., Cañadas, E., Benito, B.M., Peñas, J., Lorite, J., in: plant diversity ofthe iberian gypsum soils. the challenges of the edaphic islandsfor conservation biology (Eds. Mota, J.F., Sánchez, P., Guirado, J.S.), pages161-162, ADIF and Mediterráneo Asesores-Consultores (pdf).

2011 Astragalus oxyglottis M. Bieb., Peñas, J., Salazar, C., Gutiérrez, L., Del Río, J.,Benito, B.M., Navarro, F.B., Lorite, J., in: plant diversity of the iberiangypsum soils. the challenges of the edaphic islands for conserva-tion biology (Eds. Mota, J.F., Sánchez, P., Guirado, J.S.), pages 121-122, ADIFy Mediterráneo Asesores-Consultores (pdf).

2011 Astragalus guttatus Bank & Sol, Peñas, J., Del Río, J., Benito, B.M., Martínez-Ortega, M.M., Lorite, J., in: plant diversity of the iberian gypsum soils.the challenges of the edaphic islands for conservation biology(Eds. Mota, J.F., Sánchez, P., Guirado, J.S.), pages 114-116, ADIF y MediterráneoAsesores-Consultores (pdf).

2010 Linaria nigricans Lange, Peñas, J., Ballesteros, M., Benito, B.M., Cañadas, E.,Lorite, J., in: atlas and red book of the endangered vascular floraof spain (Eds. Bañares, A., Blanca, G., Güemes, J., Moreno, J.C., Ortiz, S.), pages80-81, National Office of the Environment and Forest Policy and the Spanish Societyof Conservation Biology of Plants. Madrid (pdf).

2010 Sierra Nevada, soils and landscape, Benito, B.M., and others, in: field guideof the fourth iberian congress of soil science, Copicentro Granada (pdf).

2008 Greenhouses, land use change, and predictive models: MaxEnt and Geomodworking together, Benito, B.M., Peñas, J., in: modelling environmentaldynamics: advances in geomatic solutions (Eds. Paegelow, M., Camacho-Olmedo, M.T.), chapter 11, pages 297 - 317, Springer (view at publisher - pdf).

Communications in conferences

2013 Pyrenean Oak range shift and colonization of degraded habitats mediatedby the European Jay: dynamic simulation with Agent-Based Models , XINational Congress of the Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology, Pamplona.

2013 Biotic and abiotic features of Quercus pyrenaica Willd. populations in SierraNevada, XI National Congress of the Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology,Pamplona.

2012 Modelling the spatial and temporal variability of intertidal Zostera marinaon the Ems estuary, Dutch Wadden Sea, XVII Simposio Ibérico de Estudios deBiología Marina, Donostia-San Sebastián.

2011 An Environmental Model Repository: case studies applied to Sierra NevadaLTER Site, European Ecological Federation Congress, Ávila (Spain). September.

6/11

2010 Looking back and looking ahead: Biogeographical history of Abies sp. underdifferent climate change scenarios Iberian Seminar IGBP - Global Change in theIberian peninsula: an integrated perspective, Lisboa (Portugal), 4 - 5 november (pdf- slideshow).

2009 Potential distribution of the Iberian Abies species: a phytogeographic ap-proach based on pollen records and species distribution models, IX Congressof the Spanish Society of Terrestrial Ecology, Úbeda, 18 - 22 october (pdf).

2006 Effects of habitat fragmentation and loss over the endemic plant Linarianigricans (southern Iberian peninsula), V International Symposium on Wild Floraof Arid Lands, Hermosillo, Sonora (Méjico). 29 - 31 march (pdf).

2006 Predictive models applied to the conservation of endangered flora: green-houses versus Linaria nigricans in the arid lands of southern Iberian penin-sulaoI National Congress on Geographic Information Technology, Granada, 19 - 22september (pdf).

Panels in conferences and workshops

2013 To migrate, or not to migrate, that is the question: forecasting plant extin-ction under climate change in a Mediterranean hotspot with a stochasticdynamic species distribution models, Adapting to Climate Change in the Medi-terranean Hotspot, Sevilla (poster).

2011 Effects of Climate Change over the endangered plants of island-like habitats:the case of Moehringia fontqueri Pau, V Congress of Plant Conservation Biology,Palma, Islas Baleares, 28 september - 1 october (pdf).

2009 Biology of the Sierra Nevada endemic Moehringia fontqueri Pau , 45th In-ternational Congress SISV and FIP, Cagliari (Cerdeña), 22 - 29 june (pdf).

2009 Effects of Climate Warming in the distribution of endangered plants of aridlands and high mountains, IV Congress of Plant Conservation, Almería, 15 - 18september (pdf).

2009 The conservation of the rare Succisella andreae-molinae, IV Congress of PlantConservation Biology, Almería, 15 - 18 september (pdf).

2009 Evaluating the conservation status of Ononis tridentata subsp. crassifolia,IV Congress of Plant Conservation Biology, Almería, 15 - 18 september (pdf).

2007 Species distribution models applied to the ecology and conservation of en-dangered plants, 49th Annual Conference of the International Association for Vege-tation Science, Palmerston North (New Zealand), 12 - 16 february (pdf).

2007 Species distribution models as tools to find new populations of endange-red plant species, III Congress of Plant Conservation Biology, Puerto de la Cruz(Tenerife), 25 - 28 september (pdf).

7/11

2007 Preliminary research on the conservation biology of Krascheninnikovia ce-ratoides, III Congress of Plant Conservation Biology, Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife),25 - 28 september (pdf).

2007 Genetic diversity applied to the conservation of endangered plants of thesouthern Iberian peninsula: Linaria nigricans, III Congress of Plant ConservationBiology, Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife), 25 - 28 september (pdf).

2007 Astragalus warionis, neophyte, or a new endangered species in the Iberianpeninsula?, III Congress of Plant Conservation Biology, Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife),25 - 28 september (pdf).

2006 Predictive distribution models as a tool for conservation: endangered plantsin the arid southeastern Iberian Peninsula, 1st European Congress of Conserva-tion Biology, Eger (Hungary), 22 - 26 august (pdf).

2006 Predictive models applied to the conservation of endangered plants: green-houses versus Linaria nigricans in southeastern Spain, XII National Congressof Geographic Information Technology, Granada, 19 - 22 september (pdf).

2005 Predictive models of endemic plant species distribution in the arid lands ofSE Iberian Peninsula, Predictive Modelling of Species Distribution: New Tools forthe XXI Century, Baeza (Spain), 2 - 4 november (pdf).

2005 Plant diversity loss in arid ecosystems. The habitat of Linaria nigricans inSW Europe, 48th IAVS Symposium, Lisboa (Portugal), 24 - 29 july (pdf).

2005 Fragmentation analysis and spatial patterns of Linaria nigricans: implica-tions for conservation, II Congress of Plant Conservation Biology, Gijón, 21 - 23september (pdf).

Research projects

2012 - 2014 Global Change, altitudinal range shift and colonization of degraded habitatsin mediterranean mountains (MIGRAME), Government of Andalusia (referencecode RNM-6734), PI: Dr. Regino Zamora.

2012 - 2016 Paleobiogeography and conservation of Abies pinsapo Boiss and Cedrusatlantica (Endl.) Carrière: two species of relict flora from the Western Me-diterraneo (RELIC-FLORA), Government of Andalusia (reference code P11RNM-7033), PI: Dr. Francisca Alba.

2011 - 2014 Phylogeography and conservation of endemic flora in island-like habitats:Moehringia sect. Pseudomoehringia iberian and north african species , I+Dproject, Goverment of Spain (reference code CGL2010-16357), PI: Dr. Julio Peñas.

2010 - 2011 ALTAGUAX. Software development, UNESCO, PI: Dr Regino Zamora (web site).

2010 - 2011 Plant distribution models for decision support in conservation planning, Uni-versity of Granada - Government of Andalusia, PI: Dr. Regino Zamora.

8/11

2010 - 2011 Support to tasks of the Global Change Observatory of Sierra Nevada, Uni-versity of Granada - Government of Andalusia, PI: Dr Regino Zamora (web site -information system).

2010 - 2011 Scientific coordination of research and monitoring tasks in the Sierra NevadaNational Park, University of Granada - Government of Andalusia, PI: Dr. ReginoZamora (web site - information system).

2010 - 2011 Design of the Sierra Nevada Information System and integration in theREDIAM, University of Granada - Government of Andalusia, PI: Dr. Regino Zamora(web site - information system).

2009 - 2012 International Network of Forest Plots (BIOTREE.NET) for Research andConvervation of the plant diversity in Central America, BBVA Foundation,PI: Dr. Regino Zamora (web site).

2009 - 2012 Study of the ecological basis to the restoration of vegetation in the quarriesof Venta de Huelma and Escúzar, KNAUFF, PI: Dr. Juan Lorite.

2009 - 2010 Atlas of Endangered Flora - IV (Linaria nigricans), University of Granada -Ministry of Environment, Government of Spain, PI: Dr. Julio Peñas.

2007 - 2008 Design and creation of a repository of environmental models for de Andalu-sian Network of Environmental Information (REDIAM), University of Granada- Government of Andalusia, PI: Dr. Regino Zamora (web site).

2007 - 2008 A model to locate sensitive areas of protected species and habitat typesof Community interest, University of Granada - Government of Andalusia, PI: Dr.Regino Zamora.

2006 - 2010 Conservation of endemic and endangered flora in fragile habitats: arid zo-nes and high mountains of Andalusia (reference RNM 1067), Government ofAndalusia, PI: Dr. Julio Peñas.

Divulgative articles

2008 The decline of Linaria nigricans: a plant of the arid southeastern Spain, Peñas,J., Benito, B.M., Muñoz, L.M., Elena, J.A., Martínez-Ortega, M.M., quercus 243:36 - 43 (pdf).

2007 Los modelos de distribución en el trabajo de campo: Localización de nuevaspoblaciones de especies amenazadas, Benito, B.M., Peñas, J., ig+ 8: 8 - 10(view at publisher -pdf).

Reviewer for:

Global Change Biology, Journal for Nature Conservation, Weed Research, Ecosistemas, Therya, PlantBiosystems, Botanical Sciences

Intelectual property

9/11

2008 MODELER: A model repository as knowledge base for experts, Registrationcode 201299900779498, Expedient Number: GR-188-12, This software allows the sto-rage, management and execution of scientific workflows. It is currently on-line at theGlobal Change Observatory of Sierra Nevada (Spain), and provides an automated exe-cution framework for the different environmental models available in the Observatory(link - related publication).

Teaching

Universitary

2013 Systems ecology, Department of Ecology - University of Granada, 1.5 ECTS.

2013 Fundamentals of applied biology, Department of Ecology - University of Granada,1 ECTS.

2013 Ecology of populations and communities, University Degree “EnvironmentalSciences”, Department of Ecology - University of Granada, 0.9 ECTS.

2010 to 2013 Ecoinformatics, University Master “Biodiversity Conservation, Managementand Restoration”, Department of Ecology - University of Granada, 1.5 ECTS.

2010 Practicum in Botany, Department of Botany - University of Granada, 25 hours.

2009 Geographical Information Systems applied to Biodiversity Research and Con-servation, in the “Master in Biodiversity Research and Conservation, (Spa-nish Agency of International Cooperation (AECI) - University of Granada - UniversidadMayor de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca (Sucre, Bolivia), 60 hours.

2002 Practicum in Environmental Physiology of Animals, University of Granada, 25hours.

2001 Practicum in Animal Physiology, University of Granada, 20 hours.

Non universitary

2013 Introduction to GIS with free software: Quantum GIS and GRASS, CSIC -Pyrenean Institute of Ecology, 10 hours.

2011 to 2013 GBIF Workshop in Ecological Niche Modelling, Spanish GBIF node, 22 hours(link 2011 - link 2012).

2011 New Frontiers in the Species Distribution Models (with Dr. David Nogués-Bravo), Andalusian Center of the Environment (CEAMA) - University of Granada,12 hours (flyer).

10/11

2010 to 2013 Capture, management and analysis of geographic information, in the “Cour-se of research methods in Environmental Biology”, Department of Ecology -University of Granada, 2 hours (slideshow).

2009 Design and automated execution of scientific workflows with Kepler, Anda-lusian Center of the Environment (CEAMA) - University of Granada, 3 hours (slides-how).

2008 Species Distribution Models applied to research in endangered flora, Univer-sity of Valencia - Spanish Society of Plant Conservation Biology, 8 hours (slideshow).

11/11