Dr Rocío Belinchón Olmeda

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, U.K.
tel: +44 (0)131 248-2800
e-mail: r.belinchon(at)rbge.org.uk

Research Interests
Publications
Academic Career

CV

Research Interests:

> The biodiversity and conservation biology of lichens, focussing on species response to habitat dynamics. My doctoral thesis examined the effect of forest fragmentation on epiphytic lichens in two forest-types (Quercus pyrenaica and Fagus sylvatica) in the Iberian Mediterranean Region.

> Current work is using lichens as tools for environmental reconstruction. This is targeted to the interpretation of preserved historic epiphyte communities, and will be acheived by quantifying epiphyte community dynamics in British hazelwoods to provide an analogue for environmental reconstruction.

 

Publications:

Otálora, M.A.G., Martínez, I., BELINCHÓN, R., Widmer, I., Aragón, G., Escudero, A. & Scheidegger, C. (2011). Remnants fragments preserve genetic diversity of the old forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in a fragmented Mediterranean mountain forest. Biodiversity and Conservation, 20: 1239-1254.

Aragón, G., Martínez, I., Izquierdo, P., BELINCHÓN, R. & Escudero, A. (2010) Effects of forest Management on epiphytic lichen diversity in Mediterranean forests. Applied Vegetation Science, 13: 183-194.

BELINCHÓN, R., Martínez, I., Otálora, M.A.G., Aragón, G., Dimas, J. & Escudero, A. (2009) Fragment quality and matrix affect epiphytic performance in a Mediterranean forest landscape. American Journal of Botany, 96: 1974-1982.

Aragón, G., BELINCHÓN, R. & Izquierdo, P. (2008) Assessing epiphytic lichen diversity from Quercus spp. woodlands using a new index. Aplication to Natura 2000 Networking. Botanica Complutensis, 32: 37-48. (In Spanish).

Prieto, M., Herrera, M., BELINCHÓN, R. & Aragón, G. (2008) Los líquenes de las Islas Chafarinas. Quercus, 268: 26-32.

BELINCHÓN, R., Martínez, I., Escudero, A., Aragón, G. & Valladares, F. (2007) Edge effects on epiphytic communities in a Mediterranean Quercus pyrenaica forests. Journal of Vegetation Science, 18: 81-90.

Aragón, G., Martínez, I., Burgaz, A.R., BELINCHÓN, R., Prieto, M., Otálora, M.A.G., García, A., López, R. & Amo, G. (2007) Determining lichen diversity in the Picos de Europa National Park. In: Ramírez, L & Asensio B (eds), Proyectos de investigación en parques nacionales: 79-106.

Herrera, M., Aragón, G., Prieto, M. & BELINCHÓN, R. (2007) Lichen diversity in Chafarinas Island, Spain. Botanica Complutensis, 31: 5-11. (In Spanish).

Aragón, G., Rico, V.J. & BELINCHÓN, R. (2006) Lichen diversity from Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Biosphere Reserve (SE Spain). Nova Hedwigia, 82: 31-50.

Aragón, G., Martínez, I. & BELINCHÓN, R. (2006) Diversity and biogeography of epiphytic lichens inhabiting Pinus spp. woodlands (Pinus halepensis, P. nigra, P. pinaster and P. sylvestris). Botanica Complutensis, 30: 61-70. (In Spanish).

Academic Career:

2010-2011: Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, U.K.
2010: Research Assistant, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain.
2008: Research Technician, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain.
2005-2007: Pre-doctoral Fellowship, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain.

Grants & awards:

IAL Travel Grant : VIth International Congress of Lichenology. California, July 2008. Funding: International Association of Lichenology and American Bryological and Lichenological Society.

Qualifications:

2009: PhD. Environmental Science, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain.
1995: MSc. Science and Environmental Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain.
1994: BSc. Environmental Science, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain.

Advanced Training:

2010: Student Associate, Genetic Conservation Workshop - Pablo Olavide University, Sevilla, Spain.
2007: Student Associate, Conservation Biology in Fragmented Landscapes - University of Helsinki (Metapopulation Research Group).
2006: Análisis especial en ecología: métodos y aplicaciones (Spatial Analyses in Ecology: Methods and Applications) - Alicante University, Spain.