Dr Samuel Pironon

Samuel Pironon

Lecturer in Conservation Biology

School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
www.qmul.ac.uk/sbbs/staff/samuel-pironon.html
Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainability
ORCID Google Scholar

Research

macroecology, global change, plant diversity and distribution, species uses, food diversification, computational ecology

Interests

How many species inhabit the Earth? Where are they concentrated? How do they contribute to humanity's subsistence and well-being? Are they threatened by ongoing anthropogenic pressures? Which mechanisms can be developed to guarantee their protection on the long-term?

Sam Pironon's research focuses on understanding the diversity, distribution, traits and conservation status of species and their contributions to people globally. Sam and his group analyse large datasets using interdisciplinary approaches to address fundamental macroecological questions and to look for solutions to major global challenges such as biodiversity loss, food insecurity, climate change and diseases. While Sam's interests are not limited taxonomically, geographically, or conceptually, his recent work has largely centered on the diversity of terrestrial vascular plants, especially those documented to be used by people, including for food and medicine.

Publications

solid heart iconPublications of specific relevance to the Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainability

2024

bullet iconThe 2030 Declaration on Scientific Plant and Fungal Collecting
Antonelli A, Teisher JK, Smith RJ, Ainsworth AM, Furci G, Gaya E, Gonçalves SC, Hawksworth DL, Larridon I, Sessa EB, Simões ARG, Suz LM, Acedo C, Aghayeva DN, Agorini AA, Al Harthy LS, Bacon KL, Chávez‐Hernández MG, Colli‐Silva M, Crosier J, et al.
Plants People Planet, Wiley vol. 7 (1), 11-22.  
30-09-2024
bullet iconAdapting wild biodiversity conservation approaches to conserve agrobiodiversity
Jago S, Elliott KFVA, Tovar C, Soto Gomez M, Starnes T, Abebe W, Alexander C, Antonelli A, Baldaszti L, Cerullo G, Cockel C, Collison D, Cowell C, Delgado R, Demissew S, Devenish A, Dhanjal-Adams K, Diazgranados M, Drucker AG, Dulloo ME, et al.
Nature Sustainability, Springer Nature vol. 7 (11), 1385-1394.  
19-09-2024
bullet iconPlant diversity darkspots for global collection priorities
Ondo I, Dhanjal‐Adams KL, Pironon S, Silvestro D, Colli‐Silva M, Deklerck V, Grace OM, Monro AK, Nicolson N, Walker B and Antonelli A
New Phytologist, Wiley vol. 244 (2), 719-733.  
16-08-2024
bullet iconSafeguard stewards of biodiversity knowledge—Response
Pironon S, Ondo I, Diazgranados M, Allkin R, Baquero AC, Cámara-Leret R, Canteiro C, Dennehy-Carr Z, Govaerts R, Hargreaves S, Hudson AJ, Lemmens R, Milliken W, Nesbitt M, Patmore K, Schmelzer G, Turner RM, van Andel TR, Ulian T, Antonelli A, et al.
Science, American Association For The Advancement of Science (Aaas) vol. 385 (6708), 506-506.  
01-08-2024
bullet iconGenome size is positively correlated with extinction risk in herbaceous angiosperms
Gomez MS, Brown MJM, Pironon S, Bureš P, Arregoitia LDV, Veselý P, Elliott TL, Zedek F, Pellicer J, Forest F, Lughadha EN and Leitch IJ
New Phytologist, Wiley vol. 243 (6), 2470-2485.  
30-07-2024
bullet iconThe global distribution of angiosperm genome size is shaped by climate
Bureš P, Elliott TL, Veselý P, Šmarda P, Forest F, Leitch IJ, Lughadha EN, Gomez MS, Pironon S, Brown MJM, Šmerda J and Zedek F
New Phytologist, Wiley vol. 242 (2), 744-759.  
24-01-2024
bullet iconThe global distribution of plants used by humans
Pironon S, Ondo I, Diazgranados M, Allkin R, Baquero AC, Cámara-Leret R, Canteiro C, Dennehy-Carr Z, Govaerts R, Hargreaves S, Hudson AJ, Lemmens R, Milliken W, Nesbitt M, Patmore K, Schmelzer G, Turner RM, van Andel TR, Ulian T, Antonelli A, et al.
Science, American Association For The Advancement of Science (Aaas) vol. 383 (6680), 293-297.  
18-01-2024

2023

Relevant PublicationIndigenous crop diversity maintained despite the introduction of major global crops in an African centre of agrobiodiversity
Rampersad C, Geto T, Samuel T, Abebe M, Gomez MS, Pironon S, Büchi L, Haggar J, Stocks J, Ryan P, Buggs RJA, Demissew S, Wilkin P, Abebe WM and Borrell JS
Plants People Planet, Wiley vol. 5 (6), 985-996.  
19-07-2023
bullet iconMachine learning enhances prediction of plants as potential sources of antimalarials
Richard-Bollans A, Aitken C, Antonelli A, Bitencourt C, Goyder D, Lucas E, Ondo I, Pérez-Escobar OA, Pironon S, Richardson JE, Russell D, Silvestro D, Wright CW and Howes M-JR
Frontiers in Plant Science, Frontiers vol. 14 
25-05-2023
bullet iconSeasonal dynamics of Anopheles stephensi and its implications for mosquito detection and emergent malaria control in the Horn of Africa
Whittaker C, Hamlet A, Sherrard-Smith E, Winskill P, Cuomo-Dannenburg G, Walker PGT, Sinka M, Pironon S, Kumar A, Ghani A, Bhatt S and Churcher TS
Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences vol. 120 (8) 
15-02-2023

2022

bullet iconTowards an action plan for characterizing food plant diversity
Pironon S, Cantwell-Jones A, Forest F, Ball J, Diazgranados M, Douglas R, Hawkins J, Howes M-JR, Ulian T, Vaitla B and Collar D
Nature Plants, Springer Nature vol. 9 (1), 34-35.  
21-12-2022
bullet iconMadagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Evolution, distribution, and use
Antonelli A, Smith RJ, Perrigo AL, Crottini A, Hackel J, Testo W, Farooq H, Torres Jiménez MF, Andela N, Andermann T, Andriamanohera AM, Andriambololonera S, Bachman SP, Bacon CD, Baker WJ, Belluardo F, Birkinshaw C, Borrell JS, Cable S, Canales NA, et al.
Science, American Association For The Advancement of Science vol. 378 (6623) 
02-12-2022
bullet iconMadagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Threats and opportunities
Ralimanana H, Perrigo AL, Smith RJ, Borrell JS, Faurby S, Rajaonah MT, Randriamboavonjy T, Vorontsova MS, Cooke RSC, Phelps LN, Sayol F, Andela N, Andermann T, Andriamanohera AM, Andriambololonera S, Bachman SP, Bacon CD, Baker WJ, Belluardo F, Birkinshaw C, et al.
Science, American Association For The Advancement of Science vol. 378 (6623) 
02-12-2022
bullet iconMatches and mismatches between the global distribution of major food crops and climate suitability
Mahaut L, Pironon S, Barnagaud J-Y, Bretagnolle F, Khoury CK, Mehrabi Z, Milla R, Phillips C, Rieseberg LH, Violle C and Renard D
Proceedings of The Royal Society B, The Royal Society vol. 289 (1983) 
28-09-2022
bullet iconThe likely extinction of hundreds of palm species threatens their contributions to people and ecosystems
Bellot S, Lu Y, Antonelli A, Baker WJ, Dransfield J, Forest F, Kissling WD, Leitch IJ, Nic Lughadha E, Ondo I, Pironon S, Walker BE, Cámara-Leret R and Bachman SP
Nature Ecology & Evolution, Springer Nature vol. 6 (11), 1710-1722.  
26-09-2022
bullet iconA novel statistical framework for exploring the population dynamics and seasonality of mosquito populations
Whittaker C, Winskill P, Sinka M, Pironon S, Massey C, Weiss DJ, Nguyen M, Gething PW, Kumar A, Ghani A and Bhatt S
Proceedings of The Royal Society B, The Royal Society vol. 289 (1972) 
13-04-2022
bullet iconLiving at the limit in the Pyrenees: Peripheral and endemic plants are rare but underrepresented in protection lists
Pironon S, Gómez D, Font X and García MB
Diversity and Distributions, Wiley vol. 28 (5), 930-942.  
10-03-2022
bullet iconGlobal plant diversity as a reservoir of micronutrients for humanity
Cantwell-Jones A, Ball J, Collar D, Diazgranados M, Douglas R, Forest F, Hawkins J, Howes M-JR, Ulian T, Vaitla B and Pironon S
Nature Plants, Springer Nature vol. 8 (3), 225-232.  
24-02-2022
bullet iconScaling up neodomestication for climate-ready crops
Gutaker RM, Chater CCC, Brinton J, Castillo-Lorenzo E, Breman E and Pironon S
Current Opinion in Plant Biology, Elsevier vol. 66 
19-01-2022
bullet iconWild relatives of potato may bolster its adaptation to new niches under future climate scenarios
Fumia N, Pironon S, Rubinoff D, Khoury CK, Gore MA and Kantar MB
Food and Energy Security, Wiley vol. 11 (2) 
07-01-2022
bullet iconInteractions between breeding system and ploidy affect niche breadth in Solanum
Fumia N, Rubinoff D, Zenil-Ferguson R, Khoury CK, Pironon S, Gore MA and Kantar MB
Royal Society Open Science, The Royal Society vol. 9 (1) 
01-01-2022

2021

bullet iconModelling potential range expansion of an underutilised food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa
Koch O, Mengesha WA, Pironon S, Pagella T, Ondo I, Rosa I, Wilkin P and Borrell JS
Environmental Research Letters, Iop Publishing vol. 17 (1) 
30-12-2021
bullet iconSpecies distribution models rarely predict the biology of real populations
Lee‐Yaw JA, McCune JL, Pironon S and Sheth SN
Ecography, Wiley vol. 2022 (6) 
21-12-2021
bullet iconPrioritising crop wild relatives to enhance agricultural resilience in sub‐Saharan Africa under climate change
Satori D, Tovar C, Faruk A, Hunt EH, Muller G, Cockel C, Kühn N, Leitch IJ, Lulekal E, Pereira L, Ryan P, Willis KJ and Pironon S
Plants People Planet, Wiley vol. 4 (3), 269-282.  
30-11-2021
bullet iconPlant Diversity Conservation Challenges and Prospects—The Perspective of Botanic Gardens and the Millennium Seed Bank
Breman E, Ballesteros D, Castillo-Lorenzo E, Cockel C, Dickie J, Faruk A, O’Donnell K, Offord CA, Pironon S, Sharrock S and Ulian T
Plants, Mdpi vol. 10 (11) 
03-11-2021
bullet iconDISTRIBUTION OF THE TUMBES TYRANT (TUMBEZIA SALVINI) WITH COMMENTS ON MARGINAL RECORDS
Gonzalez O, Tovar C and Pironon S
Ornitología Neotropical, Neotropical Ornithological Society vol. 32 (2), 131-140.  
13-10-2021
bullet iconAuthor Correction: Areas of global importance for conserving terrestrial biodiversity, carbon and water
Jung M, Arnell A, de Lamo X, García-Rangel S, Lewis M, Mark J, Merow C, Miles L, Ondo I, Pironon S, Ravilious C, Rivers M, Schepaschenko D, Tallowin O, van Soesbergen A, Govaerts R, Boyle BL, Enquist BJ, Feng X, Gallagher R, et al.
Nature Ecology & Evolution, Springer Nature vol. 5 (11), 1557-1557.  
23-09-2021
bullet iconAreas of global importance for conserving terrestrial biodiversity, carbon and water
Jung M, Arnell A, de Lamo X, García-Rangel S, Lewis M, Mark J, Merow C, Miles L, Ondo I, Pironon S, Ravilious C, Rivers M, Schepaschenko D, Tallowin O, van Soesbergen A, Govaerts R, Boyle BL, Enquist BJ, Feng X, Gallagher R, et al.
Nature Ecology & Evolution, Springer Nature vol. 5 (11), 1499-1509.  
23-08-2021
bullet iconPollen sterols are associated with phylogeny and environment but not with pollinator guilds
Zu P, Koch H, Schwery O, Pironon S, Phillips C, Ondo I, Farrell IW, Nes WD, Moore E, Wright GA, Farman DI and Stevenson PC
New Phytologist, Wiley vol. 230 (3), 1169-1184.  
15-02-2021

2020

bullet iconPlant agrodiversity to the rescue
Pironon S and Soto Gomez M
Nature Climate Change, Springer Nature vol. 11 (1), 6-8.  
05-10-2020
bullet iconA new malaria vector in Africa: Predicting the expansion range of Anopheles stephensi and identifying the urban populations at risk
Sinka ME, Pironon S, Massey NC, Longbottom J, Hemingway J, Moyes CL and Willis KJ
Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences vol. 117 (40), 24900-24908.  
14-09-2020
bullet iconPlant Power: Opportunities and challenges for meeting sustainable energy needs from the plant and fungal kingdoms
Grace OM, Lovett JC, Gore CJN, Moat J, Ondo I, Pironon S, Langat MK, Pérez‐Escobar OA, Ross A, Abbo MS, Shrestha KK, Gowda B, Farrar K, Adams J, Cámara‐Leret R, Diazgranados M, Ulian T, Sagala S, Rianawati E, Hazra A, et al.
Plants People Planet, Wiley vol. 2 (5), 446-462.  
01-09-2020
bullet iconUnlocking plant resources to support food security and promote sustainable agriculture
Ulian T, Diazgranados M, Pironon S, Padulosi S, Liu U, Davies L, Howes MR, Borrell JS, Ondo I, Pérez‐Escobar OA, Sharrock S, Ryan P, Hunter D, Lee MA, Barstow C, Łuczaj Ł, Pieroni A, Cámara‐Leret R, Noorani A, Mba C, et al.
Plants People Planet, Wiley vol. 2 (5), 421-445.  
01-09-2020
bullet iconToward Unifying Global Hotspots of Wild and Domesticated Biodiversity
Pironon S, Borrell JS, Ondo I, Douglas R, Phillips C, Khoury CK, Kantar MB, Fumia N, Gomez MS, Viruel J, Govaerts R, Forest F and Antonelli A
Plants, Mdpi vol. 9 (9) 
31-08-2020
bullet iconThe climatic challenge: Which plants will people use in the next century?
Borrell JS, Dodsworth S, Forest F, Pérez-Escobar OA, Lee MA, Mattana E, Stevenson PC, Howes M-JR, Pritchard HW, Ballesteros D, Kusumoto B, Ondo I, Moat J, Milliken W, Ryan P, Ulian T and Pironon S
Environmental and Experimental Botany, Elsevier vol. 170 
01-02-2020

2019

bullet iconIncorporating intraspecific variation into species distribution models improves distribution predictions, but cannot predict species traits for a wide‐spread plant species
Chardon NI, Pironon S, Peterson ML and Doak DF
Ecography, Wiley vol. 43 (1), 60-74.  
05-11-2019
bullet iconA strong east–west Mediterranean divergence supports a new phylogeographic history of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua, Leguminosae) and multiple domestications from native populations
Viruel J, Le Galliot N, Pironon S, Feliner GN, Suc J, Lakhal‐Mirleau F, Juin M, Selva M, Kharrat MBD, Ouahmane L, La Malfa S, Diadema K, Sanguin H, Médail F and Baumel A
Journal of Biogeography, Wiley vol. 47 (2), 460-471.  
01-10-2019
bullet iconPotential adaptive strategies for 29 sub-Saharan crops under future climate change
Pironon S, Etherington TR, Borrell JS, Kühn N, Macias-Fauria M, Ondo I, Tovar C, Wilkin P and Willis KJ
Nature Climate Change, Springer Nature vol. 9 (10), 758-763.  
25-09-2019
bullet iconMutualistic interactions reshuffle the effects of climate change on plants across the tree of life
Bascompte J, García MB, Ortega R, Rezende EL and Pironon S
Science Advances, American Association For The Advancement of Science (Aaas) vol. 5 (5) 
03-05-2019
bullet iconPhylogeography and post‐glacial dynamics in the clonal‐sexual orchid Cypripedium calceolus L.
Gargiulo R, Pironon S, Zheleznaya E, Sanchez MD, Balázs ZR, Podar D, Wilkinson T, Jäkäläniemi A, Kull T, Väre H and Fay MF
Journal of Biogeography, Wiley vol. 46 (3), 526-538.  
13-02-2019
bullet iconShifts in the abiotic and biotic environment of cultivated sunflower under future climate change☆
Mehrabi Z, Pironon S, Kantar M, Ramankutty N and Rieseberg L
Ocl - Oilseeds and Fats, Crops and Lipids, Edp Sciences vol. 26 
01-01-2019

2018

bullet iconAddressing common pitfalls does not provide more support to geographical and ecological abundant‐centre hypotheses
Santini L, Pironon S, Maiorano L and Thuiller W
Ecography, Wiley vol. 42 (4), 696-705.  
16-10-2018
bullet iconDelineating limits: Confronting predicted climatic suitability to field performance in mistletoe populations
Sangüesa‐Barreda G, Camarero JJ, Pironon S, Gazol A, Peguero‐Pina JJ and Gil‐Pelegrín E
Journal of Ecology, Wiley vol. 106 (6), 2218-2229.  
10-04-2018

2017

bullet iconThe ‘Hutchinsonian niche’ as an assemblage of demographic niches: implications for species geographic ranges
Pironon S, Villellas J, Thuiller W, Eckhart VM, Geber MA, Moeller DA and García MB
Ecography, Wiley vol. 41 (7), 1103-1113.  
01-11-2017

2016

bullet iconGeographic variation in genetic and demographic performance: new insights from an old biogeographical paradigm
Pironon S, Papuga G, Villellas J, Angert AL, García MB and Thompson JD
Biological Reviews, Wiley vol. 92 (4), 1877-1909.  
27-11-2016

2015

bullet iconRange-Wide Variation in the Ecological Niche and Floral Polymorphism of the Western Mediterranean Geophyte Narcissus dubius Gouan
Papuga G, Gauthier P, Ramos J, Pons V, Pironon S, Farris E and Thompson JD
International Journal of Plant Sciences, University of Chicago Press vol. 176 (8), 724-738.  
01-10-2015

2014

bullet iconDo geographic, climatic or historical ranges differentiate the performance of central versus peripheral populations?
Pironon S, Villellas J, Morris WF, Doak DF and García MB
Global Ecology and Biogeography, Wiley vol. 24 (6), 611-620.  
22-12-2014
bullet iconBalance between climate change mitigation benefits and land use impacts of bioenergy: conservation implications for European birds
Meller L, Thuiller W, Pironon S, Barbet-Massin M, Hof A and Cabeza M
Gcb Bioenergy, Wiley vol. 7 (4), 741-751.  
29-04-2014
bullet iconThe European functional tree of bird life in the face of global change
Thuiller W, Pironon S, Psomas A, Barbet-Massin M, Jiguet F, Lavergne S, Pearman PB, Renaud J, Zupan L and Zimmermann NE
Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 5 (1) 
01-01-2014

2013

bullet iconEnsemble distribution models in conservation prioritization: from consensus predictions to consensus reserve networks
Meller L, Cabeza M, Pironon S, Barbet-Massin M, Maiorano L, Georges D and Thuiller W
Diversity and Distributions, Wiley vol. 20 (3), 309-321.  
16-12-2013
bullet iconPrimeras jornadas Iperinas: presentación de nuevas líneas de investigación del Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (CSIC)
Pardo I, Aranbarri J, Barreiro F, Bravo PA, Chaparro HA, Comín F, Corriá R, Español C, Felipe-Lucía M, Frugone M, García-García M, García-Prieto E, Gil-Romera G, Gimeno I, Lasheras L, Moreno A, Palacio S, Pérez-Sanz A, Pironon S, Pueyo Y, et al.
Pirineos, Editorial Csic vol. 168, 139-154.  
31-05-2013

Grants

solid heart iconGrants of specific relevance to the Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainability
solid heart iconAccelerated diversification for climate resilient agriculture
Samuel Pironon
£24,088 Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew)
05-08-2024 - 05-04-2027