Can Catà
Can Cata is located on the north face of the Serra de Collserola, facing Cerdanyola. This study area covers 100 hectares at an altitude ranging from 85 to 200 metres above sea level. It is occupied by forests of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) on the mountainsides, considered poor quality areas of habitat, and mixed forest of holm oak (Quercus ilex) and common oak (Quercus cerrioides) at the bottom of both valleys, considered high quality areas. Over 200 nesting boxes have been set up in the area.
The main species studied are the tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Parus caeruleus). However, the study area is also used by other departments of the museum to conduct research, such as studies on spider communities (in collaboration with the UAB), ants (in collaboration with the CREAF) and snails. The museum also conducts studies on the structure of the vegetation (in collaboration with the CREAF), which serve to nourish the Museum GIS that is done on the study area. All these studies serve for a more inclusive vision of our Mediterranean ecosystem and to allow cross-sectional studies between different lines of research of the Museum.