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.

Research Lines