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 also spend 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 with a Master’s and Ph.D. in Plant Biology, working primarily in the field of plant anatomy. My research focuses on plant functional anatomy, seeking to understand how morphoanatomical traits contribute to plant performance under specific environmental conditions. My current research investigates resistance and resilience in savanna ecosystems, particularly in the Cerrado, by examining plant traits associated with resprouting ability and long-term persistence. Through this work, I aim to better understand how plants cope with disturbances such as fire and other environmental constraints.
HELOIZA ZIRONDI
Post-doc researcher, PhD in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
I am a biologist with a Master’s degree in Plant Biology and a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity from the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). My research focuses on the effects of fire on seed and germination traits of savanna species, particularly how fire-related cues such as heat and smoke influence seed germination. I have also investigated how fire affected flowering patterns in plant species of the Brazilian Cerrado. Currently, as a postdoctoral researcher, I study the combined effects of climate change and fire on germination and seed traits of native plants. My broader interests include plant ecology, seed ecology, and plant community responses to fire.
BRUNO ADORNO
PhD in Environmental Sciences
I am a biologist with a PhD in Environmental Sciences. My research focuses on the spatial patterns of fire in tropical ecosystems and their effects—both positive and negative—on biodiversity and ecosystem services. My previous work has primarily focused on the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, but I am interested in expanding this research to other Brazilian biomes. Beyond my academic interests, I enjoy discussing theories about books, movies and TV shows, as well as exercising and watching sports in my free time.
MARIANA DAIREL
Post-doc researcher, PhD in Plant Biology
I am a biologist with a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). My research focuses on how fire shapes vegetation communities in the Cerrado, particularly how different fire regimes influence community assembly (composition, structure, and diversity), ecosystem functioning, and resilience in savanna ecosystems. Throughout my career, I have worked in fire ecology and savanna ecology, more recently incorporating the perspective of Integrated Fire Management (IFM). Over the years, I have been involved in conducting and participating in experimental prescribed burns for research purposes. This long-term experience has given me a solid understanding of how well-managed prescribed fire can support key ecological processes, reduce fuel loads, aid in the recovery of degraded areas, and contribute to safer and more functional landscapes. More recently, I have also become interested in contributing to the development of science-based public policies related to fire management and biodiversity conservation.
PEDRO AUGUSTO THOMAS
Post-doc researcher, PhD in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
I am a biologist from the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) and Master’s and PhD in Ecology from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). My research focuses on the ecology and conservation of grasslands and savannas, particularly their restoration ecology, control of invasive plant species, and fire management. I am also interested in seed functional traits and germination dynamics, and their application in ecological restoration context. Beyond the academy, I am enthusiastic about football, music, cooking, and travelling.
RENON SANTOS ANDRADE
PhD student in Botany
I am a researcher/student, currently pursuing a PhD in Botany (ENBT-JBRJ), with an interest in Biodiversity Conservation, Botany, and Plant Ecology. My focus is on developing and applying appropriate analytical methods to improve prioritization, enhance Red List assessments, and understand and monitor the status of plants worldwide. Outside academia, I collaborate with a cultural cooperative and help organize a popular pre-university course.
JULIANO ZARDETTO
PhD student in Ecology, Evolution 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, focusing on Biological Invasions. I love botany and environmental legislation. I have experience with floristic survey, especially in Atlantic Forest and Cerrado. I am currently investigating how edge effects caused by roads and fire breaks facilitate plant invasions. I also love music and playing piano.
LETÍCIA GIACOM
Master’s student in Ecology, Evolution 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, Evolution 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 reproductive phenology. More specifically in how the plant community of the Cerrado (species from the herbaceous-shrub layer) responds to fire, focusing on post-fire reproductive phenophases in different fire seasons. Besides that, I'm very interested in pollination and plant reproduction. I also love Santos Futebol Clube, and Rock and Roll!
RAFAEL MARTINS BRANDINI
Biology Student
I am a Biology student at São Paulo State University (UNESP), currently researching the susceptibility of plant communities with different functional structures to invasion by Leucaena leucocephala. Also, I work on communicating the results of the Biota-Cerrado on Fire project through science journalism.
RAFAEL TATA
Master’s student in Ecology, Evolution 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.
LUIZ MIGUEL BARBOSA
Master’s student in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
I'm a master’s student in the Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Program at São Paulo State University (UNESP). I'm interested in fire ecology, functional ecology, and plant ecology. My current research focuses on how extreme fire regimes influence above and belowground functional traits in herbaceous species of the Cerrado. Besides the academy, I enjoy listening to music, watching movies and cooking.
ANA BEATRIZ DE PAULA
Biology Student
I'm a biologist, graduated from the São Paulo State University (UNESP). I finished my Teaching Degree and I’m currently writing my undergraduate thesis for a Bachelor's Degree. In my research I investigate the influence of the combination of fire cues on dormant seeds of the Cerrado.
MARCO ANTONIO CHIMINAZZO
Lab Technician; PhD 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.
GABRIELA DEZOTTI
PhD student in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
I am currently developing my PhD project with co-supervision in this research group, investigating how biodiversity responds to novel disturbance regimes across ecological, spatial, and temporal scales. My work combines plant community ecology, disturbance ecology, and data-intensive approaches. I am especially interested in forb species, as well as in FAIR principles and open data initiatives. Outside the lab, I enjoy watching sports such as soccer, Formula 1, and the NBA.
ROSANI KLEIN REINKE
Lab Technician; PhD in Plant Biology
I am a biologist with a Master's degree in Conservation and Management of Natural Resources and a PhD in Biological Sciences (Plant Biology) from São Paulo State University (UNESP). Currently, I am a FAPESP technical training fellow in the project "Fire as a tool for management and restoration in the Cerrado in the Anthropocene." I am responsible for conducting experiments and measuring seed attributes and germination of Cerrado species. I am interested in plant ecophysiology, with a focus on the following topics: germination of native Cerrado grass seeds, fire resilience, and overcoming dormancy.
GUSTAVO SÁ MOTTA
Lab Technician; Biologist
I studied biology at the São Paulo State University (UNESP). I love botany, and I’m very interested in community assembly, biological invasions and fire ecology. I’ve done research on the effects of invasive african grass species in the Cerrado vegetation. I’m currently working with the organization and maintenance of a herbarium for the laboratory. I’m also interested in reading and cooking.
ROBERTO CARLOS LEAL JUNIOR
Lab Technician; Biologist
I am a biologist graduated from São Paulo State University (UNESP). My research interest focuses on fire severity and the post-fire regeneration and structural dynamics of the herbaceous–shrub layer in the Cerrado, investigating how variations in fire intensity influence vegetation recovery and community structure after burning. I am currently part of a FAPESP technical training program within a project on integrated fire management as a tool for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Cerrado, where I evaluate biomass and belowground carbon under different fire regimes.
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