https://oceanexpert.org/expert/Lara%20Baptista

ORCID : 0000-0002-4429-9855

MSc

Research

Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology

Overview

The colonization of volcanic oceanic islands by marine invertebrates with different dispersal abilities constitute an interesting topic for island biogeographers. In the Azores Archipelago, the so-called “Azorean Biogeographical Paradox” (biogeographic affinities with European/Mediterranean taxa, notwithstanding the surface currents flowing predominantly from the west) poses some questions regarding the connectivity between marine insular and conspecific populations in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, either in the mainland or other archipelagos. 

To better understand the biogeographical and evolutionary patterns of marine invertebrates in the Azores, a population genetics and phylogeographic approach is proposed for shallow-water gastropods and bryozoans that naturally occur in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, with contrasting types of larval development. 

My current PhD project aims to enlighten the diversity and population structure of the target species (with different larval types), their evolution in remote oceanic islands, as well as the role of seamounts, ocean-currents and periodic climatic changes in the long-distance dispersal/invasion process of the archipelago. The results will valuably contribute to increase the current knowledge in the Azorean biodiversity and provide crucial information to address the effects of climatic changes in islands.

Publications

Baptista L, Meimberg H, Ávila SP, Santos AM, Curto M (2021) Dispersal ability, habitat characteristics, and sea-surface circulation shape population structure of Cingula trifasciata (Gastropoda: Rissoidae) in the remote Azores Archipelago. BMC Ecology and Evolution 21: 128. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01862-1 (IF= 3.252)

Baptista L, Santos AM, Melo C, Rebelo AC, Madeira P, Cordeiro R, Botelho AZ, Hipólito A, Pombo J, Voelker AHL, Ávila SP (2021) Untangling the origin of the newcomer Phorcus sauciatus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in a remote northeast Atlantic archipelago. Marine Biology 168:9. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-03808-5 (IF=2.256)

Baptista L, Santos AM, Cabezas MP, Cordeiro R, Melo C, Ávila, SP. (2019) Intertidal or subtidal/circalittoral species: which appeared first? A phylogenetic approach to the evolution of non-planktotrophic species in Atlantic Archipelagos. Marine Biology 166(7):1-16. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3536-y (IF=2.272)

Melo CS, Martín-González E, Silva CM, Galindo I, González-Rodríguez A, Baptista L, Rebelo AC, Madeira P, Voelker AHL, Johnson ME, Arruda SA, Ávila SP. (in press) Range expansion of tropical shallow-water marine molluscs in the NE Atlantic during the Last Interglacial (MIS 5e): causes, consequences and utility of ecostratigraphic indicators for the Macaronesian archipelagos. Journal of Quaternary Science. (IF: 2.377)

Hyžný M, Melo C, Ramalho R, Cordeiro R, Madeira P, Baptista L, Rebelo AC, Gómez C, Torres P, Uchman A, Johnson ME, Berning B, Ávila SP. (2020). Pliocene and late Pleistocene (MIS 5e) decapod crustaceans from Santa Maria Island (Azores Archipelago: NE Atlantic): systematics, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography. Journal of Quaternary Science 36(1):91-109. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3261 (IF: 2.377)

Ávila SP, Johnson ME, Rebelo AC, Baptista L, Melo CS. (2020) Comparison of Modern and Pleistocene (MIS 5e) Coastal Boulder Deposits from Santa Maria Island (Azores Archipelago, NE Atlantic Ocean). Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 8(386). https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse8060386  (IF: 2.033)

Ávila SP, Azevedo JMN, Madeira P, Cordeiro R, Melo CS, Baptista L, Torres P Johnson ME, Vullo R. (2020) Plio-pleistocene Actinopterygian fishes from Santa Maria Island (Azores: Northeastern Atlantic Ocean): systematics, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography. Geological Magazine 157(9), 1526-1542 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0016756820000035 (IF: 2.365)

Freitas R, Romeiras M, Silva L, Cordeiro R, Madeira P, González JA, Wirtz P, Falcón J, Brito A, Floeter SR, Afonso P, Porteiro F, Viera-Rodríguez MA, Neto AI, Haroun R, Farminhão J, Rebelo AC, Baptista L, Melo C, Martínez A, Nuñez J, Berning B, Johnson ME, Ávila SP. (2019) Restructuring of the ‘Macaronesia’ biogeographic unit: A marine multi-taxon biogeographical approach. Scientific Reports 9:15792. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51786-6 (IF= 4.122)

Ávila S, Melo C, Berning B, Sá N, Quartau R, Rijsdijk K, Ramalho R, Cordeiro R, Sá N, Pimentel A, Baptista L, Medeiros A, Gil A, Johnson M. (2019) Towards an “Interglacial-Sensitive Marine Island Biogeography model”: impact of glacio-eustatic oscillations on global marine patterns of island biogeography. Biological Reviews 94(3):1116-1142. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/brv.12492. (IF=11.7)

Uchman A, Torres P, Johnnson ME, Berning B, Ramalho RS, Rebelo AC, Melo CS, Baptista L, Madeira P, Cordeiro R, Ávila SP. (2017) Feeding traces of recent ray fish and occurrences of the trace fossil Piscichnus waitemata from the Pliocene of Santa Maria island, Azores (Northeast Atlantic).  Palaios, 33: 361-375. http://dx.doi.org/10.2110/palo.2018.027 (IF=1.983)

Baptista L, Santos AM, Curto M, Berning B, Ávila SP. (2019) The genetic structure in populations of marine organisms in remote islands: a study of bryozoans and gastropods in the Azores (NE Atlantic Ocean) – An overview. In: BIODIV Annual Meeting – Book of Abstracts, pp. 46, 2-4 May 2019, Vairão, Portugal. (Poster presentation).

Baptista L, Santos AM, Cabezas MP, Ávila SP. (2018) Evolutionary history of the family Rissoidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Azores Archipelago. In: International Biogeographical Society meeting 2018 Climate Change Biogeography, 20-24 March 2018, Évora, Portugal (Poster presentation).

Escudeiro A, Baptista L, Chaves R, Adega F. (2015) Satellite DNA - an essential piece to unveil phylogenetic relationships in Bovidae Family. In: XXXIX Jornadas Portuguesas de Genética, 25-27 May 2015, Braga, Portugal (Poster presentation).

Oral communications

Baptista L. (2022) Reconstructing the phylogeny and biogeography of the bryozoan family Phidoloporidae. NHM Science Seminars, London, United Kingdom, online event (Invited Speaker).

Baptista L. (2022) Studying the biogeographical patterns of marine invertebrates in the Azores. Quintas do MARE, 6 January 2022, Lisboa, Portugal, online event (Invited Speaker).

Baptista L. (2021) Settlement and diversification of marine invertebrates in Macaronesia. In: 1st Workshop of Marine Paleontology and Littoral Geology: Fuerteventura, 6-14 November 2021, Fuerteventura, Canaries, Spain (Invited Speaker).

Baptista, L, Berning B, Curto M, Santos AM, Meimberg H, Ávila SP (2021) Estimating the diversity of Reteporella species in the Azores combining molecular and morphological data. In: Australarwood X and 17th Larwood Meeting “Bryozoans of the World” – Programme and Abstracts, pp. 8, 29-30 September 2021, online event.

Baptista L. (2021) A viagem dos invertebrados marinhos dos Açores. In: Noite Europeia dos Investigadores, 24 September 2021, Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal (“pitch”, Invited Speaker).

Madeira P, Melo C, Rebelo AC, Baptista L, Arruda S, Ávila SP (2021) Palaeobiodiversity of Santa Maria Island (Azores, North Atlantic): from nature to digital. In: IUCN World Conservation Congress - Forum Digital tools for empowering citizen science-based conservation, 3-11 September 2021, online event.

Baptista L. (2021) Studying the genetics of bryozoans and gastropods in the Azores. In: 2º Ciência em Zonas Costeiras: a plataforma costeira das Lajes do Pico e a Fajã da Caldeira do Santo Cristo (São Jorge), 20-30 August 2020, Pico and São Jorge Islands, Azores, Portugal (Invited Speaker).

Baptista L, Santos AM, Melo C, Rebelo AC, Madeira P, Cordeiro R, Botelho AZ, Hipólito A, Pombo J, Voelker AHL, Ávila SP (2021) A viagem de Phorcus sauciatus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) para o remoto arquipélago dos Açores. In: Spring Seminar BIOISLE Webinar – Biodiversidade e Ilhas: Livro de Resumos, pp. 37, 27-28 May 2021, online event.

Baptista L, Santos AM, Melo C, Rebelo AC, Madeira P, Cordeiro R, Botelho AZ, Hipólito A, Pombo J, Voelker AHL, Ávila SP (2021) The journey of Phorcus sauciatus to the remote Azores Archipelago. In: BIODIV Annual Meeting – Book of Abstracts, pp. 20, 14-15 January 2021, online event.

Baptista L. (2020) The story of rissoids in the Azores Archipelago. In: Ciência em Zonas Costeiras: a plataforma costeira das Lajes do Pico e a Fajã da Caldeira do Santo Cristo (São Jorge), 2-12 September 2020, Pico and São Jorge Islands, Azores, Portugal (Invited Speaker).

Baptista L. (2019) The genetic structure in populations of marine invertebrates in remote islands: A study of bryozoans and gastropods in the Azores (NE Atlantic). CIBIO-InBIO, 29 November 2019, Vairão, Portugal. (Student Seminar).

Baptista L, Santos AM, Curto M, Berning B, Ávila SP. (2019) Understanding the biogeographical patterns of marine invertebrates in the remote Azores Archipelago and surrounding NE Atlantic Ocean. In: II Congreso de Jóvenes Investigadores del Mar - Congress Programe, 1-4 October 2019, Málaga, Spain: 24. (Flash-talk).

Baptista L. (2019) Insights on biogeographical analyses: the role of genetic approaches. In: 15th International Workshop – Palaeontology in Atlantic Islands, 7-12 July 2019, Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal (Invited Speaker).

Baptista L, Berning B, Santos AM, Curto M, Melo C, Ávila SP. (2019) Bryozoa in isolated volcanic oceanic islands: evaluating their evolution and population dynamics in the Azores Archipelago. In: 18th International Bryozoology Association Conference – Abstract Volume, 16-22 June 2019, Liberec, Czech Republic: 9. (Oral presentation).

Baptista L, Santos AM, Cabezas MP, Ávila SP. (2018) Genetic-based approaches to enlighten biogeographical patterns of marine invertebrates in the Azores Archipelago. In: 2nd Edition of the Spring Seminar – Biodiversity and Islands, Book of Abstracts, 27 April 2018, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal: 23 (Oral presentation).

Baptista L. (2017) Phylogenetic analysis of the family Rissoidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Azores Archipelago (NE Atlantic). In: c, 15-21 July 2017, Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal (Invited Speaker).

Baptista L, Santos AM, Cabezas MP, Ávila SP. (2017) How does paleontological and geological information influence inferences drawn from genetic data?. In: Conference program and abstracts of the VI Regional Committee on Neogene Atlantic Stratigraphy: RCANS 2017, 10-13 July 2017, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal: 46-47 (Oral presentation).

Baptista L, Santos AM, Cabezas MP, Ávila SP. (2017) Phylogenetic analysis of the family Rissoidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Azores Archipelago (NE Atlantic). In: IX Jornadas de Genética e Biotecnologia, 8-10 March 2017, Vila Real, Portugal (Oral presentation).

Research projects

2019-2022: VRPROTO – Virtual-Reality PROTOtype: the geological history of “Pedra-que-pica” (ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000078), funded in 85% by FEDER and 15% by Azorean Public funds through Operational Program Azores 2020: 179.957,29 €. (PI: Sérgio Ávila).

2019-2021: PORBIOTA – AZORESBIOPORTAL (ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000072), funded in 85% by FEDER and 15% by Azorean Public funds through Operational Program Azores 2020: 299.901,83 €. (PI: Paulo Borges).

2019: Research cruise RV METEOR 150 (Cruise application "MerMet 17-11 George"), Controls in benthic and pelagic BIODIversity of the Azores: BIODIAZ: 980.366 € (913.600 € R/V + 66.766,00 € travel/consumables). (PI: Kai Horst George).

2015-2018: PIMA - Programa de Implementação da Diretiva-Quadro Estratégia Marinha – Programa Invasoras Marinhas nos Açores. DRP/SRCTM/GRA; Secretaria Regional do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia, Direção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar (Governo Regional dos Açores), 89.992 €. (PI: Ana Costa).

North Atlantic Ocean

• Profound knowledge in genetics at the theoretical and laboratorial levels and detailed insights in bioinformatic tools, acquired during the BSc and MSc.
• Profound knowledge in molecular phylogenetics analysis and marine biogeography concepts, acquired with the development of my MSc dissertation (University of Porto in partnership with CIBIO-InBIO).
• Broad knowledge in to population genetic analysis.
• Integrate genetic data in broader contexts of Biodiversity, Ecology and Biogeography.
• Fieldwork experience in Biology, Geology and Palaeontology.
• Participated in the research cruise RV METEOR 150: Controls in benthic and pelagic BIODIversity of the Azores, BIODIAZ (2018).
• Certified Open Water Diver.
• Affiliated to the International Bryozoology Association.
• Strong interest in Palaeontology, which grew with the participation in several International Workshops "Palaeontology in Atlantic Islands" (2009-2022).
• Organization of scientific events (organizing commitee of RCANS 2017, VII Jornadas de Genética e Biotecnologia, 15th-17th International Workshop "Palaeontology in Atlantic Islands" 2019-2021, and 1st-2nd "Ciência nas Zonas Costeiras" ; volunteer in Congenomics 2017 and IBS 2018).
• Advanced courses: Scripting and command line tricks for biologists, Introduction to R, Gene prediction and annotation of genomes, Topics in island biogeography, Multivariate statistics for ecology and evolution, Research Data Management (OTGA), Island Marine Biogeography: a comprehensive overview, Theoretical Perspectives on Biodiversity and Biogeography, MOOC O Essencial da Gestão de Dados de Investigação.
• Oral communications in International and National conferences, and in International Workshops since 2017.
  
• Treatment of tecnhical images with Adobe Photoshop.

English; Portuguese

Google Scholar
ResearchGate

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lara_Baptista

PhD student in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, affiliated with CIBIO-Açores. Laboratorial work at CIBIO-InBIO Vairão (Portugal) and Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences of Vienna (Austria).