Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Researcher
My background is in animal ecology, with a particular focus on avian ecology. As a behavioral ecologist and conservation biologist, I have over 10 years of experience using bio-logging technology to advance research in seabird ecology. My work centers on understanding the ecology of free-ranging animals, particularly the environmental drivers and human-induced stressors that influence the behavior of top predators in dynamic marine ecosystems. I am also deeply fascinated by animal migration and dedicated to unraveling the mysteries behind these extraordinary movements across ocean basins and landmasses. My expertise encompasses a range of cutting-edge analytical techniques, including quantitative modeling of movement and behavior, spatial ecology, stable isotope analysis, and advanced statistical methods. In addition to my analytical skills, I have led numerous fieldwork campaigns, deploying tracking devices and collecting biological samples from seabirds. I also thrive in data science, relishing the challenges of managing and analyzing large datasets.
Current Research:
During my Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral fellowship at the iMARES group, I am focused on advancing our understanding of the interactions between seabirds and human activities at sea, such as fisheries. To achieve this, I am utilizing a large dataset of individual tracking data from shearwaters and gulls inhabiting the offshore areas of the Western Mediterranean. Additionally, I am sharing my expertise with iMARES colleagues in the field of marine spatial planning, as seabirds are a particularly sensitive component of the marine environment, especially in relation to human activities like fishing and offshore wind energy.
Research Interests:
Biologging, Movement Ecology, Top-Predators, Dynamic Marine Ecosystems, Marine Spatial Planning