Location – The field study area is on arable land around the town of Conil de la Frontera in Southern Spain. As is typical of this region, the area is quite dry and hot in summer. Conil itself is a small beach town on the atlantic coast, which despite a summer influx of (mostly Spanish) tourists, still retains it’s charm and traditional atmosphere.
The study area is dominated by arable farmland, where hedgerows comprised of Opuntia prickly pear are especially abundant. P. dominulus build the majority of their nests on these plants and in season are extremely common in particular localities.
Further afield, the Costa de la Luz displays some stunning but windswept beaches, popular with wind and watersports enthusiasts. The nearby Alcornocales Natural Park displays a high level of biodiversity, dominated by cork trees and limestone outcrops, and is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, reflecting it’s natural importance.
