Lab of Vegetation Ecology, focusing on tropical grassy ecosystems and fire ecology
ALESSANDRA FIDELIS
Associate Professor
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
Post-doc researcher, PhD 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. 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 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
JULIANO ZARDETTO
PhD student in Ecology and Biodiversity
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.
RAFAEL TATA
Master’s student in Ecology and Biodiversity
I am a biologist and currently a master’s student in the Ecology, Evolution, and a Biodiversity Program at Unesp. My research focuses on insect-plant interactions, and I am currently studying the influence of fire on seed removal in the Cerrado. I enjoy playing video games, traveling by car while listening to music, stargazing, and experimenting with different recipes in the kitchen.
MARCO ANTONIO CHIMINAZZO
PhD student in Plant Biology
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.
LETÍCIA GIACOM
Master’s student in Ecology and Biodiversity
I’m a biologist and currently a master’s student in the Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Program at UNESP. I’m really interested in plant and vegetation ecology. In my current study I’m investigating the effects of different fire regimes on the belowground component of the vegetation in Cerrado open areas. Besides work, I love gardening, crocheting and traveling.
FELIPE ALVAREZ
Master’s student in Ecology and Biodiversity
I'm a master's student in the Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity Program at São Paulo State University (UNESP). My main area of interest is in plant fenology, community and fire ecology. More specifically in how the plant community of the Cerrado (species form the herbaceous layer) responds to fire, focusing on post-fire flowering in different fire seasons. Besides that, I'm very interested in ecosystem services, for instance pollination. I also love sports, gardening, and Rock and Roll!
GABRIELA DEZOTTI
Lab Tecnician; Ms. in Ecology and Biodiversity
I'm currently developing a database for Cerrado plant communities under fire management - working daily with data cleaning and systematization. Besided being crazy about data science, I'm really excited to keep exploring the role of forb species in open ecosystems. When I'm out of lab I enjoy to watch sports like soccer, Formula 1, NBA and to also to spend some time with my cat.
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