Pedro Taucce, PhD

Welcome to my website!

My research interest lies in integrating several disciplines, such as bioacoustics, molecular phylogenetics, and morphology, in order to understand the diversity and evolution of the herpetofauna with emphasis in amphibians. I am also interested in the processes promoting these phenomena.

I am currently a FAPEAM Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), under the supervision of Dr. Fernanda P. Werneck. In this ongoing project, we aim to use mitochondrial DNA to test some diversification hypothesis in the Amazon basin through the estimation of synchronous demographic changes across populations of several anuran and lizard species.

Brazil is the most diverse country in the world when it comes to amphibians, harboring more than 1,150 species (almost 15% of all existing amphibian species). Every year taxonomists describe dozens of species, helping to lay the foundation for amphibian conservation biology. Discovering and describing amphibian diversity is one research line I run in parallel with my other research activities, always using integrative protocols aiming to gather several lines of evidence. Together with colleagues from numerous institutions, so far, I have described eight frog species.

I believe it is necessary to know science in order to like and respect it. So, another important part of my work regards science outreach. I am currently a contributor for two podcasts: Dragões de Garagem, where me and my colleagues try to disseminate science in an interesting and comprehensive way and Papagaio de Primata, where we talk about everyday matters related to the natural environment.

When I am not working, I like playing card and board games, cooking, running, and listening to music. I am a folk music enthusiast, and I play a Brazilian instrument called "viola caipira" (10-string Brazilian guitar). I also enjoy my free moments listening to folk music from all over the world, but when I am running I love listening to good old rock and roll.