gerard.bota@ctfc.cat
LINE / Conservation of agricultural ecosystems and game species
His research focuses on the interactions between agriculture and farmland birds, particularly in extensive steppe-land agricultural areas. Another key objective is to transfer conservation biology principles to stakeholders, helping them apply these in nature conservation planning. Since 2003, Gerard Bota and his team have established a close collaboration with the Catalan regional government, which led to the creation of the Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Observatory of Catalonia, of which he is part as coordinator of the technical office together with CREAF. The Observatory aims to mobilize scientific evidence and innovative methodologies to inform political decision-making, enhancing the robustness and effectiveness of conservation policies. In recent years, his work has expanded to include bioacoustics for bird monitoring.
He has participated in various biodiversity and conservation projects related to agricultural systems, such as the Biodiversa+ projects (FARMLAND, InterRest, TABMON), acted as lead partner in the INTERREG Europe project (BID-REX: From Biodiversity Data to Decisions), and contributed to LIFE Nature projects (LIFE Connect Ricoti, LIFE AgroForAdapt). He also co-coordinates the STEPPE FORWARD Sponsored Chair, which focuses on researching the impact of renewable photovoltaic energy on biodiversity, especially on steppe birds.
His research outputs include over 73 co-authored papers in SCI-indexed journals, such as Communications Earth & Environment, Conservation Letters, Biodiversity and Conservation, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Journal of Applied Ecology, PNAS, Ecological Indicators, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, and Journal of Avian Biology. He has also served as the lead editor of the book Ecology and Conservation of Steppe-Land Birds and contributed more than 20 chapters to international and regional books.
- 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
- Coutinho Soares, F., Gameiro, J., Marques, A.T., Bota, G., García de la Morena, E.L., Morales, M.B., Pacheco, C., González del Portillo, D., Valerio, F., Moreira, F., Palmeirim, J.M., Silva, J.P. (2025). Individual variation in migration patterns of Iberian little bustards. Movement Ecology
- Darras, K.F.A., Rountree, R.A., Van Wilgenburg, S.L., Cord, A.F., Pitz, F., Chen, Y.,..., Bota, G.,..., Pérez-Granados, C., et al. (2025). Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms. Global Ecology and Biogeography
- Martín-Vélez, V., Montalvo, T., Ramirez, F., Figuerola, J., Morral-Puigmal, C., Planell, R., Sabate, S., Bota, G., Navarro, J. (2025). Opportunistic Gulls Infected by Antibiotic-ResistantBacteria Show Contrasting Movement Behaviour. Ecology and Evolution
Altres articles SCI destacats / Other featured SCI articles
Bota, G., Manzano-Rubio, R., Fanlo, H., Franch, N., Brotons, LL., Villero, D., Devisscher, S., Pavesi, A., Cavaletti, E., Pérez-Granados, C. (2024) Passive acoustic monitoring and automated detection of the American bullfrog. Biological Invasions, 26, 1269-1279
Gómez-Catasús, J., Morales, M.B., Giralt, D., González del Portillo, D., Manzano-Rubio, R., Solé-Bujalance, L., Sardà-Palomera, F., Traba, J., Bota, G. (2024) Solar photovoltaic energy development and biodiversity conservation: current knowledge and research gaps. Conservation Letters, 17(4)
Morales, M.B., Díaz, M., Giralt, D., Sardà-Palomera, F., Traba, J., Mougeot, F., Serrano, D., Mañosa, M., Gaba, S., Moreira, F., Pärt, T., Concepción, E.D., Tarjuelo, R., Arroyo, B., Bota, G. (2022) Protect Europe green agriculture policies for future food security. Communications, earth & environment, 3, 217
Bota, G., Traba, J., Sardà-Palomera, F., Giralt, D., Pérez-Granados, C. (2022) Passive acoustic monitoring for estimating human-wildlife conflicts: The case of bee-eaters and apiculture. Ecological Indicators, 142, 109158
Sirami, C., Gross, N. ,…,Bota, G.,… Fahrig, L. (15/47) (2019). Increasing crop heterogeneity enhances multitrophic diversity across agricultural regions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116 (33), 16442-16447.
Llibres / Books
Garcia de la Morena, E., Bota, G., Mañosa, S. & Morales, M.B. 2018. El sisón común en España. II Censo Nacional (2016). SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.
Giralt, D., Robleño, I., Estrada, J., Mañosa, S., Morales, M.B., Sardà-Palomera, F., Traba, J. y Bota, G., 2018. Manual de gestión de barbechos para la conservación de aves esteparias. Fundación Biodiversidad - Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya
Bota, G., Morales, M. B., Mañosa, S. & Camprodon, J. (Eds.) 2005. Ecology and Conservation of Steppe-land Birds. Lynx Edicions & Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya, Barcelona.