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

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