Ana Mota Cerveira

I received a Ph.D. in Behavioural Sciences from the University of Canterbury in 2008 and I am currently collaborating with the Ecophysiology of Small Mammals and with the Machine Learning Ecology Groups at the University of Lisbon. My research focus on the behavioural ecology of small mammals and jumping spiders. In particular, my work has focused on the reproductive barriers between Lusitanian and Mediterranean pine voles, as well as the interplay between the fossorial lifestyle and sociality. Regarding jumping spiders, my research has focused on geographic variation in behaviour, specifically the mechanisms behind their preference for local prey. More recently, I developed an interest in illustration as a means to communicate and share science visually. By creating illustrations for scientific publications and outreach initiatives, I seek to convey scientific knowledge in a straightforward and appealing manner and thus narrow the gap between science and the public.