Biodeserts

05/06/2026

A new breeding population of the Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) has been discovered in the AlUla region of northwestern Saudi Arabia.
This study documents at least 38 breeding pairs nesting within AlUla's protected areas, significantly expanding our understanding of the species' distribution and ecology.
This globally Vulnerable species is traditionally associated with coastal habitats, making its successful breeding in inland desert environments particularly noteworthy. The discovery highlights the species' adaptability and underscores the important role of AlUla’s protected areas network in safeguarding the biodiversity of the Arabian Desert.
🌍 Every new discovery brings us one step closer to understanding and protecting the natural world.

14/05/2026

Pssst... Have you visited our new website yet? 👀
It brings together decades of research on desert ecosystems!

🔎 Explore:
• Research projects
• Publications
• Education & Training
• Services

Discover more ➡️ biodeserts.at.biopolis.pt

12/05/2026

Tomorrow, two members of our team will be presenting their work at the 28th Conference of the IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, taking place in Agadir, Morocco 🇲🇦

The conference brings together researchers and conservationists from around the world to discuss crocodilian conservation, biodiversity, and ecosystem management.

Conference sessions will also be available online through the official YouTube channel.

27/04/2026

From 21–23 April 2026, BIODESERTS organized the 2nd edition of the course “Field Expedition Fundamentals, including First Aid Certification.”

This edition counted on the collaboration of members of BIOPOLIS, first aid instructors from First Aid Education Ltd, and expedition & wilderness medicine physician Claudio Quintaneiro.

Organized by Duarte Gonçalves and Bárbara Santos.

Missed this edition? Stay tuned for the next one in 2027.

25/04/2026

🧬 On DNA Day, we celebrate the molecule that stores the genetic information of all known living organisms.

DNA is central to understanding biodiversity, evolution, and adaptation. Through genetic analyses, researchers can assess population structure, measure genetic diversity, identify species, and detect how organisms respond to environmental pressures.

In arid and desert ecosystems, these tools are especially valuable for studying species adaptations to heat, drought, salinity, and highly variable conditions.

Genetic approaches help us better understand biodiversity patterns and support evidence-based conservation in drylands.

Because conserving biodiversity also means conserving genetic diversity.

23/04/2026

Look closely… the smallest creatures often tell the biggest stories. 🔍🐜🦂

These photos from our expedition to Mauritania reveal a world that is easy to overlook, yet essential for life to thrive.

Invertebrates play vital roles in ecosystems! They pollinate plants, recycle organic matter, enrich soils, and support entire food webs. Even in desert environments, they are key to maintaining ecological balance.

Often forgotten, frequently unnoticed...but absolutely indispensable.

26/01/2026

A sneak peek into small-mammal fieldwork 🐭🏜️

Ever wondered how we catch these tiny desert dwellers? While we do have our Tom-and-Jerry moments, most of the work is really about patience…or what we like to call the sleep-and-wait strategy.

When we first arrive at a site, we prepare the bait with peanut butter, oats and seeds (not cheese!). Then it's time to set up the live traps (known as Sherman traps) in the late afternoon to avoid the desert's extreme heat. After dark, we often set out for a survey to spot and catch some active animals. At sunrise, it's time to check and collect the traps. When we capture an animal, we quickly take measurements, photos, and identify the species, and release them at the exact same spot where we caught them.

By combining live-trapping and surveys, we get a better idea of the different species present in the area, like the Gerbil on Pic 1, the Jerboa on Pic 8 or the African grass rat on Pic 12. 🐀

22/01/2026

📌New shortnote!

We are pleased to share the publication of a shortnote documenting evidence of breeding by the Asian Black-winged Kite 𝘌𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘶𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 in the AlUla region, northwestern Saudi Arabia.

The observation of a pair accompanied by recently fledged juveniles provides the first confirmed breeding record of this subspecies in the region and adds to the growing evidence of its westward expansion within the Arabian Peninsula, closely linked to anthropogenic agricultural habitats.

This work contributes to a better understanding of the species’ current distribution dynamics in arid environments undergoing rapid land-use change.

Published in Sandgrouse 47 (2), January 2026.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399552839_Evidence_of_breeding_by_Black-winged_Kite_Elanus_caeruleus_vociferus_in_the_AlUla_region_north-western_Saudi_Arabia

14/01/2026

14/01/2026

🦎🦇 New open-access publication!

We are happy to share our new open-access Nature Note in Ecology and Evolution, produced in close collaboration with in Zakouma National Park (Chad).

We document the first recorded case of an lizard of the genus 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘢 preying on slit-faced bats (𝘕𝘺𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱.), following roost disturbance by olive baboons (𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘣𝘪𝘴) that likely increased the bats’ exposure and vulnerability.

This observation highlights how synanthropic species and human-modified spaces can reshape predator–prey interactions in the semi-arid Sudano-Sahelian savannah ecosystems.

Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72246