Apresentação Pessoal

Areas of Scientific Interest

 

Biodiversity, Biogeography, Demographic and Genetical Conservation of Vertebrate Populations, Ecological Modelling, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Herpetology

 

Present research interests

Combine multivariate ecological modelling techniques, remote sensing, morphological and genetic data, and GIS in studies related to:

1) Biogeography, with the identification of environmental factors correlated with species occurrence, modelling of species distribution and determination of biogeographical relationships among species;

2) Biodiversity, with the multi-scale assessment of biodiversity patterns (hotspots and gradients), modelling of species richness patterns and simulating the effects of climate change on biodiversity distribution;

3) Landscape Genetics, with the determination of spatial patterns in morphological and genetical variation, identification of geographical barriers to dispersal and gene flow, and investigation of the role of paleogeographical events in the diversification of animal species.

European and African reptiles (especially lacertid lizards and viperid snakes) are privileged model species but other vertebrates are also studied.

 

Previous interests

Conservation of natural populations of European and African amphibians and reptiles, especially lacertid lizards and viperid snakes. Previous studies ranged over:

(1) Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology, using capture-recapture techniques, radio-telemetry and GIS to study morphology and sexual dimorphism, growth, longevity, diet, activity and home range of lizards and venomous snakes;

(2) Biogeography, using predictive modelling techniques and GIS to identify habitat selection and simulate probable areas of occurrence of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals;

(3) Demographic and Genetic Conservation of reptile populations, using demographic analysis and degrees of genetic differentiation to estimate population viability;

(4) Conservation Strategies for species and habitats, using habitat suitability evaluation techniques, quantification of threat risks, and spatial modelling techniques for the selection of priority conservation areas for amphibians and reptiles.