Dr. Ainara Cortés-Avizanda | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award
Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC | Spain
Author Profile
🎓 Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Ainara Cortés-Avizanda's academic journey began with a Bachelor of Biology from the University of Navarra in 2002. Her passion for ecological and environmental issues led her to pursue a PhD in Ecology and Environment from the Autonomous University of Madrid, which she completed in 2011. Her thesis explored the conservation effects of trophic resource predictability, with a focus on carcasses and vertebrate communities. This early work laid the foundation for her ongoing research into animal behavior, scavenger dynamics, and biodiversity conservation.
💼 Professional Endeavors
Currently serving as a Senior Scientist at the Doñana Biological Station (CSIC) in Spain, Dr. Cortés-Avizanda has built an impressive career in conservation biology and global change. Her professional path includes numerous postdoctoral research positions in prestigious institutions across Europe, including the Balearic Government IMEDEA (CSIC)-UIB in Spain and CIBIO-InBIO in Portugal. These positions have provided her with international exposure and a broad perspective on global ecological challenges, particularly related to trophic ecology, scavenging, and the dynamics of endangered species.
🔬 Contributions and Research Focus
Dr. Cortés-Avizanda’s work centers on understanding scavenging ecology, trophic interactions, and community structure within ecosystems. Her studies on scavengers like vultures have provided insights into animal behavior, the effects of human activity on ecosystems, and the broader implications for biodiversity conservation. She has made significant contributions in the areas of stable isotope analysis, movement patterns of species, and human-wildlife conflicts, particularly focusing on vultures and carnivores. Her research spans ecological processes like competition, facilitation, and the provision of ecosystem services.
🏆 Accolades and Recognition
Throughout her career, Dr. Cortés-Avizanda has received numerous honors. Her Extraordinary PhD Award underscores her early academic excellence, while her research paper in Ecology (2014) earned the Severo-Ochoa Excelencia-CSIC Award. She has published several influential papers, including works featured on the covers of leading journals. Furthermore, Dr. Cortés-Avizanda has been an invited and plenary speaker at major international conferences, showcasing her leadership in the field of ecological research.
🌍 Impact and Influence
Dr. Cortés-Avizanda's research has far-reaching implications for conservation biology. Her studies on scavengers and endangered species have provided practical recommendations for conservation efforts, influencing both academic and field practices. Through her network of collaborators involving NGOs, governmental bodies, and social agents, she has led several national and international projects aimed at addressing real-world conservation challenges. Her efforts in promoting ecological balance and understanding human-wildlife interactions have had a significant influence on conservation policies.
🏅 Legacy and Future Contributions
With over 20 years of research experience, Dr. Cortés-Avizanda's work continues to be ambitious and innovative. She aims to address the challenges of global change by integrating socio-ecological approaches with ecological research. Her focus on rewilding Europe, understanding carrion ecology, and addressing human-carnivore conflicts positions her as a key figure in future conservation efforts. Her work not only enhances our understanding of ecological processes but also contributes to long-term sustainability and wildlife conservation in a changing world.
Publications
- 📄 Long-term anthropogenic drivers of diet composition and niche breadth in an endangered avian scavenger: The scant role of sanitary regulations
- Authors: De Tena, C., Donázar-Aramendía, I., Ceballos, O., Cortés-Avizanda, A., Donázar, J.A.
- Journal: Global Ecology and Conservation
- Year: 2024
- 📄 Levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the role of anthropic subsidies in the diet of avian scavengers tracked by stable isotopes
- Authors: Muñoz-Arnanz, J., Cortés-Avizanda, A., Donázar-Aramendía, I., Jiménez, B., Donázar, J.A.
- Journal: Environmental Pollution
- Year: 2024
- 📄 Mammal communities of primeval forests as sentinels of global change
- Authors: Selva, N., Hobson, K.A., Zalewski, A., Cortés-Avizanda, A., Donázar, J.A.
- Journal: Global Change Biology
- Year: 2024
- 📄 Resource predictability modulates spatial-use networks in an endangered scavenger species
- Authors: Cerecedo-Iglesias, C., Bartumeus, F., Cortés-Avizanda, A., Hernández-Matías, A., Real, J.
- Journal: Movement Ecology
- Year: 2023
- 📄 Key Factors behind the Dynamic Stability of Pairs of Egyptian Vultures in Continental Spain
- Authors: Cerecedo-Iglesias, C., Pretus, J.L., Hernández-Matías, A., Cortés-Avizanda, A., Real, J.
- Journal: Animals
- Year: 2023