These are the two things I enjoy the most as a biologist and researcher: finding out the results of a study for the first time, and organising and conducting fieldwork. The latter is crucial for my research projects and where I found inspiration to further explore new research questions, as well as to help interpreting the former.
Current Field Research
Current projects and collaborations involve field work expeditions to three main areas: the Iberian Peninsula, the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, and North Africa, mostly targeting amphibian and reptile species
The Iberian Peninsula
Heterogeneous forests allow high densities of amphibians
Mountains provided refugia for many species
Atlantic and Mediterranean rivers increase habitat heterogeneity for many amphibians
Nocturnal sampling is the norm for most of my research studies
Sweep sampling, the traditional amphibian survey method
Material for a more sophisticated sampling survey using eDNA
Chioglossa lusitanica, a northwestern Iberian endemic
Vipera latastei
Emys orbicularis basking, one of the most threatened Iberian reptile
Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park
San Martiño
Ons
Timon lepidus is well recovering after feral cats eradication
The “vehicle” to reach the numerous islets. It can be fun or risky depending on sea conditions
Salamandra salamandra displays an exceptional diurnal behaviour in San Martiño
Natrix maura shows marine behavior in these islands
Discoglossus galganoi struggles to survive in Ons while still abundant in Sálvora
Lissotriton boscai, another example of insular populations isolated during the Holocene
Podarcis guadarramae shows gigantism, being islets populations the largest for the species
North Africa
Guelta (rock-pool) where biodiversity meet in the Mauritanian desert
Sandy desert in Mauritania
Gravel desert in northern Mauritania (the hottest area I have ever been)
Team work for safe sampling
Trying alternative sampling strategies
Camping on the desert has obvious advantages
Uromastyx
Shedding Stenodactylys
Hopplobatrachus occipitalis