Ricardo Jorge Lopes

 I am a scientist, trained as an evolutionary ecologist. Most of my work uses birds to study the importance of key traits on the evolution and long-term conservation of biodiversity. These range from coloration and trophic interactions to host-parasite systems. As Curator, I promote the value of avian specimens for research. 

I mainly work with isolated, insular, fragmented, migratory and domesticated species, especially in Iberia, North Africa and Macaronesia.

curator | bird Collection

Since 2016 I curate the ornithological collection of MHNC-UP, with more than 7,000 specimens

researcher | ornithology

In 2005 I joined CIBIO-InBio as a researcher focused on Avian Conservation

Jul 1995

BSc Biology

University of Coimbra

Nov 1999

MSc Ecology

University of Coimbra

Sep 2004

PhD Biology

University of Coimbra

Jan 2005

Researcher

CIBIO/UP

Jan 2016

Curator

MHNCUP

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Latest news

teaching

Museum Techniques in the 21st Century
Organizor of PhD Advanced Course (4 days) focused on the importance of biological specimens.

June 2022

project

New Portuguese Breeding Bird Atlas
Member of the Scientific Committee

May 2022

news

Textbook on Conservation Genomics
Our work highlighted in a dedicated box in the 3rd edition of "Conservation and the Genomics of Populations".

March 2022

census

Mondego January Waterbird Census
Data for 2022 is already available.

February 2022

publication

Diet study of geckos reveals the first records of pseudoscorpions on Desertas Islands (Cabo Verde)
Journal of Arachnology 50: 39-42.

February 2022

publication

The Hummingbird Collection of the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto (MHNC-UP), Portugal

Biodiversity Data Journal

July 2021

teaching

Museum Techniques in the 21st Century

Organized this advanced PhD Course on the BIODIV Doctoral Program, focused on the importance of biological specimens.

June 2021

publication

Low MSP-1 haplotype diversity in the West Palearctic population of the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum

Malaria Journal 20: 265.

June 2021

project

European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility COST Action

Formal envolvement, as substitute member of the Management Committee.

May 2021

award

Unravelling the evolutionary story and current taxonomic status of the Cape Verde population of Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea bournei). A species on its own?

Won the Kushlan Research Award from the Waterbirds Society

April 2021

publication

Effects of stress exposure in captivity on physiology and infection in avian hosts: no evidence of increased Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infectivity to vector ticks

Microbial Ecology online.

March 2021

publication

Molecular Parallelisms between Pigmentation in The Avian Iris and in the Integument of Ectothermic Vertebrates

PLOS Genetics 17(2): e1009404

February 2021

publication

High‐resolution multi‐marker DNA metabarcoding reveals sexual dietary differentiation in a bird with minor dimorphism

Ecology and Evolution 10(19): 10364-10373

October 2020

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@ Ricardo Jorge Lopes