These dedicated folks have helped me to conduct and integrate my research line, and in other collaborative projects. I am opened to new students in ongoing projects or developing new ones. Do not hesitate to email me if you have questions.
PRESENT MEMBERS
LUCÍA ALARCÓN-RÍOS (Postdoc)
Margarita Salas contract
Integrated in the FCT project ANTHROPOPHIBIAN - Phenomic, genomic and microbiomic responses to anthropogenic pressures” (Ref: PTDC/BIA-CBI/2278/2020)
ADAM MARQUES (PhD Student)
PhD Student at the Research Center for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the University of Porto (CIBIO-InBIO) (2022-2026) (Dra. V. Mata and Dr. A. Alberdi as co-supervisors)
PhD project: ANTHROPHIBIANS: adaptive genomic and microbiotic responses of amphibians in anthropogenic landscapes
CLARA FIGUEIREDO-VÁZQUEZ (PhD Student)
PhD Student at the Research Center for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the University of Porto (CIBIO-InBIO) (2021-2025) (Dr. J. Melo-Ferreira and Dr. W. Babik as co-supervisors)
PhD project: Determinants of genetic diversity: integrating demography, ecology and life-history variation in a polymorphic system, Salamandra salamandra
INES FREITAS (PhD Student)
PhD Student at the Research Center for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the University of Porto (CIBIO-InBIO) (2020-present) (co-supervised with Dr. F. Martínez-Freiría and Dr. O. Lourdes)
PhD project: “Dynamics of heterogeneous hybrid zones in a changing world: integrating gene flow, phenotypic variation and mechanistic modelling in Iberian vipers”.
FRANCISCO AGUILAR (PhD Student)
PhD Student at the Research Center for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the University of Porto (CIBIO-InBIO) (2021-present) (Dr. P. Segurado and Dr. P. Tarroso as co-supervisors)
PhD project: “Climatic and anthropogenic impacts on riverine ectotherms: a phylogeographic, ecological and conservation approach”.
FORMER STUDENTS
Marco Dinis - PhD thesis
PhD entitled: Environmental drivers shaping biogeographic and diversification patterns in the bimodal reproductive genus Salamandra. December 4th 2023. Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Kevin Mulder - PhD thesis
PhD thesis entitled: “Identifying local adaptation in large amphibian genomes”. (Dr. Anna Savage and Dr. Rayna Bell as co-supervisors). November 17th 2020. Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
André Lourenço - PhD thesis
PhD thesis entitled: “Eco-evolutionary implications underlying the emergence of a derived reproductive mode in fire salamanders”. (Dr. Ian Wang as co-supervisor). December 10th 2019. Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Lucía Alarcón-Ríos - PhD thesis
PhD thesis entitled: “Diversity and modes of reproduction in Salamandra salamandra: morphological and evolutionary implications in a polymorphic species”. (co-supervised with Dr. Alfredo Nicieza). October 19th 2019. Universidad de Oviedo, Spain.
Lucas Pérez - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Seguimiento del galápago europeo (Emys orbicularis) en el Parque Natural del Complejo dunar de Corrubedo y lagunas de Carregal y Vixán”. (co-supervised with Dr. A. Cordero-Rivera). July 21st, 2023. Universidad de Vigo, Spain.
Giovana Duarte - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Evolutionary history and genetic structure of the spined toad Bufo spinosus, Daudin 1803”. (Dr. Inigo Martínez-Solano as co-supervisor). December 10th, 2020. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Clara Figueiredo-Vázquez - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “River barriers to gene flow: eco-evolutionary implications of a reproductive mode shift”. November 28th, 2019. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Cristian Pizzigalli - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Integrative approaches to the taxonomy and systematics of Mesalina lizards in West Africa”. (co-supervised with Dr. José Carlos Brito and Dr. Fernando Martínez-Freiría). October 24th, 2019. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Margarida Barros - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Reconstructing the evolutionary history of Saharan desert vipers, Cerastes cerastes and Cerastes vipera”. (co-supervised with Dr. Fernando Martínez-Freiría). December 13th, 2019. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Sara Peixoto - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “eDNA metabarcoding for desert amphibians and reptiles”. (co-supervised with Dr. B. Egeter). December 4th, 2018. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
João Pisarra - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Phylogenetic and ecological characterization of monitor lizards in Northern Africa”. (co-supervised with Dr. J.C. Brito). December 15th, 2018. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Margarida Cardoso - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Diversity, distribution and conservation of reptiles in West Sahara-Sahel”. (co-supervised with J.C. Carlos Brito). November 20th, 2017 CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Marta Sampaio - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Conservation Biogeography of Amphibians in Mauritania: integrating DNA Barcoding and ecological and spatial analyses for the identification of cryptic diversity and conservation units”. (co-supervised with Dr. J.C. Brito). November 20th, 2017. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Inés Freitas - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Integrating genetic, morphological and ecological data to investigate reproductive isolation between Iberian lineages of the Lataste’s viper Vipera latastei”. (co-supervised with Dr. F. Martínez-Freiría). December 12th, 2016. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Bernardo Antúnes - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Evaluating gene flow and habitat connectivity between Salamandra salamandra lineages across heterogeneous landscapes”. (Dr. H. Gonçalvez and Dr. I. Martínez-Solano as co-supervisors). December 5th, 2016. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Marco Dinis - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Gene flow and environmental differentiation between viviparous and ovoviviparous populations of Salamandra algira tingitana”. (Dr. F. Martínez-Freiría as co-supervisor). December 13th, 2016. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Sara Lopes Pinto - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Phylogenetics and hybridization assessment of Acanthodactylus scutellatus species group in North Africa”. (co-supervised with Dr. J.C. Brito). December 15th, 2014. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
José Pedro Melo - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Combining phylogeography and ecological niche modelling for testing population connectivity in the gecko Tarentola ephippiata across the Sahara coastal area”. (co-supervised with F. Martínez-Freiría and J.C. Brito). December 14th, 2016. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Paulo Pereira - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Biogeographical History and Range Expansion Dynamics of the European Pond Turtle.”. (co-supervised with Dr. J. Teixeira). December 17th, 2014. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Joana Veríssimo - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Phylogeography and current patterns of genetic diversity and structure of the Mediterranean pond turtle”. (co-supervised with Dr. J. Teixeira). November 27th, 2014. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
João Vasco Leite - MS thesis
MSc entitled: “Evolution and Biogeography of Canids (Canis and Vulpes) in North-West Africa: Combining Genetic and Ecogeographical Information” (co-supervised with Dr. R. Godinho and Dr. J.C. Brito). December 5th, 2012. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
Ana Parcero - BS thesis
BSc entitled: “Not everything is yellow and black. Colors and color patterns in an aposematic amphibian, the Salamandra salamandra” (Dr. L. Alarcón-Ríos as co-supervisor). July 21st, 2023. Universidad de Vigo, Spain.
Gabriel Piñeiro - BS thesis
BSc entitled: “More fertile or better prepared? Salamandra salamandra reproductive mode variation in hybrid populations” (Dr. L. Alarcón-Ríos as co-supervisor). July 21st, 2023. Universidad de Vigo, Spain.
Joaquim Filipe Polónia de Faria - Internship
Internship project entitled: “Evolutionary history of insular populations of the wall lizard (Podarcis) from the Atlantic Islands of Galicia”. June 8th, 2017. CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal.
CIBIO – Universidade de Porto, Portugal. Berina Vrhovac - Internship
Internship project entitled: “Phylogeographic patterns of amphibians in North Africa”. Universidade do Porto, Portugal. June 26th, 2017. (CIBIO-InBIO; University of Porto)
Banner photo: NORO, one of the numerous islets spread across the southwestern Galician bays, with a tiny population of lizards