Gerard Sapes de Moreta
Masters in terrestrial ecology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Ph.D. in organismal biology and ecology from the University of Montana. Focus on connecting plant physiological stress…
I am a plant ecophysiologist born in Barcelona, Spain, with a research focus on understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying plant mortality, particularly under drought stress. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Montana, where I investigated how factors like dehydration, hydraulic failure, and non-structural carbohydrate depletion contribute to tree death during drought conditions.
After my Ph.D., I did a postdoc at the University of Minnesota to study the physiological processes that lead to oak tree mortality due to oak wilt; a vascular disease caused by an invasive fungus. There, I developed approaches to detect oak wilt and drought stress before visual symptoms appear and to map oak wilt disease across landscapes using spectral reflectance data.
Before my current position, I served as a Biological Scientist in the Department of Agronomy at the University of Florida. There, I developed ways to integrate plant physiology with advanced remote sensing techniques, such as hyperspectral imaging, to detect and predict tree stress and mortality across different spatial scales. My interdisciplinary approach combines fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and technological innovation to address pressing ecological challenges.
Beyond my research, I also love engaging in science communication and outreach, aiming to make complex scientific concepts accessible to broader audiences. I am also internationally known for my terrible jokes.
