Overview
I am an urban ecologist and plant ecologist. My research explores how climate change, environmental heterogeneity, and urbanisation shape plant performance, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. My work sits at the interface of ecology, ecophysiology, spatial analysis, and environmental modelling, with a particular focus on understanding how plants respond to climate stress across natural and urban landscapes. I am especially interested in identifying the species, traits, and spatial conditions that influence vulnerability to heat, drought, and other climate extremes in cities.
My research combines large spatial datasets, big data approaches, and quantitative ecological methods to develop frameworks for assessing climate risk in urban ecosystems. By integrating plant physiological responses, species distribution patterns, socio-economic data, and future climate projections, I aim to improve understanding of how urban green infrastructure can support biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human wellbeing under changing climatic conditions. A central goal of my research is to inform climate-adaptive urban planning, conservation strategy, and evidence-based management of urban forests and other green spaces.
My broader interests include climate resilience, nature-based solutions, biodiversity conservation, and the ecology of urban trees. I have worked extensively on the implications of extreme climates for cities, with particular attention to the selection of tree species that are most likely to persist under future environmental conditions.
Qualifications
- PhD
National Autonomous University of Mexico, 2015 - MSc
National Autonomous University of Mexico, 2009 - BSc
Universidad Aut籀noma Metropolitana, 2004
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
I am willing to supervise a PhD
Publications
2026
- Published
Barradas, V. L., Morales, B., Ballinas, M. & Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., 8 May 2026, In: Land. 15, 5, 808.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Wen, L., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Peng, Y., Zhang, S., Weng, A., Xue, T., Zhao, K., Lin, Y. & Li, B., 24 Apr 2026, In: Industrial Crops and Products. 245
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Kibria, M. G., Tjoelker, M. G., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., Marchin, R. M., Arndt, S. K., Livesley, S. J. & Rymer, P. D., 14 Apr 2026, In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Guo, Z., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Davin, E., Huang, H., Chen, B., Hejazi, M., Wu, J., Wang, J., Ge, Y. & Song, G., 2 Jan 2026, In: Science Advances. 12, 1, p. eaea9165
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Barradas, V. L., Ballinas, M. & Esperon-Rodriguez, M., 18 May 2026, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. 8
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - E-pub ahead of print
Torresani, M., Darissa, O., Hanania, M., Zaccone, C., Bouaicha, O., Russo, A., Insam, H., Montagnani, L., Fracasso, I., Tiziani, R., Tognetti, R., Cesco, S., Zehetner, F., Fusi, M., Rocchini, D., Sannino, C., Turchetti, B., Buzzini, P., Sandionigi, A. & Mugnai, G. & 7 others, , 17 Jun 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Progress in Physical Geography.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Schifanella, R., Russo, A., Esperon-Rodriguez, D., Sharmin, M., Jeffries, P. & Tjoelker, M. G., 4 Jun 2026, In: Regional Environmental Change. 26, 3
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Jeffries, P. & Esperon-Rodriguez, M., 30 Jan 2026, In: Australian Journal of Environmental Education. 42, 1, p. 318-339 22 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
McDonald, R. I., Chakraborty, T., Endreny, T. A., Parsons, L. A., Marsagishvili, M. & Esperon-Rodriguez, M., 6 May 2026, In: Nature Communications. 17, 1, 3569.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M. & Svenning, J.-C., 13 Apr 2026, In: Critical Insights in Plant Science. 1, 1
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Dendoncker, M., Messier, C., Esperon-Rodriguez, M. & Villemaire-C繫t矇, O., 24 Mar 2026, In: Climate Change Ecology. 11
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2025
- Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Bond, J., Esperon Rodriguez, D., Jeffries, P., Van Ermel Scherer, S. & Tjoelker, M. G., 10 Apr 2025, In: Discover Cities.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Power, S. A., Tjoelker, M. G., Sharmin, M. & Rymer, P. D., 10 Feb 2025, In: Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., St-Denis, A., Messier, J., Gallagher, R. V., Tjoelker, M. G. & Messier, C., 27 Aug 2025, In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Gallagher, R., Calfapietra, C., Cari簽anos, P., Dobbs, C., Eleuterio, A. A., Esperon Rodriguez, D., Jahani, A., Litvak, E., Livesley, S. J., Manoli, G., Marchin, R. M., McPhearson, T., Messier, C., stberg, J., Roman, L. A., Russo, A., Saffariha, M., Shackleton, C. & Sj繹man, H. & 7 others, , 28 Feb 2025, In: Nature Cities. 2, 4, p. 290-298 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Sharmin, M., Power, S. A., Nguyen, M., Rymer, P. D., Tjoelker, M. G. & Esperon-Rodriguez, M., 10 Oct 2025, In: Cities. 169
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Russo, A., Cushing, D., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., Guaralda, M. & Stewart, I., 2 Oct 2025, In: Cities & Health. 9, 5, p. 809-816 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Comment/debate peer-review - Published
Love, N. L., Althaus, K., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Ossola, A., Johns, J., Pawlak, C., Igi, B., Ritter, M. & Yost, J., 14 Oct 2025, In: Annals of Botany. p. mcaf238
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Gallagher, R. V., Russo, A., Power, S. A., Calaza-Mart穩nez, P., Capela Louren癟o, T., Cari簽anos, P., Eleuterio, A. A., Guo, Z., Lee, G., Masselot, P., Mcdonald, R. I., Messier, C., Ordo簽ez, C., Parpanchi, M., Schifanella, R., Shackleton, C., Sharmin, M., Solfjeld, I. & St-Denis, A. & 6 others, , 10 Jun 2025, In: Sustainable cities and society. 130
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Sharmin, M., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Clackson, L., Pfautsch, S. & Power, S. A., 22 Jul 2025, In: Atmosphere. 16, 8
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Wen, L., Yu, Y., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Peng, Y., Zhang, S., Weng, A., Li, B. & Lin, Y., 29 Nov 2025, In: Ecological Indicators. 181
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Duinker, P., Messier, C., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Mavoa, S. & Bauhus, J., 22 Dec 2025, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 268
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Russo, A., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., St-Denis, A. & Tjoelker, M., 27 Apr 2025, In: Land. 14
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Gallagher, R., Souverijns, N., Lejeune, Q., Schleussner, C.-F. & Tjoelker, M., 15 Feb 2025, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 258
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Sharmin, M., Esperon Rodriguez, D., Messier, C., Svenning, J.-C., Moore, S. & Tjoelker, M. G., 9 Apr 2025, In: Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
EsperonRodriguez, M., Bennett, B., Hifazat, S. & Tjoelker, M. G., 5 Mar 2025, In: Plants, People, Planet. 7, 5, p. 1424-1437 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Marchin, R. M., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Tjoelker, M. G. & Ellsworth, D. S., 2 May 2025, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 261
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Arndt, S., Asibey, M., Augustinus, B. A., Bach, A., Ballinas, M., Barradas, V., Barton, D., Bauhus, J., Beaumont, L., Bissonnette, J.-F., Brookhouse, M., Calaza, P., Calfapietra, C., Capela Louren癟o, T., Carinanos, P., Clemente, M., Conway, T., Hoogh, K. D. & Tjoelker, M., 6 Nov 2025, In: Plants, People, Planet. 8, 1, p. 14-19 6 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Gallagher, R. V., Lenoir, J., Barradas, V. L., Beaumont, L. J., Calfapietra, C., Carinanos, P., Livesley, S., Iungman, T. & Manoli, G., 17 Apr 2025, In: Environmental Research: Climate.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
EsperonRodriguez, M., Brookhouse, M., Power, S. A., Avi, D., Baer, T., Rymer, P. D. & Tjoelker, M. G., 9 Jun 2025, In: Global Change Biology. 31, 6, e70281.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2024
- Published
Dyer, G. M. C., Khomenko, S., Adlakha, D., Anenberg, S., Angelova, J., Behnisch, M., Boeing, G., Chen, X., Cirach, M., de Hoogh, K., Diez Roux, A. V., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Flueckiger, B., Gasparrini, A., Iungman, T., Khreis, H., Kondo, M. C., Masselot, P., McDonald, R. I. & Montana, F. & 18 others, , 11 Sept 2024, In: Cities. 155
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Correa-Metrio, A., Beaumont, L. J., Baumgartner, J. B. & Lenoir, J., 31 Jul 2024, In: Biological Conservation. 297
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Dyer, G. M., Khomenko, S., Adlakha, D., Anenberg, S., Behnisch, M., Boeing, G., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Gasparrini, A., Khreis, H. & Kondo, M. C., 12 Jun 2024, In: Environmental research.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., 29 May 2024, Journal of Urban Affairs.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication Book/Film/Article review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Gallagher, R., Souverijns, N., Lejeune, Q., Schleussner, C.-F. & Tjoelker, M., 17 Apr 2024, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 248
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
EsperonRodriguez, M., 16 Dec 2024, In: Plants, People, Planet.
Research output: Contribution to journal Editorial peer-review - Published
Sharmin, M., Tjoelker, M., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Katlav, A., Gilpin, A.-M., Rymer, P. & Power, S., 16 Apr 2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2023
- Published
S獺nchez-Falfan, A., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Cervantes-P矇rez, J., Ballinas, M. & Barradas, V., 23 Mar 2023, In: Water. 15, 7
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Sharmin, M., Tjoelker, M. G., Pfautsch, S., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Rymer, P. D. & Power, S. A., 28 Mar 2023, In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 83
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Sharmin, M., Tjoelker, M., Pfautsch, S., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Rymer, P. & Power, S., 21 Mar 2023, In: Atmosphere. 14, 3
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Quintans, D. & Rymer, P. D., 26 Jan 2023, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 233
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2022
- Published
Esperon Rodriguez, M., Rymer, P., Power, S., Barton, D., Cari簽anos, P., Dobbs, C., Eleuterio, A., Escobedo, F., Hauer, R. & Hermy, M., 18 Jan 2022, In: Plants, People, Planet.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Farrell, C., Livesley, S. J., Arndt, S. K., Beaumont, L., Burley, H., Ellsworth, D., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Fletcher, T., Gallagher, R. & Ossola, A., 18 Sept 2022, In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 76
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Tjoelker, M. G., Lenoir, J., Baumgartner, J. B., Beaumont, L. J., Nipperess, D. A., Power, S. A., Richard, B., Rymer, P. D. & Gallagher, R. V., 19 Sept 2022, In: Nature Climate Change. 12, 10, p. 950-955 6 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Marchin, R. M., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Tjoelker, M. G. & Ellsworth, D. S., 19 Aug 2022, In: Science of the Total Environment. 850
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Power, S. A., Tjoelker, M. G. & Rymer, P. D., 28 Oct 2022, In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 78
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Barradas, V. L., Miranda, J. A., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Ballinas, M., 19 Jul 2022, In: Forests. 13, 7
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon Rodriguez, M. & T, H., Jun 2022, MDPI.
Research output: Book/Report Book - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Ordonez, C., Van Doorn, N. S., Hirons, A. & Messier, C., 21 Sept 2022, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 228
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2021
- Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Power, S. A., Tjoelker, M. G., Marchin, R. M. & Rymer, P. D., 22 Oct 2021, In: Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Barradas, V. L. & Esperon-Rodriguez, M., 4 Nov 2021, In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Scherrer, D., EsperonRodriguez, M., Beaumont, L. J., Barradas, V. L. & Guisan, A., 4 May 2021, In: Diversity and Distributions. 27, 8, p. 1367-1382 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2020
- Published
McGowan, J., Beaumont, L. J., Smith, R. J., Chauvenet, A. L., Harcourt, R., Atkinson, S. C., Mittermeier, J. C., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Baumgartner, J. B. & Beattie, A., 24 Feb 2020, In: Nature Communications. 11, 1, p. 1-7 7 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Rymer, P. D., Power, S. A., Challis, A., Marchin, R. M. & Tjoelker, M. G., 1 Jul 2020, In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 54
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Amuji, C. F., Beaumont, L. J. & Eperon-Rodriguez, M., 21 Apr 2020, In: Advances in Horticultural Science. 34, 2
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2019
- Published
EsperonRodriguez, M., Power, S. A., Tjoelker, M. G., Beaumont, L. J., Burley, H., CaballeroRodriguez, D. & Rymer, P. D., 11 Aug 2019, In: Plants, People, Planet. 1, 4, p. 387-397 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Beaumont, L. J., Lenoir, J., Baumgartner, J. B., McGowan, J., Correa-Metrio, A. & Camac, J. S., 1 Nov 2019, In: Biological Conservation. 240
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Garc穩a-S獺nchez, I. E., Barradas, V. L., de Le籀n Hill, C. A. P., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., P矇rez, I. R. & Ballinas, M., 28 May 2019, In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 42, p. 72-81 10 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Das, S., Baumgartner, J. B., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Wilson, P. D., Yap, J.-Y. S., Rossetto, M. & Beaumont, L. J., 9 Nov 2019, In: Landscape Ecology. p. 1-14 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Beaumont, L. J., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., Nipperess, D. A., Wauchope-Drumm, M. & Baumgartner, J. B., 13 Jul 2019, In: Biological Conservation. 237, p. 230-237 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Graham, V., Baumgartner, J. B., Beaumont, L. J., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Grech, A., 23 Apr 2019, In: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT. 62, 14, p. 2588-2606 19 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Burley, H., Beaumont, L. J., Ossola, A., Baumgartner, J. B., Gallagher, R., Laffan, S., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Manea, A. & Leishman, M. R., 5 Jun 2019, In: Science of the Total Environment. 685, p. 451-462 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2018
- Published
EsperonRodriguez, M., Curran, T. J., Camac, J. S., Hofmann, R. W., CorreaMetrio, A. & Barradas, V. L., 20 Feb 2018, In: Austral Ecology. 43, 4, p. 397-408 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Baumgartner, J. B., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Beaumont, L. J., 30 Jan 2018, In: Ecography.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Baumgartner, J., Beaumont, L., Berthon, K., Carnegie, A., Alfonzetti, M., Barradas, V. & Leishman, M., 24 Mar 2018, In: Forest Pathology. e12428.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2017
- Published
Berthon, K., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Beaumont, L., Carnegie, A. & Leishman, M., 30 Dec 2017, In: Biological Conservation. 218, p. 154-162 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Hageer, Y., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., Baumgartner, J. B. & Beaumont, L. J., 22 Jun 2017, In: PeerJ. 5, e3446.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Loreto, D., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Barradas, V. L., 22 Apr 2017, In: Investigaciones Geogr獺ficas.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2016
- Published
P矇rez, A. L. S., Camargo-Ricalde, S. L., Monta簽o, N. M., Garc穩a-Oliva, F., Alarc籀n, A., Monta簽o-Arias, S. A. & Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., 1 Apr 2016, In: European Journal of Soil Biology. 74, p. 93-103 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
V獺zquez-Molina, Y., Correa-Metrio, A., Zawisza, E., Franco-Gaviria, J. F., P矇rez, L., Romero, F., Prado, B., Charque簽o-C矇lis, F. & Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., 2016, In: Revista mexicana de ciencias geol籀gicas. 33, 3, p. 355-364 10 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Barradas, V. L., Ruiz-Cordova, J. P. & Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., 2016, In: Botanical Sciences. 94, 4, p. 775-786 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Gonz獺lez-Zamora, A., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Barradas, V. L., 1 Apr 2016, In: Forest Systems. 25, 1, e055.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Castaneda-Romero, M., Luna-Contreras, M., Vela-Godinez, D., Montoya-Santiago, G., Gonzalez-Bermudez, A., Martinez Pena, R. & Esperon-Rodriguez, M., 2016, In: Acta bot獺nica mexicana. 115, p. 65-73 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., Bonifacio-Bautista, M. & Barradas, V. L., 30 Jul 2016, In: AMBIO. 45, 2, p. 146-160 15 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Barradas, V. L., 2016, In: Botanical Sciences. 94, 2, p. 311-321 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Beaumont, L. J., Graham, E., Duursma, D. E., Wilson, P. D., Cabrelli, A., Baumgartner, J. B., Hallgren, W., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M., Nipperess, D. A. & Warren, D. L., 17 Oct 2016, In: Ecological Modelling. 342, p. 135-146 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2015
- Published
Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Barradas, V. L., May 2015, In: Ecological Indicators. 52, p. 300-310 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Barradas, V. L., 13 May 2015, In: Regional Environmental Change. 15, 1, p. 93-108 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review - Published
Ballinas, M., Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Barradas, V. L., 2015, In: Bosque. 36, 3, p. 445-455 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review
2014
- Published
Esper籀n-Rodr穩guez, M. & Barradas, V. L., 9 Jul 2014, In: Climate Research. 60, p. 163-174 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal Article peer-review