Antonio Girona-García – Instituto Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad

Investigador Ramón y Cajal

Dirección:

Tel.:
+34 985103000 (Ext.5929)

Webs
Web: https://www.agironagarcia.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7003-8950
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57223233358
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Antonio-Girona-Garcia
Twitter: https://twitter.com/a_gironagarcia

About me

My scientific and curricular path has focused on the effects of fires and forest management on ecosystems, especially on soil degradation processes and soil organic carbon dynamics.
My MSc thesis covered the soil organic matter quantitative and qualitative changes related to conifer afforestation in areas formerly populated by native deciduous forests, revealed by C and N stable isotopes (EA-IRMS) and analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS).
In my PhD thesis I assessed the effects of prescribed burning for pasture restoration in subalpine shrublands of the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain) on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, with a special focus on soil carbon dynamics after fire. This research provided valuable indications for firefighters to minimize prescribed burning effects on soil, and insights into soil organic carbon fate after prescribed fires.
During my post-doctoral stage, I have focused on the field assessment and modelling of post-fire soil erosion and its mitigation. This research provided new insights into the effectiveness of post-fire soil erosion mitigation treatments, and helped developing an online tool for post-fire soil erosion risk assessment for continental Portugal.
Moving forward, I aim at filling the research gaps on soil organic carbon erosion in dynamic landscapes such as burned areas from an integrated field, laboratory, and modelling approach.

Research and academic Background

2022-present | Post-Doctoral Researcher. Biodiversity Research Institute, CSIC, University of Oviedo, Principality of Asturias (Spain). Topic: assessment of post-fire SOC redistribution as a potential carbon sink.

2019-2022 | Post-Doctoral Research Fellow. Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro (Portugal). Topic: post-fire soil erosion modelling and mitigation.

2015-2019 | PhD degree in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. University of Zaragoza (Spain). Thesis: Changes in soil properties after prescribed burning for pasture restoration in shrublands of the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain). Excellent “Cum Laude”. International mention. Extraordinary PhD Award.

2013-2015 | MSc degree in Soil and Water Management. University of Lleida, University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona and Public University of Navarra (Spain). Specialization in soils and water in rangeland systems. Thesis: Effects of Pinus sylvestris afforestation in Fagus sylvatica native forests on soil properties in the Moncayo Natural Park (NE-Spain).

2008-2013 | BSc degree in Environmental Sciences. Miguel Hernández University of Elche (Spain).

Publications

2022

Parente, J.; Girona-García, A.; Lopes, A.R.; Keizer, J.J.; Vieira, D.C.S. 2022. Prediction, validation, and uncertainties of a nation-wide post-fire soil erosion risk assessment in Portugal. Scientific Reports 12: 2945. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07066-x.
Fernández, C.; Fernández-Alonso, J.M.; Keizer, J.; Girona-García, A. 2022. Guía para la evaluación de campo de la severidad del fuego en el suelo. Xunta de Galicia. ISBN: 978-84-124269-3-9.

2021

Girona-García, A.; Vieira, D.C.S.; Silva, J.; Fernández, C.; Robichaud, P.R.; Keizer, J.J. 2021. Effectiveness of post-fire soil erosion mitigation treatments: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Earth-Science Reviews 217: 103611. DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103611.
Lopes, A.R.; Girona-García, A.; Corticeiro, S.; Martins, R.; Keizer, J.; Vieira, D.C.S. 2021. What is wrong with post-fire soil erosion modelling? A meta-analysis on current approaches, research gaps, and future directions. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 46 (1): 205-219. DOI: 10.1002/esp.5020.
Mora, J.L.; Girona-García, A.; Martí-Dalmau, C.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Armas-Herrera, C.; Badía-Villas, D. 2021. Changes in pools of organic matter and major elements in the soil following prescribed pastoral burning in the Central Pyrenees. Geoderma 402: 115169. DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115169.
Mora, J.L.; Molina-Clerencia, M.; Girona-García, A.; Martí-Dalmau, C.; Badía-Villas, D. 2021. Factors controlling the buildup of humus and particulate organic matter in European beech and Scots pine stands at their southernmost distribution limits (Moncayo Massif, Spain). Geoderma 401: 115211. DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115211.
Francos, M.; Sánchez-García, C.; Girona-García, A.; Fernández-García, V. 2021. Influence of topography on sediment dynamics and soil chemical properties in a Mediterranean forest historically affected by wildfires. NE Iberian Peninsula. Environmental Earth Sciences 80: 436. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-021-09731-2.

2020

Badía-Villas, D.; Esteban-Piñeiro, J.; Girona-García, A.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Poch, R.M. 2020. Topsoil microstructure changes after a shrubland prescribed burn (Central Pyrenees, NE Spain). Science of the total Environment 748: 141253. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141253.

2019

Girona-García, A.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Badía-Villas, D. 2019. Dynamics of topsoil carbon stocks after prescribed burning for pasture restoration in shrublands of the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain). Journal of Environmental Management 233: 695-705. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.12.057.
Girona-García, A.; Badía-Villas, D.; Jiménez-Morillo, N.T.; González-Pérez, J.A. 2019. Changes in soil organic matter composition after Scots pine afforestation in a native European beech forest revealed by analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS). Science of the Total Environment 691: 1155-1161. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.229.
Girona-García, A. 2019. Changes in soil properties after prescribed burning for pasture restoration in shrublands of the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain). Tesis de la Universidad de Zaragoza 2019-88. ISSN: 2254-7606.

2018

Girona-García, A.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Badía-Villas, D.; Martí-Dalmau, C. 2018. Effects of prescribed burning on soil organic C, aggregate stability and water repellency in a subalpine shrubland: variations among sieve fractions and depth. Catena 166: 68-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2018.03.018.
Girona-García, A.; Zufiaurre Galarza, R.; Mora, J.L.; Armas-Herrera, C.M.; Martí, C.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Badía-Villas, D. 2018. Effects of prescribed fire for pasture reclamation on soil chemical properties in subalpine shrublands of the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain). Science of the Total Environment 644: 583-593. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.363.
Girona-García, A.; Badía-Villas, D.; Jiménez-Morillo, N.T.; de la Rosa, J.M.; González-Pérez, J.A. 2018. Soil C and N isotope composition after a centennial Scots pine afforestation in podzols of native European beech forests in NE-Spain. Catena 165: 434-441. DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2018.02.023.
Girona-García, A.; Badía-Villas, D.; Martí-Dalmau, C.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Mora, J.L.; Armas-Herrera, C.M. 2018. Effects of prescribed fire for pasture management on soil organic matter and biological properties: a 1-year study case in the Central Pyrenees. Science of the Total Environment 618: 1079-1087. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.127.
Girona-García, A.; Badía-Villas, D.; Martí, C. 2018. Changes in Topsoil Properties after Centennial Scots Pine Afforestation in a European Beech Forest (NE Spain). Forests 9: 343. DOI: 10.3390/f9060343.
Badía, D.; Girona-García, A. 2018. Soil humus changes with elevation in Scots pine stands of the Moncayo Massif (NE Spain). Applied Soil Ecology 123: 617-621. DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.07.017.
Armas-Herrera, C.M.; Martí, C.; Badía, D.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Girona-García, A.; Mora, J.L. 2018. Short-term and midterm evolution of topsoil organic matter and biological properties after prescribed burning for pasture recovery (Tella, Central Pyrenees, Spain). Land Degradation and Development 29: 1545-1554. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2937.

2017

Badía, D.; López-García, S.; Martí, C.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Girona-García, A.; Casanova-Gascón, J. 2017. Burn effects on soil properties associated to heat transfer under contrasting moisture content. Science of the Total Environment 601-602: 1119-1128. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.254.
Badía-Villas, D.; Martí-Dalmau, C.; Girona-García, A.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Casanova Gascón, J. 2017. Chapter 12: Soil thickness affected by fire: changes in organic C content and related properties. In: Bento Gonçalves, A.J.; Batista Vieira, A.A.; Melo Costa, M.R.; Marques Aranha, J.T. (Eds.). Wildfires: Perspectives, Issues and Challenges of the 21st Century. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Hauppauge NY, USA. ISBN: 978-1-53612-890-1.

2016

Badía, D.; Ruiz, A.; Girona, A.; Martí, C.; Casanova, J.; Ibarra, P.; Zufiaurre, R. 2016. The influence of elevation on soil properties and forest litter in the Siliceous Moncayo Massif, SW Europe. Journal of Mountain Science 13 (12): 2155-2169. DOI: 10.1007/s11629-015- 3773-6.
Armas-Herrera, C.M.; Martí, C.; Badía, D.; Ortiz-Perpiñá, O.; Girona-García, A.; Porta, J. 2016. Immediate effects of prescribed burning on the amount and stability of topsoil organic matter in Central Pyrenees. Catena 147: 238-244. DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2016.07.016.