Postdoctoral Researcher at Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies(UIB-CSIC), Spain.
Dr. Sandra Hervías-Parejo is a leading island ecologist with expertise in biotic interactions, food webs, and the role of keystone species in ecosystem functioning. Her work focuses on how global change and invasive alien species alter ecological complexity and resilience, particularly in fragile island systems. Dr. Hervías-Parejo has pioneered multilayer ecological network frameworks that reveal the cascading effects of species loss. She integrates empirical fieldwork, mathematical modeling, and long-term ecological data to address biodiversity conservation challenges. With a research footprint across the Galapagos, Seychelles, Canaries, Tierra del Fuego, and Svalbard, she brings global insight into local conservation actions. Her landmark contributions include quantifying the role of missing data in multilayer network robustness, advancing the theory of “function keystoneness,” and integrating multilayer food web analysis into island biogeography. Dr. Hervías-Parejo has published 45 ISI-indexed articles, 93% in Q1 journals, and her studies have been cited over 675 times, earning her a Google Scholar H-index of 22. She is a frequent contributor to policy-related reports, international conferences, and top-tier academic journals. Her research aligns with global sustainability goals, especially those targeting biodiversity protection and climate action. With a strong leadership profile, she continues to mentor the next generation of ecologists and conservationists.
Publication Profile
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Education
Dr. Hervías-Parejo’s academic background reflects a deep and sustained commitment to ecological science and conservation. She earned her PhD in Ecology from the University of Murcia, Spain, in 2014, following years of field and theoretical research in ecological interactions and conservation biology. Her doctoral training built upon a prior Master’s degree in Invasive Species Management (2009), also at the University of Murcia, where she developed a keen interest in the ecological impacts of non-native species. Earlier, she completed a Certificate in Teaching Skills from the University of Granada (2006), supporting her pedagogical development and future teaching roles. Her academic journey began with a Degree in Biology (2004), which she undertook jointly at the University of Granada and the University of La Laguna in Tenerife—giving her first-hand exposure to island ecosystems that would become central to her career. This strong educational foundation, blending ecological theory, teaching methodologies, and applied conservation management, laid the groundwork for her later groundbreaking research on keystone species, food web networks, and ecosystem restoration. Her academic progression demonstrates a consistent focus on the interface between ecological science and real-world environmental challenges, particularly within vulnerable and complex island systems.
Professional Experience
Dr. Hervías-Parejo currently holds the position of Interim Substitute Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of Granada, Spain, a role she began on May 9, 2025. Her professional journey has been dynamic and internationally engaged, marked by high-impact postdoctoral appointments. From November 2022 to May 2025, she worked on a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant, which she left upon securing her current teaching role. Prior to that, from August 2020 to July 2022, she held a Vicenç Mut Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the Government of the Balearic Islands (CAIB). Between 2018 and 2020, she contributed as a postdoctoral researcher at IMEDEA (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies) in Spain. Her earlier international experience includes a postdoctoral position at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos (2016–2017), where she gained critical insights into island ecology and conservation management. Throughout these roles, she contributed to and led major research efforts on biodiversity loss, network ecology, and conservation interventions. Her professional path illustrates a consistent evolution toward academic leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful scientific inquiry across world-renowned ecological institutions.
Research Interest
Dr. Hervías-Parejo’s research interests center on the ecology of island systems, with a strong emphasis on biotic interactions, ecosystem restoration, and the effects of global environmental change. She specializes in food web theory, functional traits, and multilayer ecological networks, especially in the context of invasive species and keystone species dynamics. A defining theme of her work is understanding how species loss and ecological simplification affect biodiversity and function in fragile ecosystems. Her scientific curiosity extends to quantitative ecology, ecological modeling, and the application of multilayer networks to track and predict changes in community structure. Her fieldwork spans iconic archipelagos such as the Galapagos, Seychelles, Canary Islands, Svalbard, and Tierra del Fuego. In these systems, she investigates species hierarchies, pollination effectiveness, and avian-seabird ecology, linking fundamental research to conservation outcomes. Her interests also encompass human-mediated disturbances, particularly the role of alien species and the mechanisms by which they alter ecosystem resilience. These interdisciplinary and globally-relevant research topics underpin her contributions to environmental policy, ecological forecasting, and sustainable management strategies that aim to protect biodiversity amid escalating climate and anthropogenic pressures.
Research Skills
Dr. Hervías-Parejo possesses a comprehensive suite of research skills spanning empirical fieldwork, theoretical ecology, and quantitative modeling. She is a recognized innovator in the development and application of multilayer ecological networks, having pioneered methodologies to estimate interlayer edge weights, integrate spatiotemporal variability, and assess function keystoneness. Her technical toolkit includes network analysis, biodiversity metrics, statistical modeling, and ecological informatics, as well as proficiency in GIS-based habitat mapping and bioacoustics monitoring—notably for estimating populations of burrowing seabirds. She has also contributed novel insights into plant–pollinator networks, species interaction strength, and dietary analysis of invasive predators using ecological and statistical tools. Equally strong in field ecology, Dr. Hervías-Parejo has led biodiversity surveys, species monitoring programs, and ecological restoration assessments in remote and logistically challenging island environments. In the lab and office, she exhibits skill in data synthesis, hypothesis testing, and manuscript development, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex models into conservation applications. Her work is deeply collaborative, incorporating interdisciplinary tools to bridge the gap between fundamental science and practical conservation. These integrated research capabilities allow her to deliver high-impact insights on ecological resilience, species interactions, and restoration strategies.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Hervías-Parejo has achieved a remarkable track record in securing competitive research funding, totaling over €5.8 million, with more than €2.5 million acquired as principal investigator or lead coordinator. Her success includes prestigious programs such as the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, the Vicenç Mut Postdoctoral Fellowship, and other national and international funding bodies. These accomplishments reflect both scientific excellence and leadership in large, interdisciplinary teams. In recognition of her expertise, she has been invited as a reviewer for over 22 high-ranking SCI-indexed journals, including Nature Communications, Ecology Letters, Global Change Biology, and Journal of Applied Ecology. She also serves as an associate editor for Food Webs and the Management of Invasive Species Journal, and she is listed as a scientific expert in the Spanish State Research Agency’s Expert Collaborators Bank (BECA). Dr. Hervías-Parejo’s work has been featured in major policy-oriented publications and global media outlets such as Nature Portfolio. These accolades underscore her position as a thought leader in conservation science and affirm the societal relevance of her work, particularly in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals targeting biodiversity conservation and climate action.
Author Metrics
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Total Citations: 679
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h-index: 13
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i10-index: 22
Publications Top Notes
1. Estimating population size of a nocturnal burrow-nesting seabird using acoustic monitoring and habitat mapping
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Authors: S. Oppel, S. Hervías-Parejo, N. Oliveira, T. Pipa, C. Silva, P. Geraldes, M. Goh, et al.
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Journal: Biodiversity Data Journal (Pensoft Publishers)
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Year: 2014
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Citations: 111
2. Assessing the impact of introduced cats on island biodiversity by combining dietary and movement analysis
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Authors: S. Hervías, S. Oppel, F.M. Medina, T. Pipa, A. Díez, J.A. Ramos, et al.
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Journal: Journal of Zoology
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Year: 2013
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Citations: 74
3. Studying the effects of multiple invasive mammals on Cory’s shearwater nest survival
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Authors: S. Hervías, A. Henriques, N. Oliveira, T. Pipa, H. Cowen, J. Ramos, et al.
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Journal: Biological Invasions
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Year: 2012
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Citations: 55
4. Spatial foraging segregation by close neighbours in a wide-ranging seabird
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Authors: F.R. Ceia, V.H. Paiva, R.S. Ceia, S. Hervías, S. Garthe, J.C. Marques, et al.
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Journal: Oecologia
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Year: 2015
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Citations: 46
5. Species functional traits and abundance as drivers of multiplex ecological networks: first empirical quantification of inter-layer edge weights
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Authors: S. Hervías-Parejo, C. Tur, R. Heleno, M. Nogales, S. Timóteo, A. Traveset
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Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society
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Year: 2020
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Citations: 35
6. Pollination effectiveness of opportunistic Galápagos birds compared to that of insects: From fruit set to seedling emergence
7. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater: does laurel forest restoration remove a critical winter food supply for the critically endangered Azores bullfinch?
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Authors: R.S. Ceia, H.L. Sampaio, S.H. Parejo, R.H. Heleno, M.L. Arosa, J.A. Ramos, et al.
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Journal: Biological Invasions
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Year: 2011
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Citations: 30
8. Tripartite networks show that keystone species can multitask
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Authors: S. Timóteo, J. Albrecht, B. Rumeu, A.C. Norte, A. Traveset, C.M. Frost, et al.
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Journal: Functional Ecology
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Year: 2023
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Citations: 24
9. Small size does not restrain frugivory and seed dispersal across the evolutionary radiation of Galápagos lava lizards
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Authors: S. Hervías-Parejo, R. Heleno, B. Rumeu, B. Guzmán, P. Vargas, J.M. Olesen, et al.
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Journal: Current Zoology
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Year: 2019
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Citations: 22
10. Dispersal of fern spores by Galápagos finches
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Authors: S. Hervías-Parejo, J.M. Olesen, M. Nogales, A. Traveset, R. Heleno
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Journal: Journal of Ornithology
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Year: 2019
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Citations: 16
Conclusion
Dr. Sandra Hervías-Parejo exemplifies a new generation of ecologists who combine theoretical innovation, field-based insight, and policy relevance. Her work advances the scientific frontier in island ecology, multilayer networks, and ecosystem resilience, while directly informing strategies for restoration and biodiversity protection. With extensive experience across renowned ecological hotspots and strong ties to global research networks, she operates at the intersection of ecological science and real-world conservation impact. Her publications, citations, editorial work, and international collaborations demonstrate a sustained commitment to excellence and leadership in environmental science. Notably, she maintains a consistent focus on training young scientists, fostering careers in academia, NGOs, and the environmental sector. Through her methodological breakthroughs, field innovations, and ability to frame local findings within global contexts, she has significantly contributed to our understanding of species interactions and ecological stability in the Anthropocene. Her integrated, interdisciplinary approach not only enhances ecological knowledge but also strengthens the practical capacity of society to address biodiversity loss and climate challenges. Dr. Hervías-Parejo’s profile reflects a balance of scientific rigor, creative inquiry, and collaborative spirit—qualities that position her among the foremost voices in contemporary ecology.