Most of my work focuses on the elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and their ecophysiology, although I am also interested in their morphology and physiology aspects of other animals. I am particularly interested in how elasmobranchs are interacting among them and in their ecosystems. My work integrates aspects of energy metabolism, reproduction and trophic ecology to investigate how elasmobranchs allocate energy for reproduction and migration, how urbanization and tourism are affecting their nutritional quality and the impact of fisheries on their physiological condition and reproduction. Below some of my projects.
Ecophysiology and trophic relationships of sharks
The objective of this project is investigate the effect of the life-stage, spatial and temporal variation on the nutritional condition and trophic relationships in sharks of different life-history strategies, combining physiological traits and ecological variables to provide useful tools and a physiological basis that can help predict effects of environmental and climate change.
It is the theme of my PhD project under supervision of Prof Dr Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton and Prof Dr Neil Hammerschlag.
Funding: FAPESP
It is the theme of my PhD project under supervision of Prof Dr Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton and Prof Dr Neil Hammerschlag.
Funding: FAPESP
Ecophysiology of sharks in a Brazilian oceanic oasis, the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago
As an oceanic oasis, the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is an important feeding, mating and nursery ground of threatened shark species in western South Atlantic. In this project we will investigate the physiological aspects related to reproduction, nutritional status and trophic relations in sharks of different life-history strategies, at the Fernando de Noronha insular system, evaluating the importance of this marine national park to their life-cycle and how the conservation physiology tools can assist in management and predict the effects of environmental disturbances.
Website
Funding: FUNBIO and FAPESP
Maternal investment and neonatal nutritional strategies in elasmobranchs
To understand the nutritional strategy and transition from maternal to independent foraging, adopted during early-life by a viviparous elasmobranch with a high degree of maternal investment, we investigated the nutritional condition and trophic ecology of young-of-the-year cownose rays Rhinoptera bonasus and Rhinoptera brasiliensis (histotrophic viviparous), using multiple biochemical tracers; lipids, fatty acid and stable isotopes.
It was theme of my Master's degree under supervision of Prof Dr Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton and Dra. Aline Dal’olio Gomes
It was theme of my Master's degree under supervision of Prof Dr Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton and Dra. Aline Dal’olio Gomes
Stress in elasmobranchs
Vulnerability to abortion in elasmobranchs: we have been studying the Neotropical freshwater stingray Potamotrygon amandae as a model species, to investigate how the capture-induced parturition can vary in response to gestation period, litter and mother size, and the pre- and post-parturition physiological stress response in females during late pregnancy. Such information can be very useful to management strategy and futures recommendations for elasmobranch conservation.
Physiological response to capture and handling stress in incidentally captured batoids from small-scale fishing: to increase our knowledge about the stress response in incidentally captured rays, we have been evaluating the secondary stress response (blood lactate and glucose) of ray species frequently captured as non-target bycatch by beach seine fishing, including: cownose ray Rhinoptera bonasus, Brazilian cownose ray Rhinoptera brasiliensis, spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari and longnose stingray Hypanus guttatus.
Morphology of the oropharyngeal cavity in elasmobranchs
In this project, we conducted a comparative investigation into the morphological structure of oral papillae and denticles from the ventral surface of the oral cavity from several species: bigeye thresher shark Alopias superciliosus, shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus, scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini, smooth hammerhead shark Sphyrna zygaena, blue shark Prionace glauca, lesser guitarfish Zapteryx brevirostris. Specifically, we generated species-specific description of the oral papillae and denticles to access what are the differences in shape, size and arrangement of oral papillae and denticles among these elasmobranch species. Our results showed some potential functional significance of these structures and species-specific differences in ecology.
Collaborators
Supervisors
Dr. Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton, University of São Paulo
Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, University of Miami
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(random order)
Dr. Nigel Hussey, Windsor University
MSc. Alexandre Rodrigues, São Paulo State University
MSc. Yuri Niella, Macquarie University
MSc. Mitchell Rider, University of Miami
Dr. Aline Dal'olio Gomes, University of São Paulo
Dr. Rose Eli Grassi Rici, University of São Paulo
Dr. José Roberto Kfoury Jr, University of São Paulo
Dr Luiz Antonio Martinelli, University of São Paulo
Dr. Alberto de Ferreira Amorim, Fisheries Institute, Brazil
Dr. Ricardo Garla, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
Dr. Fabio Hazin, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco
Dr. Cristiéle Ribeiro, São Paulo State University
MSc. Jumma Miranda Araújo Chagas, São Paulo State University
MSc. Douglas de Castro Ribeiro, São Paulo State University
Dr. Rosangela Lessa, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco
Dr. Adriano Ciena, São Paulo State University
Dr. Jones Santander-Neto, Federal Institute of Espirito Santo
Dr. Carolina Arruda Freire, Federal University of Parana
Dr. Fausto Foresti, São Paulo State University
Dr. Vanessa Paes da Cruz, São Paulo State University
MSc. Aline Poscai, São Paulo State University
Dr. Paola Palacios-Barreto, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Dr. Maria Angélica Miglino, University of São Paulo
MSc. Jorge Luís Santos, Santa Cecília University
MSc. Thierry Salmon
Dr. Eduardo Malavasi Bruno
Dr Natascha Wosnick, Federal University of Parana
Dr. Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton, University of São Paulo
Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, University of Miami
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(random order)
Dr. Nigel Hussey, Windsor University
MSc. Alexandre Rodrigues, São Paulo State University
MSc. Yuri Niella, Macquarie University
MSc. Mitchell Rider, University of Miami
Dr. Aline Dal'olio Gomes, University of São Paulo
Dr. Rose Eli Grassi Rici, University of São Paulo
Dr. José Roberto Kfoury Jr, University of São Paulo
Dr Luiz Antonio Martinelli, University of São Paulo
Dr. Alberto de Ferreira Amorim, Fisheries Institute, Brazil
Dr. Ricardo Garla, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
Dr. Fabio Hazin, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco
Dr. Cristiéle Ribeiro, São Paulo State University
MSc. Jumma Miranda Araújo Chagas, São Paulo State University
MSc. Douglas de Castro Ribeiro, São Paulo State University
Dr. Rosangela Lessa, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco
Dr. Adriano Ciena, São Paulo State University
Dr. Jones Santander-Neto, Federal Institute of Espirito Santo
Dr. Carolina Arruda Freire, Federal University of Parana
Dr. Fausto Foresti, São Paulo State University
Dr. Vanessa Paes da Cruz, São Paulo State University
MSc. Aline Poscai, São Paulo State University
Dr. Paola Palacios-Barreto, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Dr. Maria Angélica Miglino, University of São Paulo
MSc. Jorge Luís Santos, Santa Cecília University
MSc. Thierry Salmon
Dr. Eduardo Malavasi Bruno
Dr Natascha Wosnick, Federal University of Parana