Research topics:

A hypothesis test process will be used to predict spatial patterns of biodiversity in mega-diverse and affordable, but threatened Atlantic Forest (MA) of Brazil. In order to characterize spatial patterns of diversity, will be generated and integrated:
1. New sets of climate data and vegetation cover based on remote sensing and combined with meteorological data;
2. Data locations, phylogeny and genomic analyzes of more than 30 plant families, vertebrates and invertebrates;
3. Information on functional characteristics (physiology) and biotic interactions;
4. Paleoenvironmental information coming from geological records, including the fossil pollen and the speleothems isotopes (to infer changes in precipitation based on deposits in caves);

Reconstruction of the evolutionary history and phylogeographic studies of neotropical birds using molecular markers

The Neotropic is a mega-diversity region. The origin of such richness may be related to the dynamics of geological and climatic changes that have occurred over time and the preservation of this heritage depends on multidisciplinary efforts. One of the groups of animals that stands out for its diversity in the Neotropics is the Birds. The patterns of endemism and the correlation between systematic and biogeographic relationships are appropriate for historical biogeography studies. Moreover, the birds are good working models to study the source of diversity in the Neotropics since they are distributed in various biomass. In this project, molecular techniques will be used in phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of birds. We will enhance taxa sampling of the groups that we have been studying (parrots, cracids, ranfastídeos, acripitrídeos and passerines). Divergence dates between strains will be estimated, taxonomy uncertainties should be resolved and the level of isolation between populations will be determined. This data will contribute to the better understanding of the origin, distribution and maintenance of biodiversity in the Neotropics.

Conservation genetics of endangered species

 The bird extinction rate has increased exponentially, mainly due to human activities such as habitat degradation and fragmentation, hunting and trapping of individuals. The goals of genetic conservation projects are to monitor and minimize the loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding to maintain the evolutionary potential of species and the reproductive success of individuals both in nature and in captivity.

Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria

Species boundaries, gene flow and hybrid zones

Species can be defined as populations that are diagnosably distinct, reproductively isolated, cohesive, or exclusive groups of organisms. Boundaries between species in sympatry are maintained by intrinsic barriers to gene exchange; these boundaries may not be uniform in space, in time, or across the genome. Hybrid zones are regions where individuals from genetically differentiated populations meet and mate, resulting in at least some offspring of mixed ancestry. Patterns of gene flow (introgression) in hybrid zones vary across the genome, allowing assessment of the role of individual genes or genome regions in reproductive isolation. Through NGS, we aim to understand how species are maintained even in gene flow, how hybrids influence the parental species and the dinamics of the hybrid zone in time and space.