Climate change is a process of change at a planetary level linked to human activities, which has as its most significant feature a rise in mean temperatures. To know the effect of this warming on the Sierra de Guadarrama aquatic fauna, in the years 2008-2009 were compared the populations of aquatic macroinvertebrates in relation to the ones from the seventies. These latest data came from a doctoral thesis, which carried out a detailed inventory of aquatic invertebrate species along an altitudinal gradient in the Lozoya River.

The goal of this work was to detect a possible rise of populations as a result of a warming of the water temperature, and their move to the highest altitudinal zones, in order to adapt to the temperature rise.

Periódicamente vamos recopilando los artículos científicos relacionados con el Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama. Te mostramos los publicados en los últimos 15 años.

The vascular flora of the National Park and its Peripheral Protection Zone includes about 1680 subspecific or specific taxa range. Due to its status, as a remarkable altitude massif, to its continental character in relation to other Central System massifs that will surround it, The Sierra de Guadarrama is a singular area with high floristic diversity in the Iberian Peninsula. It is in addition, a representative area of the flora and vegetation of the Mediterranean high mountain ecosystems. Within the territory, the Peñalara Massif and El Paular Valley should be noted for their uniqueness and high levels of diversity.

Taking into account biogeographic criteria, on endemicity, restricted distribution, or inclusion in protection catalogs (Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species, Madrid Regional Catalog of Endangered Species, Castilla y Leon Protected Flora, Red List of Spanish Vascular Flora), it has been established the National Park and the Peripheral Protection Zone rare, endemic and threatened vascular flora. This set of taxa is formed by some 446 species. Approximately one fith of these species, have been considered high value for the following reasons: they are very localized, are classified as extinction risk at the level of the Regional Catalog of Endangered Species in the Community of Madrid, they are present in the Red List of Spanish Vascular Flora, or are Central System endemism.

The mapping of the former Peñalara Natural Park forest region vegetation has recently been completed. It includes the Rascafría, Alameda del Valle and Pinilla del Valle municipalities. Using this starting point, it is intended to extend the mapping to the entire National Park. This work is also the starting point for the cataloguing and mapping both of natural and priority habitats (Council Directive 92/43/EEC), and the natural systems (National Park Law 30/2014).

The work of preparing the vegetation units map consists of different phases: photo interpretation, field work and map preparation. During the interpretation phase and by means of the observation of aerial photography and orthophoto in the study area, the digitalization of the possible patches of vegetation observed is achieved, as well as the allocation to each one of them to provisional vegetation units.