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Hire Luís A.

Portugal

USD 20 /hr

Marine Biologist with expertise across aquaculture, marine conservation and NGOs. Strong communicator in diverse topics.

Profile Summary

Biology BSc from the Faculty of Sciences in the University of Lisbon (2017) and Aquaculture and MarineResource Management MSc from Wageningen University and Research (2021). Interested in the biology andecology of marine keystone and foundation species, the effects of anthropogenic climate change in marineecosystems and ecological restoration of habitats. Deeply fascinated by the intrinsic dynamics that supportecosystem resilience and how these can be potentiated to reverse contemporary ecosystem degradation.Currently Research Fellow at MARE - University of Lisbon (Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente) withinthe project "ChangingMoods: Ecological role of unsophisticated cognition within cleaning mutualisms in achanging ocean". Open Water Scuba Instructor and Local Skipper, with working experience in Sesimbra(Portugal). Performed research work on the growth and composition of fouling communities on artificial reefsin the North Sea (Wageningen Marine Research, The Netherlands). Worked on a public aquarium (Oceanáriode Lisboa, Portugal), maintaining and improving the health of exhibition animals and correct functioning oflife support systems. Worked with NGOs (REEFolution Trust and Ocean Alive) focused on the conservation andrestoration of tropical coral reefs and temperate seagrass meadows, while supporting, incorporating andengaging local communities. Skilled in underwater video and photography, video (stereo-DOVs) and visualsurveys, census and analysis, mounting stationary recording stations, acquiring samples for genetic,taxonomic and microbiome analysis, extracting sediment cores, mapping habitats using geospatialinformation, estimating life history metrics of benthic organisms (e.g. density, percent cover, growth, survival),conducting physiology experiments, rearing different animal groups ex-situ, designing, building anddeploying artificial structures for habitat restoration, collecting live animals, fish sampling using differenttechniques (electrofishing, gill netting, seine fishing, trap netting and trawl fishing) and educational andawareness activities for different audiences. During xxxxxxxxx managed, created and actively participated inenvironmental education activities that reached students from basic (+200), middle (+70), high (80) school anduniversity (68) levels. Furthermore, similar actions where adapted to the general public (+2000), tourismoperators (~30), collaborators from sponsor brands (~250) and science teachers (15). Also led, managed andactively participated in awareness campaigns that reached +2700 individuals of the public, coordinatingvolunteers (+150) and contributing to the removal of nearly 7 tonnes of litter from the Sado Estuary (Portugal).Published 2 peer-reviewed scientific articles as first author.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Botany
• ☆ Marine Botany
• ☆ Cannabis/CBD
• ☆ Zoology
• ☆ Wildlife Management
• ☆ Ichthyology
• ☆ Ornithology
• ☆ Herpetology
• ☆ Cetology
• ☆ Aquatic Mammals
• ☆ Mammalian Biology
• ☆ Primatology
• ☆ Equine Studies
• ☆ Marine Biology
• ☆ Aquaculture
• ☆ Earth & Atmospheric Science
• ☆ Biogeography
• ☆ Environmental Science
• ☆ Environmental Management & Protection
• ☆ Environmental Remediation
• ☆ Deforestation
• ☆ Ecology
• ☆ Ecosystem Management
• ☆ Applied Ecology
• ☆ Ecological Restoration
• ☆ Conservation Biology
• ☆ Marine Conservation
• ☆ Marine Ecology
• ☆ Aquatic Ecology
• ☆ Conservation Genetics
• ☆ Grasslands
• ☆ Systems Ecology
• ☆ Biodiversity
• ☆ Human Ecology
• ☆ Landscape Ecology
• ☆ Volunteer Tourism
• ☆ Ecotourism
• ☆ Soccer
• ☆ R
• ☆ Medical Writing
• ☆ Research Summaries & Abstracts

Services

• Writing

Writing Technical Writing, Copywriting, Creative Writing, Newswriting, Audio Transcription, General Proofreading & Editing, Translation

Work Experience

Research Fellow

MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre

December 2024 - Present

Divemaster & Boat Skipper

Haliotis Dive Center

May 2022 - October 2024

Marine Biologist

Ocean Alive

May 2022 - June 2024

Aquarist

Oceanário de Lisboa

July 2021 - January 2022

Research Intern

Wageningen Marine Research

January 2018 - July 2018

Education

MSc Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management

Wageningen University & Research

September 2018 - April 2021

BSc Biology

University of Lisbon

September 2013 - July 2017

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Catarina Vinagre, Luís Pedro Almeida, Pilar Ronquillo, Vanessa Mendonça, Duarte Frade, Emanuel J. Gonçalves, Karim Erzini, Ester A. Serrão (2025). Network analysis reveals humans as top predators and the key role of cuttlefish in the food web structure of a marine protected area (Arrábida Natural Park) . Ecological Complexity.

L. P. Almeida, R. Osinga, EG Knoester (2024). Differential responses in recovery, growth and survival between intertidal and subtidal corals after acute thermal stress . Marine Biology.

L.P. Almeida, J.W.P. Coolen (2020). Modelling thickness variations of macrofouling communities on offshore platforms in the Dutch North Sea . Journal of Sea Research.

REPORT

4º Relatório de Progresso Projeto: Conservação e Restauro da pradaria Base-ferry @techreport { author = {Luís Pedro Almeida and H. Fernández, Ángela and Lia Neves and Ricardo A. Ribeiro and Raquel Gaspar}, title = {4º Relatório de Progresso Projeto: Conservação e Restauro da pradaria Base-ferry}, year = {2025}, month = {feb}, institution = {Ocean Alive} }. Ocean Alive.

Baseline information and awareness raising. Cambalhão seagrass meadow, Sado estuary, Portugal @techreport { author = {H. Fernández, Ángela and Luís Pedro Almeida and Lia Neves and Ricardo A. Ribeiro and Raquel Gaspar }, title = {Baseline information and awareness raising. Cambalhão seagrass meadow, Sado estuary, Portugal}, year = {2023}, month = {dec}, url = {https://zenodo.org/records/14800636}, institution = {Ocean Alive} } . Ocean Alive.