Freedom of choice…
At first glance, our research seems fragmented. It spans a variety of organisms (land snails, arthropods, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals), and combines different approaches (ecological, laboratory, theoretical). These include research on speciation, molecular phylogeny, morphological, ecological and physiological adaptations, animal behavior, biogeography, and ecology of populations and communities.
Of course, each of us has its own preferences (organisms or questions), but what connects our research is our common goal to understand the causes for the evolutionary changes in an ecological context.
Our group was formed in 2005. We have a well-equipped laboratory for molecular analysis to support research projects on the phylogeny and genetic structure of animal populations, and good infrastructure for field ecological research (animal traps, climatic data recorders, mark-recapture pit-tags), and for observing animal behavior in the lab (aquariums, climatic chambers, cameras).
We support undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD theses, often as part of collaborative research projects with Greek and European Universities, NGOs and Authorities, leading to both scientific publications and guidelines for species conservation and management.
Research Projects
Our group has undertaken many research projects (see here). Through these projects, we gained theoretical and technical expertise regarding: (1) the effective design of field ecological research with the use of special techniques for collecting and handling of animals, the safe collection of different types of biological samples, and storing them for DNA analyses, (2) methods of molecular, phylogenetic, ecological and behavioral analyses for various types of organisms, (3) the eco-geographical characteristics of the Greek fauna.
Our most recent projects are: LIFE13 NAT/GR/000909 Conservation measures to assist the adaptation of Falco eleonorae* to climate change (awarded in 2022 with the 1st Prize for the Conservation on Land, by the European Union / Natura 2000 Awards), ORNITHOPOLIS, and Phylogeography in the Genomics Era and the Role of Barriers in Speciation.
We are interested in doing comprehensive research and we are not concerned with the quick production of fragmented and ephemeral results.
Anyone interested in joining our team is welcome. As long as you like research, and you can withstand the harsh, at times, work.
Current research topics include:
- The variation and function of shell traits for water and heat management and their associations with environmental gradients in the rock-dwelling land snail Albinaria
- Mechanisms of speciation in the polymorphic land snail Albinaria by studying the association between reproductive isolation and genetic divergence in selected species
- The evolution of dextrality within the sinistral genus Albinaria studying molecular phylogenetics and behavioral isolation
- Aestivation ecology & behavior of the land snail Albinaria
- Processes that shape the distribution of the land snails using a combined phylogenetic and niche-modeling approach
- Co-occurrence patterns of congeneric pulmonate species
- Population and behavioral ecology in syntopic newts
- Phylogeography of reptile species
- Population ecology and genetics of bird species
- Behavioral ecology and reproductive strategies of bird species during migration
- Modeling beta diversity patterns of animals in insular systems
- Urban and peri-urban biodiversity patterns
- Functional & Phylogenetic Diversity of animal Communities
- Behavioural responses and adaptations of reptiles & birds