Dr. Paulo N. Bernardino

Plant Ecologist | PhD, KU Leuven and Wageningen University, 2021

Expertise
remote sensing, tipping points, drylands, fire ecology

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Paulo Bernardino is a plant ecologist who studies local to regional scale ecosystem dynamics through the combined use of field data, remote sensing techniques, and advanced time series analysis. His current research focuses mainly on (i) identifying critical thresholds of tropical ecosystems integrity and (ii) understanding gas exchange dynamics in seasonally waterlogged grasslands. Paulo works in close collaboration with University of Campinas (Brazil). He obtained a double doctorate degree at KU Leuven (Belgium) and Wageningen University (the Netherlands). His PhD work focused on the detection, characterization, and identification of drivers of abrupt shifts in the functioning of ecosystems in global drylands. He also worked with evaluating how soil and fire regime affects savanna-forest transitions in the Brazilian Cerrado, during his Masters studies.

Displaying 1 - 13 of 13
Vast, overlooked peat, and organic soils in Brazil's Cerrado: carbon storage, dynamics, and stability
Verona, LS, Amy Zanne, S Trumbore, Paulo N. Bernardino, GM Alencar, T Andreuccetti, D Herrera-Ramírez, et al. (2026) 2026. “Vast, Overlooked Peat, and Organic Soils in Brazil’s Cerrado: Carbon Storage, Dynamics, and Stability”. NEW PHYTOLOGIST. doi:10.1111/nph.71027.
Higher tree diversity reduces the likelihood of Amazon tipping points
Van Passel, J, K Van Meerbeek, Paulo N. Bernardino, W De Keersmaecker, S Lhermitte, B Rius, and B Somers. (2026) 2026. “Higher Tree Diversity Reduces the Likelihood of Amazon Tipping Points”. BIOGEOSCIENCES 23 (7): 2545-2567,. doi:10.5194/bg-23-2545-2026.
A wood functional perspective on the low success of savanna trees under woody encroachment
Dória, LC, J Sonsin-Oliveira, CR Marcati, L Pereira, Paulo N. Bernardino, RS Oliveira, and N Pilon. (1969) 2026. “A Wood Functional Perspective on the Low Success of Savanna Trees under Woody Encroachment”. ANNALS OF BOTANY. doi:10.1093/aob/mcag020.
A wood functional perspective on the low success of savanna trees under woody encroachment
Dória, LC, J Sonsin-Oliveira, CR Marcati, L Pereira, Paulo N. Bernardino, RS Oliveira, and N Pilon. (1969) 2026. “A Wood Functional Perspective on the Low Success of Savanna Trees under Woody Encroachment”. ANNALS OF BOTANY. doi:10.1093/aob/mcag020.
Open letter: There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored
Pilon, Natashi, Franciele Peixoto, Rafael S. Oliveira, Ana Carolina C. Oliveira, Julio Alquéres, Swanni Alvarado, Jose G. M. Angelo, et al. 2025. “Open Letter: There Are More Than just Trees and Forests to Be Conserved and Restored”. PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET 7: 1220-24. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10635.
Critical slowing down precedes regime shifts in a Miombo woodland in Zambia
Bernardino, Paulo N., L Giagnacovo, B Muys, B Somers, and SL Maes. (2026) 2025. “Critical Slowing down Precedes Regime Shifts in a Miombo Woodland in Zambia”. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS 20 (7). doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ade0d9.
Open letter: There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored
Pilon, N, F Peixoto, RS Oliveira, ACC Oliveira, J Alquéres, S Alvarado, JGM Angelo, et al. (2026) 2025. “Open Letter: There Are More Than just Trees and Forests to Be Conserved and Restored”. PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET 7 (5): 1220-1224,. doi:10.1002/ppp3.10635.
Predictability of abrupt shifts in dryland ecosystem functioning
Bernardino, Paulo N., W De Keersmaecker, S Horion, S Oehmcke, F Gieseke, R Fensholt, R van de Kerchove, et al. (2026) 2025. “Predictability of Abrupt Shifts in Dryland Ecosystem Functioning”. NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE 15 (1). doi:10.1038/s41558-024-02201-0.
Critical slowing down of the Amazon forest after increased drought occurrence
Van Passel, J, Paulo N. Bernardino, S Lhermitte, BF Rius, M Hirota, T Conradi, W De Keersmaecker, K Van Meerbeek, and B Somers. (2026) 2024. “Critical Slowing down of the Amazon Forest After Increased Drought Occurrence”. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 121 (22). doi:10.1073/pnas.2316924121.
Site-specific scaling of remote sensing-based estimates of woody cover and aboveground biomass for mapping long-term tropical dry forest degradation status
Fremout, T, JCD Vinatea, E Thomas, W Huaman-Zambrano, M Salazar-Villegas, DL de la Fuente, Paulo N. Bernardino, R Atkinson, E Csaplovics, and B Muys. (2026) 2022. “Site-Specific Scaling of Remote Sensing-Based Estimates of Woody Cover and Aboveground Biomass for Mapping Long-Term Tropical Dry Forest Degradation Status”. REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT 276. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2022.113040.
THIRTY YEARS OF LAND COVER AND FRACTION COVER CHANGES OVER THE SUDANO-SAHEL USING LANDSAT TIME SERIES
Souverijn, N, M Buchhorn, S Horion, R Fensholt, H Verbeeck, J Verbesselt, M Herold, et al. 2021. “THIRTY YEARS OF LAND COVER AND FRACTION COVER CHANGES OVER THE SUDANO-SAHEL USING LANDSAT TIME SERIES”. In 2021 IEEE INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYMPOSIUM IGARSS, 6170-6173,. doi:10.1109/IGARSS47720.2021.9554349.
Thirty Years of Land Cover and Fraction Cover Changes over the Sudano-Sahel Using Landsat Time Series
Souverijns, N, M Buchhorn, S Horion, R Fensholt, H Verbeeck, J Verbesselt, M Herold, et al. (2026) 2020. “Thirty Years of Land Cover and Fraction Cover Changes over the Sudano-Sahel Using Landsat Time Series”. REMOTE SENSING 12 (22). doi:10.3390/rs12223817.
Uncovering Dryland Woody Dynamics Using Optical, Microwave, and Field Data-Prolonged Above-Average Rainfall Paradoxically Contributes to Woody Plant Die-Off in the Western Sahel
Bernardino, Paulo N., M Brandt, W De Keersmaecker, S Horion, R Fensholt, I Storms, JP Wigneron, J Verbesselt, and B Somers. (2026) 2020. “Uncovering Dryland Woody Dynamics Using Optical, Microwave, and Field Data-Prolonged Above-Average Rainfall Paradoxically Contributes to Woody Plant Die-Off in the Western Sahel”. REMOTE SENSING 12 (14). doi:10.3390/rs12142332.