Reviving the biodiversity around an ancient palace


“The Alhambra palace, overlooking Granada in southern Spain, is one of the finest preserved examples of Moorish architecture, dating back to the thirteenth century. I’m employed by the palace’s management body to study the biodiversity in this vast complex — which has more than 2.5 million visitors per year. We manage the water features and gardens, not only to enhance their aesthetic appeal but also to protect their wildlife, with a focus on amphibians.

In this photograph, taken just after sunset, when amphibians are active, I’m checking the number of Iberian ribbed newts (Pleurodeles waltl) in the pool and assessing their life stages. When I began working here, only two amphibian species remained; the others had disappeared owing to water pollution. These pools are common in the Alhambra, but much of the wildlife has been lost in recent centuries. Now, thanks to reintroduction efforts and careful management, four species are thriving. The individuals I’m observing today are the direct descendants of those I released years ago.

It is valuable that so many people can see these animals in an urban environment. This raises awareness about the importance of biodiversity and how engaging with it can enhance our well-being. We now maintain the pools so that they remain transparent without the use of any chemical products, which enables invertebrates to thrive and, in turn, attracts birds that prey on them. Visitors can thus enjoy a more holistic experience, appreciating not only the cultural heritage but also the richness of its wildlife.



Source link

More From Forest Beat

Checklist and analysis of the vascular flora in river valleys of...

Study site and current vegetation statusThe Altay Prefecture is subordinate to the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang and is located in the...
Biodiversity
5
minutes

Mapping mangrove multi-trait functional diversity from satellite observations across dense and...

IPBES. IPBES (2019): Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services. In: E....
Biodiversity
10
minutes

Will AI speed up literature reviews or derail them entirely?

Over the past few decades, evidence synthesis has greatly increased the effectiveness of medicine and other fields. The process of systematically combining...
Biodiversity
5
minutes

Water temperature regulations could help to balance biodiversity and energy security

Jin, Y., Behrens, P., Tukker, A. & Scherer, L. Biodiversity loss from freshwater use for China’s electricity generation. Environ. Sci. Technol. 56, 3277–3287...
Biodiversity
1
minute
spot_imgspot_img