Dr Samuel Pironon
Lecturer in Conservation Biology
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
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
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainability2024
The 2030 Declaration on Scientific Plant and Fungal CollectingAntonelli 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
Adapting wild biodiversity conservation approaches to conserve agrobiodiversityJago 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
Plant diversity darkspots for global collection prioritiesOndo 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
Safeguard stewards of biodiversity knowledge—ResponsePironon 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
Genome size is positively correlated with extinction risk in herbaceous angiospermsGomez 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
The global distribution of angiosperm genome size is shaped by climateBureš 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
The global distribution of plants used by humansPironon 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
Indigenous crop diversity maintained despite the introduction of major global crops in an African centre of agrobiodiversityRampersad 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
Machine learning enhances prediction of plants as potential sources of antimalarialsRichard-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
Seasonal dynamics of Anopheles stephensi and its implications for mosquito detection and emergent malaria control in the Horn of AfricaWhittaker 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
Towards an action plan for characterizing food plant diversityPironon 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
Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Evolution, distribution, and useAntonelli 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
Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Threats and opportunitiesRalimanana 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
Matches and mismatches between the global distribution of major food crops and climate suitabilityMahaut 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
The likely extinction of hundreds of palm species threatens their contributions to people and ecosystemsBellot 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
A novel statistical framework for exploring the population dynamics and seasonality of mosquito populationsWhittaker 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
Living at the limit in the Pyrenees: Peripheral and endemic plants are rare but underrepresented in protection listsPironon S, Gómez D, Font X and García MB
Diversity and Distributions, Wiley vol. 28 (5), 930-942.
10-03-2022
Global plant diversity as a reservoir of micronutrients for humanityCantwell-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
Scaling up neodomestication for climate-ready cropsGutaker RM, Chater CCC, Brinton J, Castillo-Lorenzo E, Breman E and Pironon S
Current Opinion in Plant Biology, Elsevier vol. 66
19-01-2022
Wild relatives of potato may bolster its adaptation to new niches under future climate scenariosFumia N, Pironon S, Rubinoff D, Khoury CK, Gore MA and Kantar MB
Food and Energy Security, Wiley vol. 11 (2)
07-01-2022
Interactions between breeding system and ploidy affect niche breadth in SolanumFumia 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
Modelling potential range expansion of an underutilised food security crop in Sub-Saharan AfricaKoch 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
Species distribution models rarely predict the biology of real populationsLee‐Yaw JA, McCune JL, Pironon S and Sheth SN
Ecography, Wiley vol. 2022 (6)
21-12-2021
Prioritising crop wild relatives to enhance agricultural resilience in sub‐Saharan Africa under climate changeSatori 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
Plant Diversity Conservation Challenges and Prospects—The Perspective of Botanic Gardens and the Millennium Seed BankBreman 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
DISTRIBUTION OF THE TUMBES TYRANT (TUMBEZIA SALVINI) WITH COMMENTS ON MARGINAL RECORDSGonzalez O, Tovar C and Pironon S
Ornitología Neotropical, Neotropical Ornithological Society vol. 32 (2), 131-140.
13-10-2021
Author Correction: Areas of global importance for conserving terrestrial biodiversity, carbon and waterJung 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
Areas of global importance for conserving terrestrial biodiversity, carbon and waterJung 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
Pollen sterols are associated with phylogeny and environment but not with pollinator guildsZu 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
Plant agrodiversity to the rescuePironon S and Soto Gomez M
Nature Climate Change, Springer Nature vol. 11 (1), 6-8.
05-10-2020
A new malaria vector in Africa: Predicting the expansion range of Anopheles stephensi and identifying the urban populations at riskSinka 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
Plant Power: Opportunities and challenges for meeting sustainable energy needs from the plant and fungal kingdomsGrace 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
Unlocking plant resources to support food security and promote sustainable agricultureUlian 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
Toward Unifying Global Hotspots of Wild and Domesticated BiodiversityPironon 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
The 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
Incorporating intraspecific variation into species distribution models improves distribution predictions, but cannot predict species traits for a wide‐spread plant speciesChardon NI, Pironon S, Peterson ML and Doak DF
Ecography, Wiley vol. 43 (1), 60-74.
05-11-2019
A strong east–west Mediterranean divergence supports a new phylogeographic history of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua, Leguminosae) and multiple domestications from native populationsViruel 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
Potential adaptive strategies for 29 sub-Saharan crops under future climate changePironon 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
Mutualistic interactions reshuffle the effects of climate change on plants across the tree of lifeBascompte 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
Phylogeography 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
Shifts 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
Addressing common pitfalls does not provide more support to geographical and ecological abundant‐centre hypothesesSantini L, Pironon S, Maiorano L and Thuiller W
Ecography, Wiley vol. 42 (4), 696-705.
16-10-2018
Delineating limits: Confronting predicted climatic suitability to field performance in mistletoe populationsSangüesa‐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
The ‘Hutchinsonian niche’ as an assemblage of demographic niches: implications for species geographic rangesPironon 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
Geographic variation in genetic and demographic performance: new insights from an old biogeographical paradigmPironon S, Papuga G, Villellas J, Angert AL, García MB and Thompson JD
Biological Reviews, Wiley vol. 92 (4), 1877-1909.
27-11-2016
2015
Range-Wide Variation in the Ecological Niche and Floral Polymorphism of the Western Mediterranean Geophyte Narcissus dubius GouanPapuga 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
Do 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
Balance between climate change mitigation benefits and land use impacts of bioenergy: conservation implications for European birdsMeller L, Thuiller W, Pironon S, Barbet-Massin M, Hof A and Cabeza M
Gcb Bioenergy, Wiley vol. 7 (4), 741-751.
29-04-2014
The European functional tree of bird life in the face of global changeThuiller 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
Ensemble distribution models in conservation prioritization: from consensus predictions to consensus reserve networksMeller 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
Primeras 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
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Biodiversity and SustainabilityAccelerated diversification for climate resilient agricultureSamuel Pironon
£24,088 Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew)
05-08-2024 - 05-04-2027