CTFC

Team

BUSCADOR

xabier.cabodevilla@ehu.eus

605722981

0000-0002-5793-7916

Featured Projects:

Biodiversa+InterRest

< Back

Xabier Cabodevilla Bravo

Associate (M)

PROGRAM / Conservation biology

LINE / Conservation of agricultural ecosystems and game species

I am Assistant Professor at the Dept. of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology in Zoology at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). I have a degree in Biological Sciences (2014; UPV/EHU), a Master's degree in Zoology (2015; UCM) and a PhD in Biodiversity, Functioning and Management of Ecosystems (2021; UPV/EHU). My research focuses on the study of anthropogenic impact on wild vertebrate populations, mainly steppe birds, from a quantitative and molecular perspective. I have great knowledge about hierarchical models, mainly in a Bayesian framework, but above all I have specialised in the use of molecular analyses, such as metabarcoding, for the study of diet and pathogens. Appling a multidisciplinary framework, combining molecular analysis of environmental DNA with statistical models I study the interaction between biodiversity and humans, especially how human activity (agriculture or urbanisation) affects the diet and pathogens of wild birds.

Keywords

BiodiversityPopulation biologyConservationAnimal ecologyHunting speciesSteppic birds

Latest Publications

Gómez-Catasús, J., Benítez-López, A., Díaz, M., González del Portillo, D., Pérez-Granados, C., ..., Bota, G., Brotons, Ll., Cabodevilla, X. (2025). Alarming conservation status of Western European steppe birds and their habitats: An expert-based review of current threats, traits and knowledge gaps. Biological Conservation
Pérez-Granados, C., ..., Revilla-Martín, N., Cabodevilla, X., Brotons, Ll., Bota, G., Giralt, D., et al. (2025). Using Scenarios for Reducing Uncertainties in Biodiversity Conservation: From Global Targets to European Steppes. Conservation Letters
Zabala, J., Acebes, P., Madeira, M.J., Fernández, E., Gómez-Moliner, B.J., Cabodevilla, X. (2025). Metabarcoding provides accurate estimation of volumetric diet composition in a top predator despite interference from blocking primers. Scientific Reports
Gorris, P., Bodin, O., Giralt, D., Hass, A.L., Reitalu, T., Cabodevilla, X., Hannappel, I., Helm, A., Prangel, E., Westphal, C. (2025). Social-ecological perspective on European semi-natural grassland conservation and restoration: Key challenges and future pathways. Biological Conservation
González del Portillo, D., Cabodevilla, X., Arroyo, B., Morales, M.B. (2024). Summer diet preferences of a declining steppe bird as revealed by DNA metabarcoding. Journal of Ornithology

Additional Publications

Cabodevilla, X., Ortiz-Santaliestra, M. E., Fernández-Tizón, M., Zurdo, J., Madeira, M. J., Giralt, D., ... & Mougeot, F. (2024). Dietary DNA metabarcoding reveals a trophic niche partitioning among sympatric Iberian sandgrouses and bustards. Science of the Total Environment, 933, 172989.

Cabodevilla, X., Malo, J. E., de Cárcer, D. A., Zurdo, J., Chaboy-Cansado, R., Rastrojo, A., ... & Traba, J. (2024). Zoonotic potential of urban wildlife faeces, assessed through metabarcoding. Science of the Total Environment, 952, 175866.

Cabodevilla, X., Gómez-Moliner, B. J., Abad, N., & Madeira, M. J. (2023). Simultaneous analysis of the intestinal parasites and diet through eDNA metabarcoding. Integrative Zoology, 18(3), 399-413.

Cabodevilla, X., Wright, A. D., Villanua, D., Arroyo, B., & Zipkin, E. F. (2022). The implementation of irrigation leads to declines in farmland birds. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 323, 107701.

Cabodevilla, X., Estrada, A., Mougeot, F., Jimenez, J., & Arroyo, B. (2021). Farmland composition and farming practices explain spatio-temporal variations in red-legged partridge density in central Spain. Science of The Total Environment, 799, 149406.