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Biogeography, Palaeontology, oceanic islands, Azores, Mollusca, evolution, speciation, conser
Portugal

Biography

Sérgio Ávila graduated in Biology in 1995, completed a MSc in Insular Ecology and Evolution in 2001, and a PhD degree in Biology/Palaeontology in 2005 from the University of the Azores. He supervised 1 Post-Doc, 10 PhD students (4 in progress), 1 MSc and 10 internships. In 2005, he established his research group (MPB-Marine Palaeontology and Biogeography Lab), now with 18 members:
https://www.researchgate.net/lab/MPB-Marine-Palaeontology-and-Biogeography-lab-Sergio-P-Avila
SÁ participated in 16 research projects, with regional, national, or European funding and managed to get 10 projects approved as PI, with a total funding of 1.8 M€.
He published 78 SCI articles (71% of them as first or last author/team leader), 28 articles in other journals, 10 books and 6 chapters of books, and edited 7 books. He was also responsible for 21 technical reports related with 5 environmental impact assessments and 4 applied projects for the Azores Government: “Fossils’ Route” (2012-2014), “PalaeoPark Santa Maria” (2014-2016), Science Museum “House of the Fossils” (2016-2018) and “Action Plan for the PaleoParque Santa Maria” (2020-2023).
He organized 16 advanced courses, 33 congresses and 33 scientific expeditions in the Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cabo Verde archipelagos. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the “Santa Maria PalaeoPark”, appointed by the International Palaeontological Association. He is also the Scientific Advisor of the "Fossils’ House" Museum, at Santa Maria Island (Azores).
Since 2005, he has been studying the patterns and processes of dispersal, colonization and speciation of shallow-water marine invertebrates in oceanic islands. His team has experts on marine molluscs, echinoderms, bryozoans, crustacean barnacles, ostracods and coralline algae forming rhodoliths. Their main interests are the geological evolution of the NE-Atlantic Macaronesian islands, and the palaeontology, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography of Neogene to Recent ecosystems in reefless volcanic oceanic islands.
SÁ is the main author of the most recent and complete theory of marine island biogeography, the SLS – Sea-Level-Sensitive dynamic model of marine island biogeography, published in 2019 in Biological Reviews (IF=14.695) which predictions are currently being tested by 3 PhD students. SÁ completed the supervision of 1 MSc and 6 PhD students (2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023), and supervised 1 Leonardo da Vinci student in 2008. Currently, he supervises 4 PhD students.
SÁ is Associate Editor of Frontiers of Biogeography and of Frontiers in Marine Science, Subject editor of Biodiversity Data Journal, and an Editorial Board Member of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, and Reviewer Board of Diversity.
He has reviewed manuscripts submitted for publication in prestigious journals such as Nature, Global Ecology and Biogeography, Global and Planetary Change, Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal of Biogeography, Marine Biology, amongst others.
SÁ also acted as reviewer of research projects for the Italian government (PRIN) and Mexican government (CONACYT).
He is also Taxonomic editor of the Paleobiology Database (https://paleobiodb.org/classic) and of Portal da Biodiversidade dos Açores (https://azoresbioportal.uac.pt/).
SÁ lectured several disciplines (Malacology, Invertebrates, Evolution and Animal Ecology) and advanced courses (Biogeography) at the University of the Azores, and at BIODIV PhD courses at the University of Porto: 2019 - Island Marine Biogeography: a comprehensive overview, 20 hours; 2020 - Marine Island Biogeography: patterns and processes, 25 hours.
SÁ is currently responsible for the 2nd edition of the “Azores Summer School in Marine Island (Palaeo)Biogeography”, an advanced course with 21 professors/35 students that integrates lectures (50 hours), field trips (20 h) and a vibrant social programme (14 h) that takes place in July 2023 at Santa Maria Island, in the Azores archipelago: https://azss.uac.pt/pt/
SÁ is a Member of IPBES - Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and was vice-Director of the research center CIBIO-Açores (2016-2020), Director of Science and Digital Transition, Regional Government of the Azores (2020-2022), President of the FRCT (Regional Fund for Science and Technology) (2020-2021), Vowel of the General Assembly of TERINOV - Science and Technology Park (Terceira Island) (2020-2022), President of the General Assembly of NONAGON, Science and Technology Park (São Miguel Island) (2020-2022), President of the Azores Regional Council of the Portuguese Association of Biologists (Ordem dos Biólogos) (2008-2020) and Municipality Deputy at the city of Ponta Delgada (2009-2017).
Outreach is a very important subject for MPB team. SÁ produced and edited over 20 TV documentaries related with our research. SÁ is also the first author of 10 books related with the natural history of the Azores and the palaeontological heritage of Santa Maria Island.

Activities

Employment (6)

BIOPOLIS / CIBIO-Açores/INBIO Laboratório Associado: Ponta Delgada, Azores, PT

2024-09-01 to 2030-08-31 | Principal Investigator - FCT–2023.07418.CEECIND (CIBIO-Açores)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Universidade dos Açores: Ponta Delgada, PT

2023-01-01 to 2024-08-31 | Investigador Principal (M1.1.A/INFRAEST CIENT/A/001/2021 - Base de Dados da PaleoBiodiversidade da Macaronésia.)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Government of the Azores: Ponta Delgada, PT

2020-12-21 to 2022-05-09 | Director of Science, Regional Government of the Azores (Direção Regional da Ciência)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Government of the Azores: Ponta Delgada, PT

2020-12-21 to 2021-04-10 | President (Regional Fund for Science and Technology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

CIBIO-Açores/INBIO Laboratório Associado: Ponta Delgada, PT

2016-10-01 to 2020-12-20 | Principal Investigator (Department of Biology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências: Porto, PT

2010-01-01 to 2014-12-31 | Research Associate
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Education and qualifications (2)

Universidade dos Açores Departamento de Biologia: Ponta Delgada, PT

2001-01 to 2005-10 | Ph.D. (Departamento de Biologia)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Universidade dos Açores Departamento de Biologia: Ponta Delgada, PT

1999-09 to 2001-08 | M.Sc. (Departamento de Biologia)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Professional activities (13)

Azores UNESCO Glabal Geopark: Horta, Azores Archipelago, PT

2024-09-18 to present | Member of the Scientific Council of the Azores UNESCO Glabal Geopark
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

PaleoParque Santa Maria: Vila do Porto, Santa Maria Island, Azores, PT

2018-10-26 to present | Member of the Advisory Board of the “Santa Maria PalaeoPark”, appointed by the International Palaeontological Association (Serviços de Ambiente de Santa Maria)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

House of the Fossils Museum: Vila do Porto, Santa Maria Island, Azores Archipelago, PT

2016-06-15 to present | Scientific Consultant (House of the Fossils Museum)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Governo dos Açores: Ponta Delgada, Ilha de São Miguel, PT

2020-12-20 to 2022-04-09 | Diretor Regional (Direção Regional da Ciência e Transição Digital)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

TERINOV, Science and Technology Park: Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, PT

2020-12-01 to 2022-04-09 | Vowel of the General Assembly (TERINOV, Science and Technology Park)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

NONAGON, Science and Technology Park: Lagoa, São Miguel Island, Azores Archipelago, PT

2020-12-01 to 2022-04-09 | President of the General Assembly (NONAGON, Science and Technology Park)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Fundo Regional para a Ciência e Tecnologia: Ponta Delgada, Ilha de São Miguel, PT

2020-12-01 to 2021-04-10 | Presidente do Conselho Executivo (Direção Regional da Ciência e Transição Digital)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

CIBIO-Açores/InBIO/BIOPOLIS: Ponta Delgada, Azores Archipelago, PT

2016-11-05 to 2020-12-22 | Vice-Director (CIBIO-Açores (University of the Azores)/InBIO/BIOPOLIS)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Ordem dos Biólogos/Delegação Regional dos Açores : Ponta Delgada, Azores Archipelago, PT

2008-03-28 to 2020-12-19 | President (Ordem dos Biólogos/Delegação Regional dos Açores )
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

CIBIO-Açores (Universidade dos Açores/InBIO/BIOPOLIS: Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, Azores Archipelago, PT

2015 to 2017 | Member of the Scientific Committee (CIBIO-Açores)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada: Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, Azores Archipelago, PT

2009 to 2017 | Deputado (Assembleia Municipal)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Instituto Português de Malacologia: Albufeira, Algarve, PT

2006-04 to 2009-03 | Secretary of the General Assembly (Instituto Português de Malacologia)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Ordem dos Biólogos/Delegação Regional dos Açores : Ponta Delgada, Azores Archipelago, PT

1999-03-27 to 2005-04-20 | Treasurer (Ordem dos Biólogos/Delegação Regional dos Açores )
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Funding (18)

¿Estudo de viabilidade de exploração comercial do caramujo Phorcus sauciatus: avaliação do efetivo populacional nos Açores e dos limites de captura¿

2023-12 to 2024-09 | Contract
Governo dos Açores (Ponta Delgada, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

Projeto 7.1 Controlo, Inspeção e Gestão - Phorcus sauciatus

GRANT_NUMBER:

Projeto 7.1 ¿ Controlo, Inspeção e Gestão - Phorcus sauciatus

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Macaronesia PalaeoBiodiversity Database

2022-01 to 2025-12 | Contract
Governo dos Açores (Ponta Delgada, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

M1.1.A/INFRAEST CIENT/A/001/2021

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Avaliação de riscos associados à formação e evolução de fajãs detríticas e lávicas nos arquipélagos vulcânicos portugueses

2021-03-29 to 2024-03-28 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/CTA-GEO/0798/2020

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology

2020-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

UID/BIA/50027/2019

GRANT_NUMBER:

UIDB/50027/2020

GRANT_NUMBER:

LA/P/0048/2020

GRANT_NUMBER:

UIDP/50027/2020

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Plano de Ação para o PAleoParque Santa MariA (PAP-SMA)

2019-11 to 2021-10 | Contract
Governo dos Açores (Ponta Delgada, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

AD36/DRA/2019

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

VRPROTO: Virtual Reality PROTOtype: the geological history of “Pedra-que-pica”

2019-10-01 to 2023-06-30 | Contract
Governo dos Açores (Ponta Delgada, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000078

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Plano estratégico para a prevenção e gestão da Introdução e pRopagação de espécies exóticas e INvasoras nos Açores (PRINBio); Task Moluscos terrestres

2019-10 to 2021-09 | Contract
Governo dos Açores (Ponta Delgada, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PRINBio

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Resolvendo o enigma dos megatsunamis: usando os impactos proximais para constrager a geração de tsunamis despoletados por colapsos vulcânicos

2018-08-01 to 2021-07-31 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/CTA-GEO/28588/2017

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Controls in benthic and pelagic BIODIversity of the Azores: BIODIAZ

2018-08 to present | Grant
DFG (Senckenberg, DE)
Part of GRANT_NUMBER:

METEOR cruise M150/1

Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Extending the General Dynamic Model (GDM) of oceanic island biogeography from the terrestrial to the marine realm: a multidisciplinary approach for a global biogeographic theory

2016-11 to 2021-10 | Contract
Ministério da Ciência Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

FCT/IF/00465/2015

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

PIMA-Programa Invasoras Marinhas nos Açores (Azores Marine Invasion Program)

2016-03 to 2017-10 | Contract
Governo Regional dos Açores (Ponta , Direcção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar, PT)
Part of GRANT_NUMBER:

Concurso Público nº3/2015/DRAM

Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila

Development of volcanic island shelves: insights from Sta. Maria Island and implications on hazard assessment, habitat mapping and marine aggregates management

2016 to 2020 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/GEO-GEO/0051/2014

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

PalaeoPark Santa Maria

2014-12 to 2017-12 | Contract
Governo dos Açores (Ponta Delgada, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

The House of the Fossils

2014-11 to 2015-07 | Contract
Governo dos Açores (Ponta Delgada, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

“The Route of the Fossils”.

2012-01-01 to 2014-12-31 | Contract
Governo dos Açores (Ponta Delgada, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

SRAM/2012/0011

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Echinoderm Biodiversity and Biogeography in Oceanic Islands: the Azores as a case study¿ (University of the Azores)

2010-01-01 to 2014-12-31 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Espécies exóticas marinhas introduzidas em estuários e zonas costeiras Portugueses: padrões de distribuição e abundância, vectores e potencial de invasão - INSPECT

2008-10-01 to 2011-12-31 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/MAR/73579/2006

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Introduced marine alien species in Portuguese estuaries and coastal areas: patterns of distribution and abundance, vectors and invading potential - INSPECT

2008-10-01 to 2011-12-31 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Lisbon, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER: 73579
Source: Self-asserted source
Sérgio P. Ávila via DimensionsWizard
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Peer review (9 reviews for 6 publications/grants)

Review activity for Geoheritage. (1)
Review activity for Journal of biogeography. (1)
Review activity for Marine biodiversity. (1)
Review activity for Marine biodiversity. (2)
Review activity for Polar biology. (2)
Review activity for ZooKeys. (2)