Fernando T. Maestre
@ftmaestre.bsky.social
Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering #KAUST Husband, father, dryland ecologist & runner. PI #Maestrelab
Peer review in top journals is tough, and we often focus on its “dark side”: delays, rejections, and harsh reports. But there’s also a bright side we talk about far too little. Our recent acceptance came with exceptionally kind words from the handling editor—polite, thoughtful, ...
November 16, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Peer review in top journals is tough, and we often focus on its “dark side”: delays, rejections, and harsh reports. But there’s also a bright side we talk about far too little. Our recent acceptance came with exceptionally kind words from the handling editor—polite, thoughtful, ...
In our new @mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social #Water paper, led by Jaime Martínez-Valderrama, we quantify the hidden & huge cost of food waste in #Spain Between 2014–2018, >480,000 tons of fruits & vegetables were discarded — wasting 36 hm³ of water and emitting >36,000 tCO₂-eq. A crisis that we must stop
November 6, 2025 at 7:10 AM
In our new @mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social #Water paper, led by Jaime Martínez-Valderrama, we quantify the hidden & huge cost of food waste in #Spain Between 2014–2018, >480,000 tons of fruits & vegetables were discarded — wasting 36 hm³ of water and emitting >36,000 tCO₂-eq. A crisis that we must stop
Our new review in @universitypress.cambridge.org
Cambridge Prisms: Drylands explores the ecology of biocrusts in the Arabian Peninsula, one of the most extreme and underexplored regions on Earth, their functions, knowledge gaps & potential for land restoration doi.org/10.1017/dry....
Cambridge Prisms: Drylands explores the ecology of biocrusts in the Arabian Peninsula, one of the most extreme and underexplored regions on Earth, their functions, knowledge gaps & potential for land restoration doi.org/10.1017/dry....
November 5, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Our new review in @universitypress.cambridge.org
Cambridge Prisms: Drylands explores the ecology of biocrusts in the Arabian Peninsula, one of the most extreme and underexplored regions on Earth, their functions, knowledge gaps & potential for land restoration doi.org/10.1017/dry....
Cambridge Prisms: Drylands explores the ecology of biocrusts in the Arabian Peninsula, one of the most extreme and underexplored regions on Earth, their functions, knowledge gaps & potential for land restoration doi.org/10.1017/dry....
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
Thrilled to be one of the plenary speakers for the @iavs5.bsky.social 68th #IAVS Symposium (Gijón, Spain, 22-26 June 2026) along legends like @jcsvenning.bsky.social @gmendietal.bsky.social @ftmaestre.bsky.social et al!
Join us to discuss plants across taxonomic, spatial and temporal scales! 🌿
Join us to discuss plants across taxonomic, spatial and temporal scales! 🌿
📢 68th #IAVS Symposium: Understanding #Ecosystems through #Vegetation | 22-26 June 2026, Spain
Join us to explore how vegetation shapes #biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide!
📅 Call for Special Session proposals is now open: 15 Oct – 15 Nov 2025
👉 Details: gijon2026.iavs-meetings.org
#IAVS2026
Join us to explore how vegetation shapes #biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide!
📅 Call for Special Session proposals is now open: 15 Oct – 15 Nov 2025
👉 Details: gijon2026.iavs-meetings.org
#IAVS2026
October 31, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Thrilled to be one of the plenary speakers for the @iavs5.bsky.social 68th #IAVS Symposium (Gijón, Spain, 22-26 June 2026) along legends like @jcsvenning.bsky.social @gmendietal.bsky.social @ftmaestre.bsky.social et al!
Join us to discuss plants across taxonomic, spatial and temporal scales! 🌿
Join us to discuss plants across taxonomic, spatial and temporal scales! 🌿
A new article in Biological Reviews by Islam et al. synthesizes current knowledge on C cycling and storage in desert ecosystems, highlighting the roles of precipitation patterns, vegetation dynamics & soil inorganic processes in regulating C sequestration onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
October 30, 2025 at 11:55 AM
A new article in Biological Reviews by Islam et al. synthesizes current knowledge on C cycling and storage in desert ecosystems, highlighting the roles of precipitation patterns, vegetation dynamics & soil inorganic processes in regulating C sequestration onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Delighted to celebrate the first anniversary of this journal. As an editor, it’s been inspiring to see such a wide range of articles advancing our understanding of dryland ecosystems. If you work in #drylands please consider submitting your work to us www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
October 28, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Delighted to celebrate the first anniversary of this journal. As an editor, it’s been inspiring to see such a wide range of articles advancing our understanding of dryland ecosystems. If you work in #drylands please consider submitting your work to us www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
Although many ecosystems can weather several years of moderate drought, consecutive years of extreme dryness push them past a tipping point, resulting in dramatic declines in plant growth, researchers report in Science. https://scim.ag/4ogN9I8
Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity
As droughts become longer and more intense, impacts on terrestrial primary productivity are expected to increase progressively. Yet, some ecosystems appear to acclimate to multiyear drought, with cons...
scim.ag
October 21, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Although many ecosystems can weather several years of moderate drought, consecutive years of extreme dryness push them past a tipping point, resulting in dramatic declines in plant growth, researchers report in Science. https://scim.ag/4ogN9I8
Excited to give a plenary talk at the @iavs5.bsky.social Symposium 2026 in beautiful Gijón, Spain! Looking forward to share our latest research about #dryland plant diversity and to reconnecting with the global vegetation science community gijon2026.iavs-meetings.org Don´t miss it!
October 22, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Excited to give a plenary talk at the @iavs5.bsky.social Symposium 2026 in beautiful Gijón, Spain! Looking forward to share our latest research about #dryland plant diversity and to reconnecting with the global vegetation science community gijon2026.iavs-meetings.org Don´t miss it!
Our new article in @ejsoilscience.bsky.social highlights the key uncertainties limiting the use of nitrification inhibitors (NIs), a promising tool to curb N pollution and N₂O emissions. Better design & smarter use of NIs are key for sustainable N management onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author...
October 20, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Our new article in @ejsoilscience.bsky.social highlights the key uncertainties limiting the use of nitrification inhibitors (NIs), a promising tool to curb N pollution and N₂O emissions. Better design & smarter use of NIs are key for sustainable N management onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author...
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
#MultiyearDroughts, it is nice to see studies with distinct designs and used data converge to similar results — "25-30%" seems to be a key range, in this study about the measured reduction of primary production in grassland and in our previous study with kNDVI www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... .
As droughts become longer and more intense, their toll on ecosystems could be far greater than we thought. Our new paper in @science.org shows how prolonged & extreme droughts cause dramatic, cumulative losses in ecosystem productivity across the globe www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
October 20, 2025 at 6:21 AM
#MultiyearDroughts, it is nice to see studies with distinct designs and used data converge to similar results — "25-30%" seems to be a key range, in this study about the measured reduction of primary production in grassland and in our previous study with kNDVI www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... .
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
New paper out 🥳
Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@stockholm-uni.bsky.social
Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@stockholm-uni.bsky.social
Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity
As droughts become longer and more intense, impacts on terrestrial primary productivity are expected to increase progressively. Yet, some ecosystems appear to acclimate to multiyear drought, with cons...
www.science.org
October 17, 2025 at 5:15 AM
New paper out 🥳
Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@stockholm-uni.bsky.social
Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@stockholm-uni.bsky.social
Excelente reportaje de Miguel Ángel Criado para @elpais.com elpais.com/ciencia/2025... sobre nuestro artículo en @science.org 👇
October 17, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Excelente reportaje de Miguel Ángel Criado para @elpais.com elpais.com/ciencia/2025... sobre nuestro artículo en @science.org 👇
As droughts become longer and more intense, their toll on ecosystems could be far greater than we thought. Our new paper in @science.org shows how prolonged & extreme droughts cause dramatic, cumulative losses in ecosystem productivity across the globe www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
October 17, 2025 at 5:53 AM
As droughts become longer and more intense, their toll on ecosystems could be far greater than we thought. Our new paper in @science.org shows how prolonged & extreme droughts cause dramatic, cumulative losses in ecosystem productivity across the globe www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
Nature’s global survey of 3,785 doctoral students shows satisfaction has recovered from pandemic lows, but harassment and inadequate supervision remain widespread. #Academicsky 🧪
How money, politics and technology are redefining the PhD experience in 2025
Nature’s global survey of 3,785 doctoral students shows satisfaction has recovered from pandemic lows, but harassment and inadequate supervision remain widespread.
go.nature.com
October 11, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Nature’s global survey of 3,785 doctoral students shows satisfaction has recovered from pandemic lows, but harassment and inadequate supervision remain widespread. #Academicsky 🧪
In #drylands, plants don’t grow randomly — they self-organize into disordered hyperuniform patterns that help them use water wisely & endure extreme aridity. A beautiful hidden logic of nature, revealed in a new @pnas.org study doi.org/10.1073/pnas... including #Maestrelab alumni
October 8, 2025 at 6:59 AM
In #drylands, plants don’t grow randomly — they self-organize into disordered hyperuniform patterns that help them use water wisely & endure extreme aridity. A beautiful hidden logic of nature, revealed in a new @pnas.org study doi.org/10.1073/pnas... including #Maestrelab alumni
New study in @universitypress.cambridge.org #CambridgePrismsDrylands reveals how landscape- & patch-scale processes shape the “fertile island effect” in the Chihuahuan Desert, illustrating the importance of spatial heterogeneity in drylands doi.org/10.1017/dry.... 📷by Patricia Zumsteg @unsplash.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:29 AM
New study in @universitypress.cambridge.org #CambridgePrismsDrylands reveals how landscape- & patch-scale processes shape the “fertile island effect” in the Chihuahuan Desert, illustrating the importance of spatial heterogeneity in drylands doi.org/10.1017/dry.... 📷by Patricia Zumsteg @unsplash.com
Powerful piece by @darmenteras.bsky.social in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature Global science won’t be equitable until it goes beyond diversity optics & truly shares power, credit & leadership. A must-read for anyone committed to promote a more fair and just science www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Equity in science is a beautiful lie — and I’m done pretending
Science isn’t really moving towards equity; institutions are just perfecting the appearance of equity. We need to build an alternative system.
www.nature.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Powerful piece by @darmenteras.bsky.social in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature Global science won’t be equitable until it goes beyond diversity optics & truly shares power, credit & leadership. A must-read for anyone committed to promote a more fair and just science www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
🔥Más de 400.000 hectáreas han ardido solo este año, otro año más.
🗣️Nuestro compañero @migueldiazcarro.bsky.social echa la mirada hacia adelante en este problema y hacia el futuro, en la restauración, con la miranda en lo comunitario y escuchando a la ciencia
🔗 www.elsaltodiario.com/incendios-fo...
🗣️Nuestro compañero @migueldiazcarro.bsky.social echa la mirada hacia adelante en este problema y hacia el futuro, en la restauración, con la miranda en lo comunitario y escuchando a la ciencia
🔗 www.elsaltodiario.com/incendios-fo...
El calor que quedará después de los incendios
El calor y los incendios no son una anomalía, son la consecuencia de un modelo económico que ha saqueado las entrañas de la tierra y ha quemado sistemáticamente su sangre y su piel.
www.elsaltodiario.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:52 PM
🔥Más de 400.000 hectáreas han ardido solo este año, otro año más.
🗣️Nuestro compañero @migueldiazcarro.bsky.social echa la mirada hacia adelante en este problema y hacia el futuro, en la restauración, con la miranda en lo comunitario y escuchando a la ciencia
🔗 www.elsaltodiario.com/incendios-fo...
🗣️Nuestro compañero @migueldiazcarro.bsky.social echa la mirada hacia adelante en este problema y hacia el futuro, en la restauración, con la miranda en lo comunitario y escuchando a la ciencia
🔗 www.elsaltodiario.com/incendios-fo...
🌍 We’re excited to host the Future Food Systems Conference (FFS2026) at #KAUST with #PlantACT!
📅 Apr 13–15, 2026 | Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
A global gathering to reimagine how to feed the world without eating the planet
👉 Free registration & info: kaust.edu.sa/events/ffs26/
📅 Apr 13–15, 2026 | Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
A global gathering to reimagine how to feed the world without eating the planet
👉 Free registration & info: kaust.edu.sa/events/ffs26/
September 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
🌍 We’re excited to host the Future Food Systems Conference (FFS2026) at #KAUST with #PlantACT!
📅 Apr 13–15, 2026 | Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
A global gathering to reimagine how to feed the world without eating the planet
👉 Free registration & info: kaust.edu.sa/events/ffs26/
📅 Apr 13–15, 2026 | Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
A global gathering to reimagine how to feed the world without eating the planet
👉 Free registration & info: kaust.edu.sa/events/ffs26/
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
Great thread on our recent lab paper in @geoderma.bsky.social on how SOC fractions regulate ecosystem services in global drylands
Nicely led by Luna McGill as part of her PhD at ICA @csic.es @cesarplaza.bsky.social @ftmaestre.bsky.social @manudelbaq.bsky.social
Nicely led by Luna McGill as part of her PhD at ICA @csic.es @cesarplaza.bsky.social @ftmaestre.bsky.social @manudelbaq.bsky.social
Our new article is out in @geoderma.bsky.social! Drylands, which cover 40% of Earth’s land, store ~30% of global soil organic carbon. But how do different carbon fractions support ecosystem services under rising aridity? 🏜️
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...
September 5, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Great thread on our recent lab paper in @geoderma.bsky.social on how SOC fractions regulate ecosystem services in global drylands
Nicely led by Luna McGill as part of her PhD at ICA @csic.es @cesarplaza.bsky.social @ftmaestre.bsky.social @manudelbaq.bsky.social
Nicely led by Luna McGill as part of her PhD at ICA @csic.es @cesarplaza.bsky.social @ftmaestre.bsky.social @manudelbaq.bsky.social
Our new article is out in @geoderma.bsky.social! Drylands, which cover 40% of Earth’s land, store ~30% of global soil organic carbon. But how do different carbon fractions support ecosystem services under rising aridity? 🏜️
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...
September 5, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Our new article is out in @geoderma.bsky.social! Drylands, which cover 40% of Earth’s land, store ~30% of global soil organic carbon. But how do different carbon fractions support ecosystem services under rising aridity? 🏜️
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...
As stated by this press release from @unccd.bsky.social we must overhaul global food systems to avert worsening land crisis unccd.int/news-stories... Read the @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature Review here rdcu.be/eBlid
August 19, 2025 at 8:58 AM
As stated by this press release from @unccd.bsky.social we must overhaul global food systems to avert worsening land crisis unccd.int/news-stories... Read the @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature Review here rdcu.be/eBlid
Very glad to see this report in @elmundo.es.web.brid.gy elmundo.es/ciencia-y-sa... about our recent @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature review rdcu.be/eACfr Let´s hope that it will contribute to much-needed discussions & action around food systems 2 ensure a healthier, safer & more peaceful future
August 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Very glad to see this report in @elmundo.es.web.brid.gy elmundo.es/ciencia-y-sa... about our recent @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature review rdcu.be/eACfr Let´s hope that it will contribute to much-needed discussions & action around food systems 2 ensure a healthier, safer & more peaceful future
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
Great to be a coauthor of this new paper in @natureportfolio.nature.com which provides a comprehensive set of solutions to bend the land degradation curve & leverage the transformation of global #food systems. #land #climate #biodiversity @yesiuoy.bsky.social @uoyenvironment.bsky.social
To meet the targets of the #UN Rio Conventions (#UNCCD, #UNFCCC & #CBD) we must bend the curve of land degradation. Our latest Review in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature discusses how to do it by 2050 by urgently transforming global food systems rdcu.be/eACfr #KAUST
August 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Great to be a coauthor of this new paper in @natureportfolio.nature.com which provides a comprehensive set of solutions to bend the land degradation curve & leverage the transformation of global #food systems. #land #climate #biodiversity @yesiuoy.bsky.social @uoyenvironment.bsky.social
Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre
Bending the curve of land degradation to achieve global environments goals
Much needed review by @ftmaestre.bsky.social et al.
Much needed review by @ftmaestre.bsky.social et al.
To meet the targets of the #UN Rio Conventions (#UNCCD, #UNFCCC & #CBD) we must bend the curve of land degradation. Our latest Review in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature discusses how to do it by 2050 by urgently transforming global food systems rdcu.be/eACfr #KAUST
August 14, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Bending the curve of land degradation to achieve global environments goals
Much needed review by @ftmaestre.bsky.social et al.
Much needed review by @ftmaestre.bsky.social et al.