Presentation

I am a biologist interested in understanding how species proliferate and change over time. My work uses molecular tools and fieldwork approaches to investigate evolutionary and ecological patterns and processes at both the individual and population level.

Much of this work has focused on island birds (using extinct and extant taxa) where I investigate the causes and consequences of adaptive (and non-adaptive) genetic variation to understand the mechanisms driving genetic and phenotypic differentiation and, ultimately, avian radiations.

In addition, I am also interested to investigate the ecological and evolutionary role of microbes (pathogens and microbiome) on their island avian hosts.

Most of this research is focused on the Macaronesian region (Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cape Verde), and nearby continental areas both Iberian Peninsula and north Africa.

I also collaborate with other colleagues to shed light on evolutionary dynamics and biogeography of alpine grasshoppers in the Cantabrian Mountains; the role of birds and bats in pest control and seed dispersal in several farming areas; and the genomic architecture of migration using several avian non-model systems.

Career

  • Senior Lecture (Associate Professor) in Ecology, University of Oviedo (2021-present)
  • Lecture (Assistant professor) in Ecology, University of Oviedo (2015-2021)
  • Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow, University of Oviedo, Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO-CSIC-PA) (2010-2015)
  • Postdoctoral contract (Juan de la Cierva), Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, IPNA-CSIC, (2008-2010)
  • Spanish Government funded Postdoctoral research associate, University of East Anglia (2005-2007)
  • Research associate, Department of Conservation Biology, EBD-CSIC, (2005)
  • Ph.D. - University of La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain (2004)
  • BScHon. Biological Sciences. University of La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain (1996)

Teaching

Courses

I am currently teaching in two undergraduate degrees: Biology and Teaching Profession.

Biology (at Faculty of Biology, Oviedo)

  • Environmental assessment (Practical exercises)

Teaching Profession (at Faculty of Teaching)

  • Environmental Sciences (Theory and Practical)

Research Lines

Projects

Research projects that are currently ongoing.

Latest news

New paper posted

New paper posted

Collapse of an insular bird species driven by a decrease in rainfall.

Dec 4th, 2024

All news

New paper posted

New paper posted

Avotrex: A global dataset of extinct birds and their traits.

Oct 24th, 2024

All news

New paper posted

New paper posted

Distinct patterns of genetic variation at low-recombining genomic regions represent haplotype structure.

Sep 2nd, 2024

All news