Publications
Dinámicas turísticas Pos-Covid en paisajes culturales insulares: estudio preliminar en Mallorca y Gran Canaria
Post-COVID tourism has significantly reshaped the economic, social, and cultural dynamics of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly in insular cultural landscapes. A preliminary study focusing on Mallorca's Serra de Tramuntana and Gran Canaria's Risco Caído and Sacred Mountain Spaces reveals critical tensions between sustainability, tourism development, and heritage valorization. The research highlights the urgent need for strengthened local governance strategies and active community engagement to mitigate the impacts of post-pandemic tourism. Using statistical data analysis and qualitative thematic coding from stakeholder interviews, the study identifies patterns and discourses that underscore the complex interplay between tourism dynamics and heritage management in times of crisis.
Implications of illite X-ray diffraction characteristics and K–Ar dating for the tectonics of Mallorca (Spain)
A pre-tectonic thermal event from the early Cretaceous, marked by a K–Ar age of 133–140 Ma and palaeotemperatures of 180–200°C, was identified in the Serra de Tramuntana of Mallorca using illite X-ray diffraction (XRD) characteristics and dating. This event reflects an extremely high geothermal gradient at the end of Mesozoic extension, predating the Oligocene–Miocene Alpine orogeny that shaped the mountain range. The study analyzed 16 samples from two outcrops, employing XRD, microscopy, microanalysis, and K–Ar dating on clay fractions. Pure volcanic rock samples yielded consistent ages, while contaminated samples confirmed the Cretaceous origin of the thermal event. Maximum palaeotemperatures during later tectonic burial were estimated to be below 250°C, preserving Cretaceous illite XRD features that indicate conditions near the diagenesis/anchimetamorphism boundary.
First demographic assessment of the recently discovered subpopulation of the narrow endemic Femeniasia balearica from the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean)
A recently discovered subpopulation of the narrow endemic species Femeniasia balearica, located in the Serra de Tramuntana of Mallorca (Balearic Islands), shows promising demographic stability. The study, conducted by Rodríguez and Cursach (2024), geolocated 116 individuals and 96 seedlings using differential GPS, revealing that 86.7% of the adults are reproductive. This suggests a stable or growing population, though long-term monitoring is recommended to assess demographic trends. The research provides critical data for conservation efforts, particularly for this IUCN-listed Vulnerable species with isolated populations in the western Mediterranean.
Historia del Jardín Botánico Germà Macià en el Santuario de Lluc (Mallorca)
The Germà Macià Botanical Garden, located within the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Serra de Tramuntana on Mallorca, stands as a pivotal collection of 469 plant taxa, including 28 endemics unique to the Balearic Islands. Established in 1956 by Germà Macià, inspired by Padre Bonafé's work, this garden has become a cornerstone for both conservation and education. It collaborates with public entities to protect threatened species while engaging educational institutions and society to promote awareness of the archipelago's rich plant diversity. The garden's dual role in preserving native and global flora underscores its significance as a living repository and a catalyst for biodiversity conservation efforts.
S’Albufereta de Pollença (Mallorca): una introducció a la seva geomorfologia i l’evolució sedimentària recent
Recent sediment analysis of S’Albufereta de Pollença, a 400-hectare wetland in Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana, reveals that the Holocene sediment fill—ranging from 3 to 5 meters thick—was primarily driven by alluvial inputs from torrents rather than significant marine transgression. The study suggests minimal subsidence and indicates that the paleotopography from the last glacial period was largely refilled during the Holocene transgression, which did not exceed one meter above current sea levels. Researchers employed mechanical coring and geomorphological mapping to characterize the wetland’s morphology and sedimentary sub-environments, providing insights into its recent geological evolution.
The Interconnection between Climate Cycles and Geohazards in Urban Areas of the Tourist Island of Mallorca, Spain
A strong correlation exists between climate cycles and geohazards such as landslides and flash floods in Mallorca, Spain. The study identifies that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), and sunspot activity significantly influence rainfall patterns, which in turn trigger these hazards. Spectral analysis techniques revealed that QBO, with its higher frequency, is particularly notable as it appears embedded within other cycles during periods of heightened ENSO, NAO, and sunspot values. The research also highlights that urban areas like Palma and Calvià, along with the central and eastern parts of the island, are highly vulnerable to intense rainfall and its consequences. This finding underscores the need for targeted risk management strategies in these regions.
El paisatge forestal en transformació de Serra de Tramuntana (Mallorca): regeneració versus deterioració
A study of the Serra de Tramuntana (Mallorca) reveals that forest landscapes are shaped by subjective, socially embedded, and politically charged perceptions, challenging a purely objective view of environmental management. Using ethnographic methods, researchers found that these landscapes provoke memory and are continuously remade through human agency, reflecting historical and cultural dynamics. The findings highlight the polyvalent nature of forests—simultaneously symbols of regeneration and deterioration—suggesting that their management must account for diverse, often conflicting narratives to sustain ecological and cultural integrity.
L'església parroquial de Sant Bartomeu de Valldemossa (Mallorca). De la fàbrica medieval a la imatge contemporània
The Church of Sant Bartomeu de Valldemossa, located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serra de Tramuntana, has evolved architecturally from its medieval Gothic roots to incorporate elements of 19th-century Classicism and 20th-century Regionalism. This study reconstructs its exterior transformations using unprecedented documentary sources, tracing its facade's progression from the first recorded version to its contemporary form. The research highlights how these changes have contributed to the unique landscape identity of Serra de Tramuntana, blending historical preservation with evolving aesthetic influences.
Tourism commodification and privatization of nature: private protected areas in the Serra de Tramuntana (Mallorca)
Private protected areas (PPAs) in the Serra de Tramuntana, Mallorca, exhibit more privatization than commodification compared to global South contexts. While PPAs are often critiqued for neoliberal conservation practices, this study reveals varied and complex interactions between commodification and privatization across different PPAs. Using Castree's (2003) conceptual framework, researchers analyzed multiple PPAs in the region, finding that privatization dominates over commodification, contrasting with trends observed in lower-income contexts where market-based instruments (MBIs) and tourism commodification are more prevalent.
Tourism Music in Mallorca: From Mallorcastyle to the Serra de Tramuntana
A new form of Electronic Dance Music, 'Mallorcastyle,' reflects and perpetuates the debauched lifestyle associated with Germanic tourism in Mallorca, characterized by excessive alcohol consumption, nightlife, and heteropatriarchal sexual behaviors. However, some artists within this genre have expanded their representation to include Mallorca's natural landscapes, particularly the Serra de Tramuntana, leveraging Mediterranean imagery as a marketing tool. Conversely, counter-movements in music videos critique the Balearic tourism model, highlighting the labor conditions of local workers that enable the carefree experiences of tourists. This study analyzes these contrasting narratives through music video content, revealing the duality of tourism's impact on Mallorca's cultural and natural heritage.
Cartographic determination of the dry stone walls of the Mallorcan Tramuntana mountain range (Balearic Islands): Exploratory analysis
A comprehensive cartographic analysis of dry stone walls in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, Mallorca, reveals their significant geographical and cultural imprint. This study provides the first detailed mapping of these structures, which have been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. By integrating basic cartography, photo-interpretation, and GIS techniques, researchers evaluated two official cartographic datasets to assess their reliability in locating and understanding dry stone walls. The findings highlight the potential for these methods to serve as a foundation for broader geographical studies of this unique landscape feature.
Mollusca (Ammonoidea, Gastropoda, Bivalvia) from the upper Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean): preliminary data
Paleontologists have identified the upper Ladinian stage (Middle Triassic) for the first time on the island of Mallorca, Spain, through the study of silicified mollusc fossils from the Muschelkalk facies in the Serra de Tramuntana. This discovery provides critical biostratigraphic insights into the geological history of the Balearic Islands. The research analyzed ammonoids, gastropods, and bivalves to assess their biogeographical context during this period, contributing preliminary data that enhance our understanding of Mediterranean mollusc distribution in the Middle Triassic.
Triassic clam shrimps (“Conchostraca”; Branchiopoda: Diplostraca) from Mallorca: Taxonomic description and interregional comparisons
Paleontologists have identified four distinct intervals of Triassic clam shrimp fossils (Conchostraca) in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, Mallorca, dating from the upper Lower to lower Middle Triassic. Among these, a species closely related to Hornestheria sollingensis—previously known only from Germany—stands out due to its unique radial sculpture on larval carapace valves, though this trait varies in development. The study also describes three additional morphotypes of clam shrimp carapaces, contributing to the sparse global record of this genus. These fossils were collected from fluvial red-bed units, alongside traces of insects, fish, and other invertebrates, offering insights into Triassic biodiversity. The research employs open nomenclature due to limited prior knowledge of Hornestheria morphology, emphasizing its significance for interregional comparisons in paleobiogeography.
First data on the biological richness of Mediterranean springs
Mediterranean springs emerge as unique biodiversity hotspots, with a taxonomic richness comparable to those in the Euro-Siberian region. A first-of-its-kind study analyzed 20 springs across two limestone-dominated mountainous areas—Montsant (NE Iberian Peninsula) and Serra de Tramuntana (Mallorca)—identifying 500 taxa in Montsant (82–152 per site) and 363 in Serra de Tramuntana (55–119 per site). Cormophytes, diatoms, or invertebrates dominated depending on the spring. Low taxonomic similarity between sites suggests each spring hosts a distinct, irreplicable community, underscoring their ecological significance despite environmental differences.
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