Research

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Graciela is a Quaternary scientist with a special interest on long-term ecology. She has been mainly working on African drylands and sensitive areas to global change; namely the Namib Desert, the Cape region, the Lower Omo region (Ethiopia) and Southern Iberia. The core of her research is focused on vegetation response to environmental change, including natural and anthropogenic activities (fire and agriculture). Graciela uses a variety of sediments ranging from biogenic accumulations (hyrax middens), paleo-lake, lacustrine and peat deposits as well as different proxies, primarily pollen and charcoal and other tools as GIS and remote sensing.

She is currently exploring four key research topics:

• Vegetation response to past abrupt climate change in North-East Iberia (DINAMO project

• Quaternary fire dynamics in the western Mediterranean (DINAMO and IBERVELD projects) Long-term human-environmental dynamics (Lower Omo project)

• Present vegetation-pollen calibration for spatial reconstruction of past landscapes (HYAENA and CALIB projects)

Publications

• García Ruiz, J.M.; San Juan, Y.; Gil-Romera, G.; González Samperiz, P.; Beguería, S.; Arnáez, J. (2016) Mid And Late Holocene Forest Fires And Deforestation In The Subalpine Belt Of The Iberian Range, Northern Spain. Journal of Maps. Accepted

• Marais, E.; Scott, L.; Gil-Romera, G.; Carrion, J. (2016) The potential of palynology in fossil bat-dung from Arnhem Cave, Namibia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. (In press) DOI 10.1080/0035919X.2014.999734

• Aranbarri Erkiaga, J.; González Sampériz, P.; Iriarte, E.; Moreno, A.; Rojo, M.; Pena Chocarro, L.; Valero, B.; Leunda, M.; García-Prieto, E.; Sevilla Callejo, M.; Gil-Romera, G.; Magri, D.; Rodriguez Lázaro, J. (2015) Human-landscape interactions in the Conquezuela-Ambrona Valley (Soria, continental Iberia): From the early Neolithic land use to the origin of the current oak woodland. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatoogy, Palaeoecology. 436: 41-57. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; González-Sampériz, P.; Lasheras-Álvarez, L.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.; Moreno, A.; Valero-Garcés, B.; López-Merino, L.; Carrión, J.S.; Pérez Sanz, A.; Aranbarri, J.; García-Prieto Fronce, E. (2014) Biomass-modulated fire dynamics during the last glacial-interglacial transition at the Central Pyrenees (Spain). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 402:113-124. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; Neumann, F.H.; Scott, L.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.; Fernández-Jalvo, Y. (2014) Pollen taphonomy from hyaena scats and coprolites:Preservation and quantitative differences. Journal of Archaeological Science, 46, 89-95. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Oliva-Urcia, B.; Bartolomé, M.; Moreno, A.; Gil-Romera, G.; Sancho, C.; Muñoz, A.; Osácar, M.C. (2014) Testing the reliability of detrital cave sediments as recorders of paleomagnetic secular variations, Seso Cave System (Central Pyrenees, Spain). Catena, 119, 36-51. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Aranbarri, J.; González-Sampériz, P.; Valero-Garcés, B.; Moreno, A.; Gil-Romera, G.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.; García-Prieto, E.; Di Rita, F.; Mata, M.P.; Morellón, M.; Magri, D.; Rodríguez-Lázaro, J.; Carrión, J.S. (2014) Rapid climatic changes and resilient vegetation during the Lateglacial and Holocene in a continental region of south-western Europe. Global and Planetary Change, 114, 50-65. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Giesecke, T.; Davis,  B.; Brewer, S.; Finsinger, W.; Wolters, S.; Blaauw, M.; de Beaulieu, J. L.; Binney, H.; Fyfe, R.M.; Gaillard, M.J.; Gil-Romera, G.; van der Knaap, W.O.;  Kunes,  P.; Kühl, N.; van Leeuwen,  J.F.N.; Leydet, M.; Lotter, A.F.; Ortu,  E.; Semmle, M.; Bradshaw, R.H.W.  (2013) Towards mapping the late Quaternary vegetation change of Europe. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 23(1):75-86. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Pérez-Sanz, A.; González-Sampériz, P.; Moreno, A.; Valero-Garcés, B.; Gil-Romera, G.; Rieradevall, M.; Tarrats, P.; Lasheras-Álvarez, L.; Morellón, M.; Belmonte, A.; Sancho, C.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.; Navas, A. (2013) Holocene climate variability, vegetation dynamics and fire regime in the centralPyrenees: The Basa de la Mora sequence (NE Spain). Quaternary Science Reviews, 73, 149-169. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Lasheras-Álvarez, L.; Pérez-Sanz, A.; Gil-Romera, G.; González-Sampériz, P.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.; Valero-Garcés, B. (2013) History of fire and vegetation in a Holocene sequenceof the Central Pyrenees: The Basa de la Mora lake. Cuadernos de Investigacion Geografica, 39, 77-95. DIGITAL.CSIC

• González-Sampériz, P.; García-Prieto, E.; Aranbarri, J.; Valero-Garcés, B.L.; Moreno, A.,  Gil-Romera, G.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.; Santos, L.; Morellón, M.; Mata, P.; Andrade, A.; Carrión, J.S. (2013) Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the last glacial cycle in the continental Iberia: The Cañizar de Villarquemado sequence (Teruel)  Cuadernos de Investigacion Geografica, 39, 49-76. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Vegas-Vilarrúbia, T.; González-Sampériz, P.; Morellón, M.; Gil-Romera, G.; Pérez-Sanz, A.; Valero-Garcés, B. (2013) Diatom and vegetation responsesto late glacial and early holocene climate changes at lake Estanya (southernpyrenees, NE spain). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 392, 335-349. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Chase, B.M.; Scott, L.; Meadows, M.E.; Gil-Romera, G.; Boom, A.; Carr, A.S.; Reimer, P.J.; Truc, L.; Valsecchi, V.; Quick, L.J. (2012) Rock hyrax middens: A palaeoenvironmental archive for southern African drylands. Quaternary Science Reviews, 56, 107-125. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; Turton, D.; Sevilla-Callejo, M. (2011) Landscape change in the lower Omo valley, southwestern Ethiopia: Burning patterns and woody encroachment in the savanna. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 5, 108-128. 
  

• Vannière, B.;  Power, M.J.; Roberts, N.; Tinner, W.; Carrión, J.; Magny, M.; Bartlein, P.; Colombaroli, D.; Daniau, A.L.; Finsinger, W.; Gil-Romera, G.; Kaltenrieder, P.; Pini, R.; Sadori, L.; Turner, R.; Valsecchi, V.; Vescovi, E. (2011) Circum-Mediterranean fire activity and climate changes during the mid-Holocene environmental transition (8500-2500 cal. BP), The Holocene 21, 53-73. 
  

• Carrión, J.S.; Fernández, S.; Jiménez-Moreno, G.; Fauquette, S.; Gil-Romera, G.; González-Sampériz, P.; Finlayson, C. (2010) The historical origins of aridity and vegetation degradation in Southeastern Spain. Journal of Arid Environments, 74, 731-736. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; López-Merino, L.; Carrión, J. S.; González-Sampériz, P.; Martín-Puertas, C.; López Sáez, J.A.; Fernández, S.;  García Antón, M.; Stefanova, V. (2010)  Interpreting resilience through long-term ecology:potential insights in western Mediterranean landscapes. Open Journal of Ecology, 3, 43-53. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Carrión, J.S.; Fernández, S.; González-Sampériz, P.; Gil-Romera, G.;  Badal, E.;  Carrión-Marco, Y.; López-Merino, L.; López-Sáez, J.A.; Fierro, E.; Burjachs, F. (2010) Expected trends and surprises in the Lateglacial and Holocene vegetation history of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 162, 458-475. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; Carrión, J.S.; Pausas, J.G.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.;  Lamb, H.F.;  Fernández, S.; Burjachs, F. (2010) Holocene fire activity and vegetation response in South-Eastern Iberia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 29, 1082-1092. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; Lamb, H.F.; Turton, D.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.; Umer, M. (2010) Long-term resilience, bush encroachment patterns and local knowledgein a Northeast African savanna. Global Environmental Change, 20, 612-626. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Carrión, J.S.; Fernández, S.;  Jiménez-Moreno, G.;  Fauquette, S.; Gil-Romera, G.; González-Sampériz, P.;  Finlayson, C. (2010) The historical origins of aridity and vegetation degradation in southeastern Spain. Journal of Arid Environments, 74, 731-736. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.;  Carrión, J. S.; McClure, S.; Schmich, S.; Finlayson, C. (2009) Holocene vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean Iberia: historical contingency and climate-human interactions. Journal of Anthropological Research, 65, 271-286. 

• Fyfe, R.M.; de Beaulieu; J.L.; Binney, H.; Bradshaw, R.H.W.; Brewer, S.; Le Flao, A.; Finsinger, W.; Gaillard, M.J.; Giesecke, T.; Gil-Romera, G.; Grimm, E.C.; Huntley, B.; Kunes, P.; Kühl, N.; Leydet, M.; Lotter, A.F.; Tarasov, P.E.; S. Tonkov, S. (2009) The European Pollen Database: Past efforts and current activities. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 18(5)417-424. 
  

• Carrión, JS.; Fernández, S.; González-Sampériz, P.; Leroy, SAG.; López-Sáez, JA.; Burjachs, F.; Gil-Romera, G.; Rodríguez-Sánchez, E.; García-Antón, M.; Gil-García, MJ.; Parra, I.; Santos, L.; López-García, P.; Yll,EI.; Dupré, M. (2009) Quaternary pollen analysis in the Iberian Peninsula: the value of negative results. Internet Archaeology, 25. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; García Antón, M.; Calleja Alarcón, J.A.  (2008) The Holocene palaeoecological sequence of Serranía de las Villuercas in south-western Spain. Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 17, 653-666. 
  

• Carrión, J.S.; Finlayson, C.; Fernández, S.; Finlayson, G.; Allué, E.;  López-Sáez, J.A.; López-García, P.; Gil-Romera, G.; Bailey, G.; González-Sampériz, P. (2008) A coastal reservoir of biodiversity for Upper Pleistocene human populations: palaeoecological investigations in Gorham’s Cave (Gibraltar) in the context of the Iberian Peninsula. Quaternary Science Reviews, 27, 2118-2135. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; Scott, L.;  Marais, E.; Brook, G.A. (2007) Late Holocene environmental change in the northwestern Namib Desert margin: New fossil pollen evidence from hyrax middens. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 249, 1-17. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Carrión, J.S.; Scott, L.; Arribas, A.; Gil-Romera, G.; Montoya, E. (2007) Pleistocene landscapes in Central Iberia inferred from pollen analysis of hyena coprolites. Journal of Quaternary Science. 22, 191-202. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Fernández, S.; Carrión, J.S., Fuentes, N.; González-Sampériz, P.; Montoya, E.; Gil-Romera, G.; Vega-Toscano, G.; Riquelme, J.A. (2007)  The Holocene and Upper Pleistocene pollen sequence of Carihuela Cave, southern Spain. GeoBios,  40:75-90. DIGITAL.CSIC

• García Antón, M.; Gil Romera, G.; Pagés, J.L.; Alonso Millán, J.L.  (2006) The Holocene pollen record in the Villaviciosa estuary (Asturias, North of Spain) in relation to changes in sea level. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 237, 280-292. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Gil-Romera, G.; Scott, L.; Marais, E.; Brook, G (2006)  Middle to late Holocene moisture changes in the desert of northwest Namibia derived from fossil hyrax dung pollen. The Holocene, 16, 1073-1084. DIGITAL.CSIC

• Carrión, J.S.; Gil-Romera, G.;  Rodríguez, E.; Fuentes, N.; García-Antón,M.;  Arribas, A. (2005) Palynology of badger coprolitos from Central Spain. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology,  226, 259-271. DIGITAL.CSIC

   

Projects

• PYROS: long-term fire ecology: the central Pyrenees vs the Mediterranean Basin (September 2015-July 2016) funded by BBVA Foundation (31k €) | PI: Graciela Gil-Romera

• ARAFIRE: climate change and fire in the Pyrenees of Aragon: ecosystem response to disturbance during the last 2000 years (September 2012-September 2013) funded by DGA-La Caixa (24K €). | PI: Graciela Gil-Romera

• DINAMO and DINAMO2: Mediterranean vegetation DYNAMic in northeastern Iberia during the last 135,000 years: structure, chronology and vegetation response to different driving factors (Two joined projects from Jan 2010 to September 2015) funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain | PI: Penélope González Sampériz

• PALEOLETRINA: the pioneer use of biogenic fossil accumulations as a proxy of environmental change in the Iberian peninsula (September 2010-August 2012) funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (10k €) | PI: Graciela Gil-Romera