FBIO group
BIODIVERSITY
FUNCTIONAL
Last update 6 November 2024
TEAM
Miguel A. Carretero
Principal Resercher, CIBIO-InBio UP
Assistant Professor
I am an integrative biologist using reptiles but also other ectotherms as model organisms. My interests embrace ecology, physiology, behaviour, morphology, life history, biogeography, interspecific relationships and conservation focusing on functional aspects, using experimental procedures and working under an evolutionary framework
The nature of my research prioritises scientific networking either by involving motivated students or by establishing collaborations with other researchers worldwide. This also includes communication the outcomes of my research to the policy makers and the general public.
Email: carretero[at]cibio.up.pt
Guillem Pérez i de Lanuza
Assistant Professor, University of València
Research Associate, CIBIO-InBIO UP
As ethologist and evolutionary biologist, I am interested in animal communication and in the evolution of animal coloration and animal colour vision. My research is focused in several relevant issues related to colour evolution in lacertids, such as colour perception, colour production, or the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of the colour variability in this extremely complex and variable lizard family. I adopt an interdisciplinary approach that includes visual modelling, behavioural tests, physiology, molecular and comparative analysis. Currently, my main interest is the study of the evolutionary mechanisms that may explain the emergence and maintenance of polymorphisms focusing on the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), a species that shows up to five categorical colour morphs, and a great geographical variation in morph composition.
Email: guillem.perez-lanuza[at]uv.es
Anamarija Žagar
Contracted Researcher, NlB Slovenia
Research Associate, CIBIO-InBIO UP
Zbyszek Boratyński
Principal Researcher, CIBIO-InBIO UP
My former research focused on the adaptive significance of variation in morphological and physiological characters (Ph.D. project), sex dependent natural selection (pre-doctoral Marie Cure Fellowship) and geographic adaptive variation in morphological, physiological and genetic characters (post-doctoral fellowship in Finland at the University of Jyväskylä).
More recently I joined group of researchers studding ecological and evolutionary consequences of disasters in Chernobyl and Fukushima. Currently, as a post-doctoral researcher at CIBIO-InBIO, I am focusing on geographic patterns of genetic and phenotypic variation, and coincidence between them and environmental/climatic factors.
The dynamic history of Saharan environment, with its frequent contractions and expansions of desert habitats, present an ideal laboratory to study evolutionary changes on organisms inhabiting this region, the subject of my ongoing research under BIODESERTS framework. Substantial part of my research is conducted on smaller mammals, mainly rodents, as suitable mammalian models to study more general theoretical or health related problems, like in studies of adaptations, responses to radioactive pollution or variation in climate.
email: boratyns[at]jyu.f / gmail.com/ cibio.up.pt
Emilio Civantos
Assistant Professor, Complutense University of Madrid
Research Associate, CIBIO-InBIO UP
I perform multidisciplinary research aiming at providing the scientific knowledge needed for understanding fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes that control the origins and maintenance of biological diversity. To achieve this understanding, I believe is essential integrative approaches and collaboration across different researchers and institutions. From a more applied perspective, I am also interested in quantify and predict biodiversity responses to global change to then apply that knowledge to the management of populations, communities and ecosystems. Thus, my research interests cover a broad range of topics in the areas of evolutionary biology, ecology and conservation biology. I use a wide variety of tools (field observations and experiments, laboratory work, remote sensing and modeling) and several model organisms (but mainly reptiles, amphibians and birds).
My current research project focuses on (i) how environmental changes affect parasitism in lizard populations, (ii) which are their subsequent effects on population dynamics, and (iii) which are the possible implications for ecosystems functioning and biodiversity conservation.
Email: emilio.civantos[at]gmail.com/ ecivanto[at]cibio.up.pt
Catarina Rato
Junior Researcher, CIBIO-InBIO UP
My main interests are focused on several aspects of evolutionary biology and ecology, using reptiles as model species.
I am currently conducting a study on the patterns of sex determination in the Tarentola mauritanica species complex. In this group, environmental temperature determines sex allocation and I am interested in understanding which temperatures determine each sex and also discovering the genes triggered during this process.
I am also involved in another project focused on the possible role of T. mauritania as a mosquito control associated to human diseases, specifically the Aedes aegypti from Madeira Island known to transmit dengue fever.
Email: catarina.rato[at]cibio.up.pt / catirato[at]gmail.com
Giulia Simbula
Junior Researcher, CIBIO-InBIO UP
Ph.D. at the University of Roma Tre, I worked on several field research projects on ecology, conservation of herpetofauna species, including endangered ones (i.e., lizards, geckos, newt and Italian anuran species) and ecotoxicology. I am an active member of the Cost Action PERIAMAR working group 2 which investigate amphibian and reptile distribution, spatial behaviour and breeding phenology in relation to pesticide usage within agricultural landscapes in Europe.
Email: giulia.simbula[at]gmail.com
Lucía Alarcón-Ríos
Junior Researcher, CIBIO-InBIO UP
I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in studying the diversity, evolution, and interplay of phenotypic traits, reproductive strategies, and life cycles. My research has primarily focused on the eco-evolutionary implications of novel reproductive strategies on morphology, coloration, and reproductive patterns, using the fire salamander—one of the few bimodal reproductive vertebrate species—as a model system. I employ a suite of analytical tools, including geometric morphometrics, quantitative colour pattern analysis, and molecular paternity analysis. Currently, I am investigating the phenotypic consequences of human-induced environmental transformations in urban areas and exotic plantations within the context of reproductive diversity. In the future, I would like to expand my research to explore the eco-evolutionary processes underlying phenotypic and reproductive diversity, with a focus on developmental pathways, environments, and their potential interactions with human-driven environmental change.
Email: alarconrioslucia[at]gmail.com
Catarina Pinho
Resarch Associate, CIBIO-InBIO UP
I am mostly interested in combining different sources of information to gain insights on the mechanisms that lead to the isolation of populations, genetic differentiation and, ultimately, to speciation.
Currently I am involved in several different projects, all dealing with lizards. Examples of such projects are the study of the genetic basis of ventral coloration in wall lizards, the genomic characterization of hybridization patterns across different time scales to investigate the main drivers and genomic consequences of reproductive isolation, the study of coevolutionary patterns between nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA and the dynamics of adaptation in extreme environmental gradients.
Email: catarina[at]ibio.up.pt
Rodrigo Megía-Palma
Assistant Professor, University of Alcalá
Research Associate, CIBIO-InBIO UP
I am interested in all aspects concerning the evolutionary relationship between lizards and their ecto- and endoparasites, with special focus on hematic parasites. Among the topics that I study there are the evolutionary impact of parasites on sexual selection, the thermoregulatory strategies that hosts adopt to cope with parasitic infections, and the possible value of parasites as environmental stress bio-indicators as, for example, in relation to climate change. Beside this, I am also interested in the little-known taxonomy of some groups of parasites, their phylogeographic origin and, in general, all aspects of their co-evolutionary history.
Email: rodrigo.megia[at]gmail.com
Xavier Santos
Research Associate, CIBIO-InBIO UP
My area of scientific activity is the interface between ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation of Mediterranean reptiles. My PhD focused on the ecology and conservation of the viperine snake Natrix maura, living in a highly altered landscape. This research was conducted following a multidisciplinary vision linking physiological, reproductive, activity, ecotoxicology and ecological patterns. After my PhD, I extended my interest to the Mediterranean reptile community aiming to identify which functional traits make species vulnerable to extinction.
Since 2006, my research focuses on the response of reptiles and other Mediterranean fauna to wildfires. Due to the expected future increase in fire risk, I am analyzing the effects of repeated-fire regimes on Mediterranean fauna, and which functional traits reduce their resilience in scenarios of high fire frequency. With this approach, I will contribute to understand how species respond to fire at a molecular, physiological and community levels.
Email: xsantossantiro[at]gmail.com
Marco Sannolo
Research Associate, CIBIO-InBIO UP
My background lies in herpetology and behavioural ecology. My research topics focus mainly on lizards ecology, physiology and behaviour. I’m interested in studying how ectotherms relate with their environment with a special focus on thermal and water ecology and on how changes in environmental temperature and water availability may affect the survival and fitness of wild population of ectotherms. I also worked in projects investigating competitive behavioural interactions in reptiles and digital identification as an alternative to traditional marking techniques
Email: marco.sannolo[at]gmail.com
Sabina E. Vlad
Research Associate
Ovidius University of Constanţa, Romania
My research aims toward understanding how the influence of anthropogenic alterations, habitat particularities and environmental conditions shape the ecology of ectotherms. Using monitoring studies and the histological method of skeletochronology I investigate life history adaptations of amphibians and reptiles inhabiting areas close to the altitudinal and latitudinal range limit, in the western palearctic realm.
Email: sabina.ochiana[at]chelonia.ro / sabinaochiana[at]gmail.com
Frederico Barroso
PhD student, CIBIO-InBIO UP
After completing my Zoology MSc degree form the University of Glasgow in 2017 I have been focusing on furthering my skills as a field herpetologist working with international organisations such as Operation Wallacea, on a span of herpetofauna, ranging from anurans to crocodilians. In the meantime I was slowly developing and maturing the project I intended to undertake for my PhD. After a couple of years of thinking the project through, acquiring the necessary skills and establishing a good network of contacts willing to assist in the project, I have (in October 2019) officially started my PhD under the Supervision of Dr Miguel A. Carretero from CIBIO and Dr Ronis da Silveira from Universidade Federal do Amazonas (Brazil).
My main research interests include: crocodilian ecology and conservation, ectotherm thermalecology as well as developing and testing new, non-invasive methods of collecting data traditionally obtained by invasive methods (e.g. internal body temperature). Hence, it should not come as a surprise that my PhD project focuses on studying the ecology of Paleosuchus, a genus of dwarf neotropical crocodilians, with a particular focus on their thermal ecology and how their thermoregulatory strategy may be affected by the presence of larger sympatric species of caiman. My main study site is a large extent of Varzea forest in the Peruvian Amazon where the two species of Paleosuchus, and two other species of caiman, all occur in sympatry.
Despite the relatively broad distribution of the two species of Paleosuchus, their secretive habits as well as their relatively inaccessible (supposed) preferred habitat mean that this genus is severely understudied. Thus it is my objective to further the knowledge of these species’ ecology in order to better understand how to better manage and conserve the species. To do so, I will also resort to recent technologies and tools such as IR-cameras, GPS tags, etc. to obtain location, body temperature and a range of other parameters with the hope of shedding some light into these poorly studied genus
Email: frederico.m.barroso[at]gmail.com
Lekshmi B. Sreelatha
PhD student, CIBIO-InBIO UP
After my graduation from Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich, I am now working as a molecular laboratory/ genetic analyses technician in CIBIO. My main research interests comprise of evolutionary ecology, animal coloration and behavior. As a part of my master thesis, I had a chance to work on the alternative strategies developed by the color morphs of Podarcis muralis lizards, in association with their locomotory behavior. Currently, I am involved in a project focused on the role of past climatic changes in framing the genomic architecture of adaptations to extreme desert conditions by Sahara-Sahel rodent communities.
Email: lekshmi.sreelatha[at]evobio.eu
Prem Daswani-Aguilar
PhD student, CIBIO-InBIO UP
My main research interests encompass evolutionary ecology, conservation, and population genetics, with special focus on reptiles. I obtained my BSc degree in Biology at the University of La Laguna, where as part of my thesis I had the opportunity to explore the populational structure of two isolated populations of the Tenerife speckled lizard (Gallotia intermedia) through molecular techniques. After that, I completed a MSc degree on Biodiversity, Conservation and Evolution at the University of Valencia, with a master thesis focused on characterizing life histories and trade-offs of a set of genetically determined isolines of Drosophila melanogaster. Currently, I am involved in a project aimed to characterize patterns of local morph variation across multiple populations of the common wall lizard to unravel how and to what extent different selective pressures shape colour polymorphisms.
Email: premdasa[at]alumni.uv.es
Ferran de la Cruz
PhD student, CIBIO-InBIO UP
University of València, University of Porto
My research interests are centered on animal communication and the evolution of chromatic signals, using lizards as model organisms. Specifically, I am focused on the adaptive significance and the evolution of ultraviolet signals, a widespread coloration present in the Lacertidae family and in many other animals. Currently I am doing my PhD about the UV-blue patches of lizards in the genus Podarcis, a putative chromatic signal used by males in agonistic interactions, but with still many questions unresolved about their function, development, and evolution.
Email: delacruz.ferran[at]gmail.com / delacruz.ferran[at]cibio.up.pt
Sara Ferreira Nunes
PhD student, CIBIO-InBIO UP
University of Porto
I graduated in 2019 from a MSc in Conservation Biology at the University of Lisbon. For my MSc thesis I worked in the Berlengas archipelago, where I investigated the effects of the eradication of invasive mammals on the diet and morphology of an endemic lizard. This allowed me to expand my research experience and interest in invasion biology, herpetology and island ecology.
My PhD project focuses on uncovering the macroecological patterns of reptile invasions on islands and, using Teira dugesii as a model, investigating the phenotypic and ecological shifts between the species’ native and non-native range and their evolutionary background, in order to identify the environmental factors and biological mechanisms promoting island colonization by alien reptiles.
Email: saraferreiranunes96[at]gmail.com / saranunes[at]cibio.up.pt
Nahla Lucchini
PhD student, CIBIO-InBIO UP
University of Porto
My main research interests are in evolutionary ecology, with a strong focus on conservation and climate change ecology. Given the unprecedented rates of climate change, much of my research revolves around understanding how species' range margins will shift in response to these environmental changes. I’m also interested in exploring the evolution of morphological and physiological traits at both species and population levels.
I hold an MSc in Science and Management of Nature from the University of Bologna, Italy, where I investigated intraspecific variability in the head shape of the western whip snake (Hierophis sp.) using geometric morphometric tools. Currently, my PhD research focuses on European vipers (genus Vipera) as a model system to assess how Mediterranean biodiversity may respond to anthropogenic change. By integrating biogeography, ecophysiological experiments, and predictive mechanistic analyses, my goal is to understand the evolutionary dynamics of this group and their potential persistence under future climate change scenarios.
Email: lucchini.nahla[at]gmail.com / nahla.lucchini[at]cibio.up.pt
Oleksandra Oskyrko
Research Associate
CIBIO-InBIO UP
My research interest concern evolutionary, phylogeography, distribution of genetic diversity and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. Now, special focus is placed into on the molecular assessment of the origin and invasion pathways of alien reptiles in Ukraine. My Master thesis focused on the possible origin of the common wall lizards, Podarcis muralis in Ukraine. In Ukraine, this species was found only in the south-west of Odessa region (near the border with Romania). And I tried to conclude by assessing the putative alien origin of this species in Ukraine, find possible colonization routes and extract conservation implications of these findings. Also, I am actively involved in amphibian and reptile conservation projects. Currently I am working in a project that assessment of conservation status of habitats important for reptiles.
Email: sashaoskirko[at]gmail.com
Anastasios Limnios
PhD student, CIBIO-InBIO UP
University of Porto
I am a Biologist and an MSc holder (title: Ecology & Conservation of Biodiversity) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. I am curious to understand how species persist in time and space by displaying adaptations or plastic traits under different regimes of external pressures. My research questions focus on the interactions between physiology and behavior that facilitate animal species’ survival. Combining my background in the Ecology and Ethology of Reptiles and Amphibians and employing my knowledge in Environmental Niche Modelling, I am currently aiming to investigate how climate crisis and pesticides can exacerbate the extinction risk of this group of species by affecting behavioral and physiological functional traits, crucial for their survival. My main goal is to provide missing but yet intriguing information essential for the conservation of lacertid species. Other fields of interest of mine are morphology, life history, and biogeography. Right now I am working as a field technician for the project “AGROLIZARDS+ Role of lizards in agroenvironments: from trophic networks to ecosystem services” (2022.03391.PTDC).
Email: tasoslimnios[at]gmail.com / taslimnios[at]biol.uoa.gr
Personal websites: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anastasios-Limnios
Ana Ramos
MSc student, technician CIBIO-InBIO UP
University of Porto
I completed my graduation in Biology at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) and for some years I worked as a molecular biology technician.
I am currently working as a research technician on the project “AGROLIZARDS+ Role of lizards in agro-environments: from trophic networks to ecosystem services” (2022.03391.PTDC) while in parallel and in the same scope I work on my master's thesis.
My thesis project focuses on metabarcoding analysis to infer prey consumption and selection by lacertid lizards in agricultural fields and in this way identificate potential pest species through their diet.
Email: analuisaramos.6[at]gmail.com / ana.ramos[at]cibio.up.pt
Collaborators
Carlos Tirado
Professor Atacama University, Chile
Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailović
Professor Niš University, Researcher IBISS, Serbia
Claudia Corti
Curator at the Sezione di Zoologia “La Specola”, Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
Neftalí Sillero
Principal Researcher, CICGE, Porto University, Portugal
Natalín Vicente
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Instituto de Herpetología, Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, Fundación Miguel Lillo, CONICET San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Al Vrezec
Senior Scientist, Department for Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Miha Krofel
Researcher and Assistant Professor, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Danielle Klomp
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sidney, Austalia
Vicente Roca
Professor, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of València, València, Spain
Dan Cogalniceanu
Professor, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, Ovidius University of Constanţa, Romania
Enerit Saçdanaku
Researcher, Research Center of Flora and Fauna,
Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Albania
Mauricio González-Jáuregui
Professor, Centro de Estudios en Desarrollo Sustentable y Aprovechamiento de la Vida Silvestre,
Universidad Autónoma da Campeche, México
Alexandra Telea
PhD student, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, Ovidius University of Constanţa, Romania
