SARA FRANCISCO
PhD student

E-mail: sara_francisco@ispa.pt
Phone: +351 218 811 740 (ext. 240)
Fax: + 351 21 8860954

Executive assistant at Eco-Ethology Research Unit and Center for Biosciencies

Curriculum vitae

:: Research interests

- Coastal ecology

- Ethology of rocky fish

- Population genetics

- Phylogeography

- Phylogeny

My research focuses on the ethology and population genetic analysis of littoral ichthyofauna along the Portuguese coast. I have been studying species with different life-histories, abundances and mobilities, representing taxonomically distinct groups (Families Blenniidae, Gobiidae, Gobiesocidae and Atherinidae). My goal is to evaluate the degree of genetic differentiation of geographically distant populations and the mechanisms involved. I also want to understand in what way larval dispersal/retention may contribute to maintain or prevent gene flow between populations.

Funded by: FCT - SFRH/BD/12653/2003

:: Publications

Robalo, JI; Castilho, R; Francisco, SM; Almada, F., Knutsen, H; Jorde, PE; Pereira, AM; Almada, VC 2012. Northern refugia and recent expansion in the North Sea: the case of the wrasse Symphodus melops (Linnaeus, 1758). Ecology and Evolution 2 (1): 153-164. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.77

Francisco, S.M., Gongiu, L., von der Heyden, S., Almada, V.C. 2011. Multiloculs phylogenetic analysis of the genus Atherina (Pisces: Atherinidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.online first

Francisco, S.M., Faria, C., Lengkeek, W., Vieira, M.N., Velasco, E.M., Almada, V.C. 2011. Phylogeography of the shanny Lipophrys pholis (Pisces: Belnniidae) in the NE Atlantic records signs of major expansion event older than the last glaciation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 403: 14-20.

Francisco, S.M., Castilho, R., Soares, M., Congiu, L., Brito, A., Vieira, M.N., Almada, V.C. 2009. Phylogeography and demographic history of Atherina presbyter (Pisces: Atherinidae) in the North-eastern Atlantic based on mitochondrial DNA. 2009. Marine Biology 156: 1421-1432. (DOI: 10.1007/s00227-009-1182-5).

Francisco, S.M., Congiu, L., Stefanni, S., Castilho, R., Brito, R., Ivanova, P.P., Levy, A., Cabral, H., Kilias, G., Doadrio, I.& Almada, V.C. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships of the North-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean forms of Atherina (Pisces, Atherinidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48: 782-788.

Francisco, SM; Cabral, H; Vieira, MN; Almada, VC. 2006. Contrasts in genetic structure and historical demography of marine and riverine populations of Atherina at similar geographical scales. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. 69: 655-661.

Silva, IC; Dinis, AM.; Francisco, SM; Paula, J. 2006. Longitudinal distribution and lateral pattern of megalopal settlement and juvenile recruitment of Carcinus maenas (L.) (Brachyura, Portunidae) in Mira river estuary, Portugal. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 69:179-188.

Francisco, SM; Vieira, MN; Almada, VC 2006. Genetic structure and historical demography of the shanny Lipophrys pholis in the Portuguese coast based on mitochondrial DNA analysis. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 39(1): 288-292.

Queiroga, H; Almeida, MJ, Alpuim, T; Flores, A; Francisco, S; González-Gordillo, I; Miranda, AI; Silva, I; Paula, J 2006. Tide and wind control of megalopal supply to estuarine crab populations on the Portuguese west coast. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 307: 21-36.

Paula, J., Silva, I.C., Francisco, S.M. and Flores, A. 2006. The use of artificial benthic collectors for assessment of spatial patterns of settlement of megalopae of Carcinus maenas (L.) (Brachyura, Portunidae) in the lower Mira Estuary, Portugal. Hydrobiologia. 557:69–77