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