João Puga

My main focus is on how animals respond to changes in the ecosystem after a fire event. Some animals are more prone to survive fire events but which part of the community that actually survives is not well known. I want to understand:

a) how specific animal groups promote ecosystem recovery and at what rate;
b) find potential differences in community composition after fire events that can lead to new communities or ecosystems;
c) understand at what extent mitigation measures used to prevent soil erosion are beneficial to ecosystem recovery.


Other interests:

Application of audiovisual tools in the development of new methodologies for collecting field data and communicating science.

The importance of artificial ecosystems in regions with major human disturbance.

Conservation measures in high diversity areas and endangered species due to climate change and human induced alterations.

2007 - Graduate in Biology by the University of Aveiro, Portugal.

2012 - Graduate in Image and Lighting Operations by Escola de Tecnologias Inovação Criação, Portugal.

2016 - MSc in Applied Ecology by the University of Aveiro, Portugal

2022 - PhD in Biology by the University of Aveiro, Portugal

2007/2014 - Environmental consultant at Bio3 - Estudos e Projectos em Biologia e Valorização de Recursos Naturais, Lda.

2015 - Research fellow at FIRETOX "Efeitos tóxicos dos incêndios florestais nos sistemas aquáticos".

2015/2016 - Research fellow at RECARE "Research fellow at project RECARE “Preventing and Remediating degradation of soils in Europe through LandCare”.

2016/2017 - Research fellow at iSQAPER "Interactive Soil Quality assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural productivity and Environmental Resilience".

2022 (ongoing) - Researcher at "POLLINATE - Can biochar-engineered soils boost habitat use for pollinators in Portuguese sown biodiverse pastures?"

Ecology consultancy collaborations 2007/2014


Mediterranean Temporary Ponds Conservation Plan for the Alqueva area (EFMA), Portugal (2007-2008).

Ichthyofauna, pyrenean desman, aquatic macroinvertebrate and flora monitoring at Trutas dam, Portugal (2007-2012).

Ichthyofauna, aquatic macroinvertebrates, pyrenean desman, herpetofauna, birds and flora monitoring at Ferradosa, Olgas, Pretarouca and Sambade dams, Portugal (2007-2012).

Bird and flora monitoring at Moradal/Proença wind farm, Portugal (2007).

Birds, bats and flora monitoring at Alto Minho wind farm, Portugal (2007).

Birds monitoring at Perdigão wind farm, Portugal (2007).

Birds monitoring at Mastro wind farm, Portugal (2007).

Birds monitoring at Gardunha wind farm, Portugal (2007).

Birds monitoring at Chão Falcão III wind farm, Portugal (2007).

Birds and bats monitoring at Serra do Mú wind Farm, Portugal (2007-2008).

Birds and bats monitoring at Guarda II wind farm, Portugal (2007).

Birds and bats monitoring at Cabeço Rainha II wind farm, Portugal (2007-2008).

Monitoring of the endemic floristic species Linaria ricardoi at the Alqueva dam (EFMA), Portugal (2008).

Ecological section of the preliminary environmental conformity report of Pinhal Interior motorway, Portugal (2008).

Ecological section of the preliminary environmental conformity report of Baixo Tejo motorway, Portugal (2008).

Ecological section of the preliminary environmental conformity report for the TGV, between Poceirão and Caia, Portugal (2008).

Ecological section of the preliminary environmental conformity report for the conception, construction and operation of the Baixo Alentejo motorway, Portugal (2008).

Ecological section of the preliminary environmental conformity report for the conception, construction and operation of the Douro Interior motorway, Portugal (2008).

Ecological section of the environmental incidences study (AIncA) for the stabilization of the Mondego River between the dam-bridge and Portela bridge, Portugal (2008).

Ecological section of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the high power line of Fernão Ferro – Palmela and the Fernão Ferro substation, Portugal (2008).

Birds and flora monitoring at Mosqueiros II wind farm, Portugal (2008-2013).

Birds monitoring at Candeeiros wind farm, Portugal (2008-2013).

Birds monitoring at Bravo e Mougueiras wind farm, Portugal (2008).

Birds and flora monitoring at Chão Falcão II wind Farm, Portugal (2008).

Birds and flora monitoring at Chão Falcão I wind farm, Portugal (2008).

Birds and bats monitoring at Montalegre e Colmeias wind farm, Portugal (2008).

Birds and bats monitoring at Carreço-Outeiro II wind farm, Portugal (2008).

Biodiversity monitoring of the A4 motorway Amarante-Vila Real section, Portugal (2008).

Terrestrial fauna section of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and technical advisory for the Salamonde-Salamonde II dam, Portugal (2009).

Technical and environmental viability study for the recovery of the Canal da Siderurgia, Portugal (2009).

Scientific advisory service and management for the project Cegonhas na Web, Portugal (2009-2011).

Non-flying terrestrial vertebrates monitoring at the Transmontana motorway, Vila Real-Bragança section, Portugal (2009).

Monitoring of the aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna, ichthyofauna, phytobenthos, macrophytes, phytoplankton and River Habitat Survey at Alvito Dam to assess the ecological status under the Water Framework Directive, Portugal (2009-2010).

Mammal communities monitoring at Carreço-Outeiro II wind farm, Portugal (2009).

Ecological section of the strategic environmental assessment study (AIA) for the development of the National Road Network in coastal Alentejo and Algarve, Portugal (2009).

Ecological section of the environmental studies for the Pinhal Interior motorway, Portugal (2009).

Ecological section of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for Alvito dam and the high power line at 40kV between the dam and Falagueira substation, Portugal (2009).

Ecological section of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and mitigation measures project for the IP8 motorway between Baleizão and Vila Verde de Ficalho, Portugal (2009).

Ecological impact assessment (EIA) of the professional fishing facilities project in Ria de Aveiro, Portugal (2009).

Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA) of the New Lisbon Airport project, Portugal (2009).

Birds and flora monitoring at Pampilhosa da Serra wind farm, Portugal (2009).

Birds and bats monitoring at Contim wind farm, Portugal (2009).

Birds and bats monitoring at Serra de Nave wind farm, Portugal (2009).

Birds and bats monitoring at Alto do Marco wind farm, Portugal (2009).

Bats monitoring at Chão Falcão III wind farm, Portugal (2009-2013).

Bats monitoring at Chão Falcão II wind farm, Portugal (2009-2013).

Bats monitoring at Bornes wind farm, Portugal (2009).

Baseline ecological study and biodiversity monitoring for the Cercal wind farm, Portugal (2009).

Advisory reports in the ecological section of the environmental studies for the construction of the Baixo Alentejo motorway, Portugal (2009).

Advisory reports in the ecological section of the environmental studies for the construction of the Douro Interior motorway, Portugal (2009).

Flora monitoring at Serra de Bornes wind farm, Portugal (2010-2013).

Fauna and flora monitoring at Trutas dam, Portugal (2010-2013).

Fauna and flora monitoring at the Alvito Dam, Portugal (2010).

Fauna and flora monitoring at Prados wind farm, Portugal (2010-2013).

Ecological section of the strategic environmental assessment of SW Pólis, Portugal (2010).

Ecological section of the environmental incidences study (AIncA) for Salamonde dam’s complementary flood discharger, Portugal (2010).

Ecological section of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the IP2 motorway between Junqueira-Pocinho, Portugal (2010).

Ecological section of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Calheta dam, Madeira island, Portugal (2010).

Ecological section of the environmental conformity report for the Alvito dam, Portugal (2010).

Ecological monitoring for the construction phase of IP2 motorway plot 4 Longrovia-Trancoso, Portugal (2010).

Technical advisory for the monitoring plan update of Salamonde dam, Portugal (2010).

Birds monitoring at Pampilhosa da Serra wind farm, Portugal (2010).

Birds monitoring at Chão Falcão I wind farm, Portugal (2010-2012).

Ecological section of the land planning project for the hydrographical regions of Branca, Negra, Funda, Comprida, Rasa, Lomba and Patos lagoons in Flores island, Azores, Portugal (2010).

Ecological and hydromorphological sections of the surface water monitoring at Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva (EFMA) primary network, Portugal (2010-2012).

Bats monitoring at Lagoa Funda wind farm, Portugal (2010).

Technical advisory for the follow-up to the birds and bats monitoring at the Mosqueiros II wind farm, Portugal (2011-2012).

Fauna, flora and habitat sections of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Carvão-Ribeira dam, Portugal (2011).

Terrestrial and aquatic fauna monitoring at the Foz Tua dam, Portugal (2011-2012).

Bonelli eagle monitoring at Serra do Mú wind farm, Portugal (2011).

Red-billed chough, bats and flora monitoring at Meroicinha II wind farm, Portugal (2011-2013).

Ecological section of the environmental incidences study (AIncA) for the Santiago do Escoural wind farm, Portugal (2011).

Biodiversity section for Ria Formosa Mobility Plan, Portugal (2011).

Bat and flora monitoring for the power intensification project at the Salamonde II dam, Portugal (2011).

Water ecological status assessment at Trutas Dam under the Water Framework Directive, Portugal (2011).

Technical advisory on the ecological status of the receiving water line from the wastewater system of the Mining Park of Aljustrel, Portugal (2012).

Implementation of the Management Plan for Lagoa Funda wind farm lagoons, Portugal (2012-2013).

Ichthyofauna, diatoms and macroinvertebrates monitoring for the Project River regularization of Rio Grande da Pipa, Portugal (2012-2013).

Birds and flora monitoring at Maunça wind farm, Portugal (2012-2013).

Establishment of measures for Unio crassus Emergency and Population Maintenance Plan, Portugal (2012).

Environmental incidences study (AIncA) and preliminary monitoring of iberian wolf, bats and birds at Santa Comba wind farm, Portugal (2012).

Birds, flora and habitat monitoring at the 150 kV power line connecting Fernão Ferro station and the 400 kV power line of Palmela - Ribatejo, Portugal (2012-2013).

Birds monitoring at Lagoa Funda wind farm, Portugal (2012-2013).

Birds and flora monitoring at Meadas wind farm, Portugal (2012-2013).

Bats monitoring at Candeeiros wind farm, Portugal (2012).

Ecological status assessment of water bodies between Gondomar-Aguiar de Sousa (IC 24) on the A43/IC 29 Douro Litoral motorway, Portugal (2012).

Birds and bats monitoring at Tsitsikamma community wind farm, Eastern Cape, South Africa (2012-2013).

Bats monitoring at Rheboksfontein wind farm, Western Cape, South Africa (2012-2013).

Bats monitoring at West Coast One wind farm, Western Cape, South Africa (2012-2013).

Birds and bats monitoring at Noblesfontein wind farm, Northern Cape, South Africa (2012-2013).

Bats monitoring at Hopefield wind farm, Western Cape, South Africa (2012-2013).

Bats monitoring at Springfontein wind farm, Free State, South Africa (2012-2013).

Veronica micrantha monitoring at Bornes wind farm, Portugal (2013).

Flora monitoring at Prados wind farm, Portugal (2013).

Flora monitoring at the power reinforcement area of Mosqueiros II Wind Farm, Portugal (2013).

Birds, flora and benthic macroinvertebrates monitoring at the Termitrena terminal, Portugal (2013).

Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae) monitoring at Prados wind farm, Portugal (2014).

Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) monitoring at Girabolhos dam, Portugal (2014).

Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) and Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae) monitoring at Foz-Tua dam, Portugal (2014).

Evaluation study on the availability of natural prey (roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and boar (Sus scrofa)) for the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) in the Almeida region, Portugal (2014).