Welcome Blanca Arroyo-Correa - New SE
Submitted by editor on 20 August 2025.
We are happy to welcome Dr. Blanca Arroyo-Correa, from Seville, Spain, to the Oikos Editorial Board. To know more about her, read our interview below!
Website: www.blancaarroyocorrea.com
What's your main research focus at the moment?
I am fascinated by the way biodiversity is structured through complex networks of interactions among organisms. Understanding how these ecological interactions generate and sustain biodiversity has become the central focus of my research. Over time, this interest has evolved into a broader and even more exciting challenge: how can we understand the impact of these networks on biodiversity patterns by integrating processes operating across multiple levels of biological organization? So far, I have approached this question through the lens of mutualistic networks, particularly those involving plants and pollinators. Building on this foundation, my current and future research seeks to broaden the scope by incorporating other types of species interactions and exploring a wider range of ecological contexts. My overarching goal is to develop a more unified understanding of how individual-level processes scale up to shape community-wide patterns of biodiversity. To achieve this, I take an approach that merges theory and data, combining fieldwork, mathematical modeling, and simulations. In doing so, my aim is to build robust, predictive frameworks grounded in ecologically relevant mechanisms.
Can you describe your research career? Where, what, when?
My academic journey began at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain, where I completed a BSc in Environmental Biology in 2018. As an undergraduate, I collaborated on several research projects at CREAF in Barcelona and at the University of Stirling in Scotland. These early experiences sparked my interest in plant–animal interactions, and I quickly became enthusiastic about exploring this field further. Motivated by this, I moved to southern Spain to pursue my MSc and PhD at Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), working with Pedro Jordano and Ignasi Bartomeus. As part of my PhD research, I also spent time as a visiting student at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and the University of California Davis. I defended my PhD a few months ago, and I will soon begin a postdoctoral position at the Leibniz IGB in Germany, working with Daniel Stouffer.
How come that you became a scientist in ecology?
I would say it wasn’t a single moment, experience, or person that led me to pursue a scientific career in ecology, but rather a gradual process shaped by curiosity and a fascination with disciplines such as the natural sciences, mathematics, and physics, along with the opportunities that came my way. I’ve always felt drawn to the natural world, but it was during my undergraduate time that this curiosity began to take the shape of a scientific vocation. Seeing how ideas from multiple fields could come together to make sense of complex systems, and how this helps us understand and preserve biodiversity, was probably the point when I became completely hooked on ecological research. That being said, if I had to name one key factor that solidified my path toward becoming a scientist in ecology, it would be the guidance and inspiration I received from exceptional mentors. Their support helped shape my scientific thinking and encouraged me to explore new questions with rigor and creativity.
What do you do when you're not working?
You’ll most likely find me outdoors. I really enjoy hiking, exploring new places, and photographing wildlife and landscapes. I have a deep love for traveling the world to learn as much as possible about natural history, as well as different cultures and their relationships with nature. Wherever I go, I’m really interested in understanding how things work, so travel becomes both a personal joy and an extension of my scientific curiosity. On a very different note, I also spend heaps of time with horses. I’ve had a long-standing passion for horse riding, particularly classical dressage, which is both mentally and physically demanding, but I find it incredibly rewarding. When I’m not in the saddle, I read a lot (mostly thrillers, though not exclusively) and take care of my small Mediterranean vegetable garden.
Categories:
General