Lab of Vegetation Ecology, focusing on tropical grassy ecosystems and fire ecology
ALESSANDRA FIDELIS
Associate Professor, Dr. rer. nat.
I studied biology at the Universidade de São Paulo and did my Master’s and PhD Thesis at the Technische Universität München (Germany). I am interested about fire, grassland and savanna ecology, as well as ecosystem and community ecology. I try hard to show people how amazing open ecosystems are, especially tropical savannas and grasslands and that we should avoid planting trees where they do not belong. I spend also a lot of time trying to convince people that fire is a natural disturbance in several ecosystems. Traveling, photography and discovering new places are my favorite things. I am also a fan of José Saramago, Guimarães Rosa, Mia Couto and Gabriel García Marquez's books and thus, discovering nice places to have coffee and read a book is something I love doing.
ALINE BERTOLOSI BOMBO
Post-doc researcher, PhD in Plant Science
I am a Biologist, and I did my Master’s and Ph.D. thesis at Plant Biology, acting mainly in plant anatomy. My main research interest is plant functional morphology, and I want to understand what is the function of a morphoanatomical trait in a plant, which is developing and living under certain environmental conditions. Currently, my research is focused on understanding savanna resistance and resilience by assessing plant traits associated to resprout ability and plant persistence. Besides the academy, cycling, gardening, and yoga fill up my free time.
MARIANA DAIREL
PhD student in Plant Biology
I am a biologist and a lover of the dynamic of all living nature and its processes, especially plants. I did my master in Plant Biology acting mainly with seed bank and the effects of fire on grass germination in Cerrado. Currently, I am interested in how fire shapes vegetation community in the Cerrado. I am a Ph.D. student in Plant Biology and my research is focused on how the disturbance regime is influencing both community assembly (composition, structure, and diversity) and resilience in savanna communities of the Cerrado.
HELOIZA L. ZIRONDI
PhD student in Ecology and Biodiversity
I am a Ph.D. student in Ecology and Biodiversity at the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) working on the effects of fire on seed and germination traits of savanna species. I also graduated in Biology and did my Master at UNESP, working mainly on how fire cues, such as heat and smoke, affect germination. In addition, I worked to understand how fire frequency influences the flowering of Cerrado plant species. Besides, I am interested in subjects regarding plant ecology, seed ecology, and plant community’s response to fire.
VAGNER ZANZARINI
I am an Ecologist currently doing my Ph.D. in Ecology and Biodiversity at Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). My research focuses on the understanding of how fire, herbivory by insects, and light are influencing the distribution of plant-related functional traits across different areas in the Cerrado. Additionally, I have a strong interest in tropical savanna ecology and other fire-prone ecosystems worldwide, particularly regarding the concept of plant flammability, biomass dynamics, and fire management decisions.
PhD student in Ecology and Biodiversity
CASSY ANNE RODRIGUES
I studied biology and did my Master's in Plant Biology at the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Currently, I am a PhD student in Ecology and biodiversity at the UNESP. My project is about the effects of fire season and fire frequency on the dynamic of plant communities of the Cerrado. Some of my objectives are to understand how different fires affect the diversity of species and community productivity. So, I am interested in the community ecology, fire ecology, management, and conservation of ecosystems. I also love pets, because of that I am a volunteer in a project to rescue and to care for abandoned animals.
PhD student in Ecology and Biodiversity
MARCO ANTONIO CHIMINAZZO
I am a researcher currently pursuing my PhD at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP, Brazil). Coupled with my background as a Technician in Geoprocessing and a Biologist, I employ a multidisciplinary approach to my work, continuously learning new skills from my advisors and lab colleagues. My research centers on understanding how a variety of plant species cope with disturbance and stress within the intricate ecosystems of tropical savannas and forests, with a particular focus on the Cerrado region. My fascination with plant ecology and biology encompasses a range of topics, including plant ontogeny, traits, biogeography, evolution, and their interplay in dynamic ecosystems. In my spare time I play bass in a post-ska-punk (?) band called Vismia.
PhD student in Plant Biology
JULIANO ZARDETTO
PhD student of the Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity by the Department of Biodiversity, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University. I am interested in Community and Metacommunity Ecology, Biological Invasions and management of invasive species. I love botany and environmental legislation. I have experience with floristic survey, especially in Seasonal Forests. My current study focus comprises the effects of roads on the introduction of invasive alien plants. I also love music and playing piano.
PhD student in Ecology and Biodiversity
GABRIELA DEZOTI
Master's student in Ecology and Biodiversity
I'm currently working on my master's degree in the Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Program at São Paulo State University (UNESP). The main focus of my research is to understand how forb communities are responding to the seasonality of tropical savannas. I’m aiming to study more about forb species and their role in savanna communities, especially in the Cerrado. On the other hand, I have a developing passion for quantitative ecology and statistics.
COLLABORATORS
Ana Carolina Barradas - ICMBio
Dr Beatriz Appezzato-da-Gloria - Universidade de São Paulo
Dr Elise Buisson - Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), France
Dr Frances Siebert - North-West University, South Africa
Dr Fernando A.O. Silveira - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Dr Gabriella Damasceno - iDiv & Martin Luther Universität
Dr Gerhard Leubner - Royal Holloway University of London, UK
Dr Giselda Durigan - Instituto Florestal - SP
Dr Lara Souza - University of Oklahoma, USA
Dr Rosana Kolb - Universidade Estadual Paulista
Dr Soizig Le Stradic - Technische Universität München, Germany
Dr Tristan Charles-Dominique - Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences IEES-Paris, France
Dr Vânia R. Pivello - Universidade de São Paulo
Dr. Daniel Borini Alves - post-doc researcher (2019-2021)
Dr. Elizabeth Gorgone-Barbosa - PhD student (2012 - 2016)
Dr. Gabriella Damasceno - PhD student (2018-2022)
Dr. Juliana Teixeira - PhD student (2018 - 2022)
Dr. L. F. Daibes - PhD student (2013 - 2017)
Dr. Mario Cava - post-doc researcher (2020-2022)
Dr. Mariana Ninno Rissi - PhD student (2012 - 2016)
Dr. Soizig Le Stradic - post-doc researcher (2017-2019)
Dr. Talita Zupo - PhD student (2013 - 2017)
M.Sc. Jonathan Galdi Rosa - Bachelor student (2013 - 2016)
M.Sc. Karen P. Castillioni - Master student (2013 - 2015)
M.Sc. Raquel Gasparini Martins - Master student (2019-2022)
B.Sc. Henrique de Pinho José - Bachelor student (2014 - 2015)
B.Sc. Jessika da Silva Nunes - Bachelor student (2014 - 2016)
B.Sc. Júlia Castelli Castro - Bachelor student (2018 - 2019)
B.Sc. Laís Jacconi - Bachelor student (2018 - 2019)
B.Sc. Nathalia Bonani - Bachelor student (2015 - 2016)
B.Sc. Núbia Alessandra Vilela - Bachelor student (2017 - 2020)
B.Sc. Rafael Novaes de Barros - Bachelor student (2014 - 2015)
