Research / Academic activities
Below, a Resume of my Main ACADEMIC Activities.
Further below, Several Pictures of SUCH Activities.
Research Interests
Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation of Aquatic/Semiaquatic (e.g., Semiaquatic mammals, Fish, Crayfish) and Terrestrial (particularly Carnivores and other Mammals) organisms, which I study using Field (VHF/GPS telemetry, resource sampling, sign surveys, camera traps) and Molecular techniques, as well as advanced Statistical and ecological Modelling approaches (e.g., Mixed-effects models, Geostatistical models applied to Dendritic Networks, Home Range/Movement Models).
I'm also strongly interested in Theoretical as well as Applied Ecology, and enthralled by novel methods. Here two examples:
I've used novel stream geostatistical models accounting for spatial autocorrelation in dendritic ecological networks (e.g. rivers) to model the distribution of two invasive crayfish species (Filipe et al. 2017) and Pyrenean desman (Quaglietta et al. 2018).
Check out the R package SiMRiv which my friend and colleague M. Porto and I released to fill a software gap: simulating spatially-explicit movements in linear/dendritic environments (e.g., rivers), and our two papers illustrating software's capabilities on Movement Ecology and its application in the context of road ecology - If you want to collaborate, see the GitHub Open Collaborative Project on Movement Ecology Simulation Software SiMRiv!
Research Lines
Effects of hydroelectric infrastructures and other anthropogenic stressors on semiaquatic mammals' ecology and freshwater habitat fragmentation;
Movement ecology, particularly in linear habitats (e.g. rivers) and heterogeneous landscapes, including prediction of wildlife road mortality risk;
Distribution, feeding ecology, landscape genetics and conservation of the endangered Pyrenean desman;
Feeding ecology of invasive crayfish through DNA barcoding.
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Research/Academics activities
REVIEWER for several international, peer-reviewed, sci-impacted scientific journals (e.g. Mammal Review, Ecological Applications, Animal Conservation, Journal of Mammalogy, PLoS ONE, Ecological Indicators, Mammalian Biology, Hystrix - the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, Intergovernamental Painel for Climate Change 2013/2014, Wildlife Society Bulletin, Journal of Nature Conservation, Mammal Study, Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals, IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin).
Established worldwide network of collaborations.
Current or former MEMBER of several national and international organizations (e.g. Dam Removal Europe, International Bio-Logging Society, IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group, IUCN SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group, IUCN SSC/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, IUCN CEM Mediterranean-Type Ecosystem Group, IUCN CEM Climate Change Adaptation Group, IUCN CEM Ecosystem Restoration Group, IUCN CEM Ecosystems Red List Group, Sociedad Ibérica de Ictiología (SIBIC), Sociedad Española para la Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos (SECEM), Associazione Teriologica Italiana (ATIt), Associação dos Cientistas e Investigadores Italianos em Portugal (HIPÁCIA)).
Authored & coordinated my Ph.D. project, including the recruitment, formation and supervision of many students and volunteers, Portuguese and foreigners (from USA, UK, Brasil, Ukraine, Portugal, Italy), as well as of my Post-doc project.
Part of the Scientific Committee of the IUCN OSG XII International Otter Congress held in Brazil in August 2014, co-organizer of the III Meeting of the Hymalayan Otter Network, Katmandu, Nepal, and helper at the European Otter Workshop, Padula, Italy, 2003.
I've been 5 times in academic juries (5 Msc and 2 Bsc theses) and in one PhD Committee.
Consultancies: I worked and continue to work as freelance consultant for several entities (see 'Consultancy').
Experience in River Restoration techniques (e.g., Dam Removal, Riparian vegetation plantation and other natural engineering techniques applied to rivers).
Regular attendant in River Restoration and Nature-Based Solutions conferences and workshops (e.g., “Building WWFs European river restoration pipeline with Nature-based Solutions”, Padua, Italy, June 2024; “Best Practice of River Restoration – Application of Natural Engineering Techniques”, Azambuja, Portugal, Oct 2022; 7as Jornadas de Restauro Fluvial, LNEC, Portugal, Nov 2022; “Natural Engineering”, Sintra, Portugal, 2017).
Attendant of the course of Wildlife monitoring Techniques Wolf monitoring, taught by ISPRA, Italy, August 2020. 20h.
Hand-reared orphaned otter cubs (scientific responsible for a Portuguese project joining ICNF, Évora University, Zoomarine and CRASSA, and member of the IUCN Otter Specialist Group’s Task Force for otters in captivity).
I 've been part of an informal "Bio-logging" internal sub-group of the CIBIO (together with F. Lima, N. Queiroz, R. Seabra, J.P. Silva and F. Álvares), aimed at fostering research and collaborations on this topic in Portugal and within the CIBIO, as well as at planning and building new, lowcost bio dataloggers.
Executed several Mammals post-mortem analyses (photos below).
Participation in Research Projects
Collaborator in field and laboratory work of different national and international scientific projects. Examples:
EnvMetaGen - Capacity Building at InBIO for Research and Innovation Using Environmental Metagenomics project (H2020-WIDESPREAD-2014-2; Proj Nº 668981). 2015-
FRESHCO - Multiple implications of invasive species on Freshwater Mussel coextinction processes. 2016-
Aquatic mammal research in the Brazilian Amazon, including visits to traditional riverine communities for assessment of human-Giant otter conflicts, Giant otter trapping trials, and Giant otter and pink dolphin necropsies (Mamirauá Institute, Tefé, Amazonas).
Patterns of habitat use by fish in Mediterranean intermittent streams and Monitoring Program of water quality and ecological status of the primary net of EFMA in Portugal.
Mammal nocturnal counts and radio-tracking in the Mediterranean Montado in Portugal.
Roe deer captures in Mediterranean forests in Italy.
Students supervision
I've supervised 9 Msc theses, 4 Bsc. theses and 2 internships from 15 students from Italy, Portugal and Brazil, affiliated with Portuguese and Italian Universities, and been part of academic juries 7 times (5 Msc and 2 Bsc theses). More details in the students page.
Teaching
I developed courses that inclusively served a diverse student population in very varied, multi-cultural contexts, from universities (Italy and Portugal) to private institutions (Brazilian Amazon and Portugal), always garnering positive feedback from both my former students and supervisors. Some examples:
Invited by prof Olivier Gimenez to take part in the PhD Committee of the first year discussion of his student’s PhD on Otter Connectivity at CNRS, Montpellier. June 2024.
Invited Lecture "Software for Ecological Modeling in Linear/Heterogeneous Landscapes". I Congreso Internacional de Innovación: “Hacia la Innovación y el Desarrollo Tecnológico, una Visión para el 2030” - Online, University of Moquegua - Moquegua, Peru, November 2020. 0.5h.
Invited Lecture "Field and Analytical Methods applied to Otters and other Aquatic and Semiaquatic Animals". Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry - Pokhara, Nepal - February 2020. 2h.
Trainer of primary school teachers on river ecosystem ecology and conservation at Ciência Viva - October 2018. 16h.
Instructor at an advanced course in Bio-logging at the CIBIO (Vairão, Portugal) – June 2016. 21h.
Professor of a Parasitology II course at the Center of Technical Education of Amazonia (CETAM, Tefé, Amazonas, Brasil) – March 2013. 60h.
Tutor of of a course in Botany for Biological Sciences’ graduation students at University of Rome “La Sapienza” (Rome, Italy) – April/October 2012. 150h.
PICTURES
FORMATION IN RIVER RESTORATION
Meeting of the LER initiative titled "Building WWFs European river restoration pipeline with Nature-based Solutions", Padua, Italy, June 2024.
Attending the "Best Practice of River Restoration – Application of Natural Engineering Techniques” course, taught by P. Teiga from ERios, Azambuja, Portugal, Oct 2022.
Removal of invasive aquatic plants by the Municipality of Santarém, Alviela River, November 2022.
POST-DOC RESEARCH in PORTUGAL
Surveying the rare Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) with Carla Marisa Quaresma (ICNF) (Portugal). By comparing data of our surveys with those performed by the ICNF two decades ago in the same sites we documented a severe range contraction, raising high concern for desman conservation (Quaglietta et al 2018).
Surveying the endangered Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal).
When waders are not enough, you need to recur to other tools!
Latrine of Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus). Presence signs were genetically confirmed in the lab, allowing to detect sever range contraction in desman distribution in the last two decades (Quaglietta et al 2018).
Trapping Pyrenean desmans (Galemys pyrenaicus) (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal).
Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) that I captured in Trás-os-Montes (Portugal) for a genetic study. Note the stunning nasal trompe of this morphologically unique species (read more on special adaptations to semiaquatic living here).
The 9th December 2021, desman conservation status was updated from 'Vulnerable' to 'Endangered', due to drastic global range contractions.
With photographer Joel Sartore (center) and my fomer student Fabio Marcolin (left), after the capture of a Pyrenean desman, which was the 8000th species photographed by Joel for his PhotoArk National Geographic project. Photo credits by Adriano Borges.
The most famous Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) ever: individual that I've trapped for a genetic study happened to be the 8000th species photographed by Joel Sartore for his Nat Geo PhotoArk project. Picture credits: ©Joel Sartore/ National Geographic photo Ark.
How can we save the desman?? Well, first of all, preserving free-flowing, healthy rivers. Thus, reducing/reversing the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on river ecosystems, understanding that the water cycle should be left intact, letting rivers run naturally, without impediments. Tackling alien species and climate change would also be beneficial to this unique species, one of the only two living members of the genus Galemys and one of the less studied, yet highly threatened mammal species in the world.
Personally, after having had the privilege to handle in my hands this unique creature, I feel the call to do something to preserve it. Stay tuned, as I'm planning several projects for desman conservation, and hopefully we'll find the way for you all to collaborate :)
Ah, and if you are passionate about animals and know how to draw and are motivated to draw comics on this wonderful species and other ones related to rivers please let me know asap! ;)
Fish sampling for a study on genetics of fish populations of the Tua River Catchment (1)
Fish sampling for a study on genetics of fish populations of the Tua River Catchment (2)
Fish sampling for a study on genetics of fish populations of the Tua River Catchment (3)
The invasive and increasingly spreading American mink (Neovison vison) (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal).
The Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), one of the two invasive crayfish species of our study area (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal) (cf. Filipe et al 2017).
The American Red crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), one of the two invasive crayfish species of our study area (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal) (cf. Filipe et al 2017).
AQUATIC MAMMALs in BRAZILIAN AMAZON
The sweet Amazon ribeirinhos family of Zé "Ariranha".
The wonderful "pirarucu" (Arapaima gigas), among the world's largest freshwater fishes.
Paddling in the incredible Brazilian Amazon...
A tiny "preguiça" (Bradypus variegatus).
OPA (OTTER PROJECT in ALENTEJO)
My PH.D. Project in PORTUGAL
Nossa Senhora de Tourega Dam: the reservoir where I first observed and filmed otters in Summer 2005, when the idea of my PhD project arose in my mind, and where I came back 2 years later and started to track otters... Évora, Portugal.
My TEAM
My great collaborators, Msc., Bsc. students and volunteers from all over the world (USA, UK, Brasil, Portugal, Italy, Ukraine) to learn about otters and telemetry within my PhD project.
(First) OTTER GPS TRACKING (ever)
Eureka, the first ever GPS tagged otter (Quaglietta et al 2012), here in semi-captivity at CRASSA (Santo André, Portugal).
Eureka, the first ever GPS tagged otter (Quaglietta et al 2012).
The unfortunate case of Beringela, an otter poached, discovered thanks to GPS telemetry (Beringel, Portugal).
One of the very fist otter ever fitted with a GPS telemetry system, here back into the wild (Évora, Portugal) (see Quaglietta et al 2012).
WILD ORPHANED OTTER CUBS
(project aimed at releasing them back into nature)
Ilkka, the wild orphaned otter cub I raised for the project aimed at releasing orphaned otter cubs into the wild in collaboration between ICNF, Zoomarine, Quercus/CRASSA and us from Évora University, of which I was the scientific responsible. Évora, Portugal. Here I was trying to train her to catch Red crayfish, an invasive species which constitutes around 80% of otter diet in the Iberian Peninsula.
One of the supposedly orphaned otter cubs, found in nature and planned to be released back into the wild when grown up within a project in collaboration between ICNF, Zoomarine, Quercus/CRASSA and us from Évora University, of which I was the scientific responsible. Lisbon, Portugal.
OTTER RADIOTRACKING, CAMERA & LIVE TRAPPING
Handling an Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) cub (Évora, Portugal)
One of the otters radio-tracked few instants before its release back into the wild after radio-transmitter implantation
Visible surgery sutured wound on the right side of an Eurasian otter after radio-transmitter surgical implantation at the Vet Hospital of Évora University (Portugal).
One of our radio-tracked female while taking a sun bath with her three cubs - I was very near to them!
Homing to an otter in a resting site.
Sometimes radio-tracked animals disappear, and you've to be ready to.. risk your life! (check out the repairs to this ultralight aircraft made by scotch tape..!! :D).
Teaching my collaborators how to set a camera trap.
Showing on a map where our radio-tracked otters could be to my concentrated collaborators.
Extract from a video I shot of an otter chasing and eating a big carp just in front of me - summer 2005, at a reservoir near Évora (Portugal).
One of the very first wild otter pictures I took by camera trap, near Évora (Portugal).
Picture of an otter family (presumably one female with her two cubs that we radio-tracked in that area), taken by camera trap near Évora (Portugal).
The old "radio-tracking" car! (Évora, Portugal).
RESOURCE SAMPLING
Electrofishing, here with Chris and Colleen, two american volunteers
Fish visual survey
with one of my two life-long loves: a trout (Salmo trutta fario).
Fish sampling and tagging with Maria Ilhéu (Évora, Portugal).
Tagging Iberian barbels (Barbus bocagei).
Implanting Iberian barbels (Barbus bocagei) with radio-transmitters.
Crayfish sampling
Measuring water availability in Mediterranean ecosystems, to assess its relation with otter seasonal space use patterns
OTTER RESEARCH IN ITALY
(My Bsc. Thesis)
Radio-tracking otters in Italy, in the Cilento e Vallo di Diano National Park, for my Bsc. Thesis carried out in the project of Prof Luigi Boitani.
First image in the wild of Primo Rebelde, one of the two first wild otters radio-tracked in Italy (Parco Cilento e Vallo di Diano, Italy).
Picture of an otter mother and cub sprainting, taken by camera trap in Basilicata (Italy).
Wild otter photographed inside a den by camera trap (Parco Cilento e Vallo di Diano, Italy).
POST MORTEM ANALYSES
Post-mortem analysis of one of the many unlucky pink dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) killed by people in the Brazilian Amazon (unfortunately people there are use to kill pink dolphins, kaimans, and secondarily giant otters, to limit competition for fish or for bait to catch the "piracatinga" fish).
At the Otter Post-Mortem Analysis workshop in Danmark, fixing an otter uterus on a petri dish.