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Aldina Franco

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Aldina Franco

Prof

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6055-7378

  • 01.11 Sciences

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

I have project ideas available in the following areas:
- development of bird migratory behaviour
- design of protected areas for biodiversity conservation
- microclimate and climate extreme effects on animal movement and behaviour

Personal profile

Biography

Research Overview

My research investigates how biodiversity responds to global environmental change, integrating movement ecology, biogeography, and conservation science. I am particularly interested in how species shift their distributions, alter migratory strategies, and adapt to rapidly changing environments.

By combining quantitative modelling with next-generation animal tracking technologies, my work seeks to uncover the mechanisms driving variation in dispersal and migration, and to understand how environmental pressures reshape these behaviours. A central focus of my research is explaining why some populations abandon migration, why others expand their ranges, and how these behavioural shifts influence long-term population viability.

Alongside this fundamental work, I examine how anthropogenic activities—such as land-use change and energy infrastructure—affect biodiversity, and how these impacts can be minimised through evidence-based conservation strategies. 

Impact

My research contributes directly to conservation policy and practice. I work closely with governmental and non-governmental organisations to identify and implement measures that protect endangered species and mitigate the effects of environmental change.

My work has informed major biodiversity assessments, including the Wildlife Comeback in Europe report and the Living with Environmental Change report card, where I quantified climate-driven changes in butterfly distributions in the UK. More broadly, my research supports the design of conservation priorities and strategies for wide-ranging and migratory species, particularly in the context of rewilding and landscape-scale management.

Ultimately, my goal is to help ensure that human societies can thrive while maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Research Interests

  • Movement ecology: dispersal, migration, and behavioural plasticity
  • Macroecology and biogeography: species range dynamics and distribution models
  • Ecological and behavioural responses to climate change, climate extremes, use of micro-climate refugia and land-use change
  • Behavioural ecology: individual variability in movement strategies
  • Development and use of animal tracking technologies (e.g. GSM and LoRa multi-sensor devices)
  • Conservation planning for wide-ranging and migratory species

 Research projects

I am involved in a several research projects as Principal Investigator (PI) and co-Investigator (co-I).

- Birds on the Move (2020-2023). Co-I Portuguese Science Foundation funded grant. PI. Dr. Ines Catry. InBio/CIBIO. University of Porto.

 Website: http://whitestork.org/

- SENSUM: Smart SENSing of landscapes Undergoing hazardous hydrogeological Movement (2020-2022). Co-I NERC Digital Environment. PI: Dr. Georgina Bennett, University of Exeter.

- Refugial Populations at Trailing-Edge Range Margins: Attributes, Survival and Conservation. Co-I NERC standard grant (2015-2018) PI: Prof. Chris Thomas, University of York

- Migratory decisions in a changing world: mechanisms and drivers of changing migratory behaviour (2013-16). PI NERC standard grant.

Development of animal tracking devices

I coordinate the Movetech Telemetry project at UEA, this is a collaboration with BTO and University of Porto, Portugal. We develop state-of-the-art tracking devices for wildlife that include multiple sensors (e.g. barometer, accelerometer).

NERC Proof-of-Concept (2016-2017) Long range wireless devices for high-resolution monitoring of animal movement. Co-Is JP Silva (UL e UP), P Atkinson (BTO)

https://www.uea.ac.uk/movetech/devices 

 PhD and postdoctoral positions

Self-funded PhD projects:

- Designing protected areas networks that incorporate animal movement and habitat connectivity Supervisors: Aldina Franco (UEA), Rachel Carmenta (DEV, UEA), Trevor Torhurst (ENV,UEA) and Carlos David Santos (Universidade Federal do Para', Brazil). contact me if you are interested.

I am happy to accept PhD students and postdocs and to help develop funding applications (e.g Marie Curie, FCT studentships, SwB). My group has an international focus, I am fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.  

Click here for current PhD opportunities in the School of Environmental Sciences. However, feel free to email me to discuss projects outside these areas and alternative sources of funding. 

Key Responsibilities

Research Group or Lab Membership

 

 

Bibek Shrestha
SENSS DTP- PhD studentD student (2023-2027)
Project: Park, People, and Pressures: Evaluating Protected Areas and Community Forests'
Governance Models Effectiveness for Conservation & Wellbeing in Nepal

 

Charlie Russell
ARIES DTP- PhD student (2023-2027)
Project: Identifying multi-scale exposure of anthropogenic threats to migratory birds

 

Karolina Zalewska
ARIES DTP- PhD student (2021-2025)
Project: Identifying microclimate refugia opportunities for biodiversity conservation under climate change

 

Past lab members

 

Rita Ramos
FCT (Portugal)- PhD student (2020-2024)
Project: Movement, behaviour and microclimate habitat requirements of endangered grassland birds in a warming world

 

Bruno Herlander
FCT (Portugal) PhD student (2020-2024)
Project: Ecological and evolutionary implications of anthropogenic food subsidies on wildlife

 

Joao Gameiro
FCT- Portugal PhD student (2018-2022)
Project: Population and environmental drivers of long-term persistence of conservation reliant species

 

Jethro Gauld
NERC EnvEast DTP PhD student (2018-2022)
Project: Improving detection and estimation of birds’ collision risk with energy infrastructure

 

Ines Catry
Post-doctoral Research Fellow (2018-2023)
FCT Project: Effects of climate on the breeding biology, habitat quality and population dynamics of steppe birds http://www.isa.utl.pt/ceabn/membro/1/48/ines-catry 

 

Marta Acacio
NERC CDT NEXUSS PhD Student (2018-2021)
Project: The influence of environmental variables on the migratory behaviour of white storks. Website: https://martaacacio.com/ 

 

Claire Buchan
NERC Env EAST DTP PhD Student (2017-2021)
Project: Demographic consequences of different migratory strategies in a partially migratory species

 

Kate Rogerson
NERC EnvEAST DTP PhD Student (2015-2019)
Project: Mechanisms driving changes in migratory behaviour of long-lived birds in response to global environmental change

 

Phil Saunders
NERC Case PhD student (2012-2016)
Project: The role of habitat and climate change in recent declines in Eastern and Western populations of European rollers (Coracias garrulus)

 

Osgur McDermott Long
PhD student (2013-2017)
Project: Response of Biodiversity to Climate Variability and Climate Change

 

James Gilroy
Post-doctoral Research Fellow (2014-2016)
NERC Project: Migratory decisions in a changing world: mechanisms and drivers of changing migratory behaviour -http://www.uea.ac.uk/lesser-kestrel-migration/ 

 

Nathalie Gilbert
NERC PhD student CASE project with BTO (2011-2015)
Project: The role of climate and habitat changes in changing species migratory decisions and population dynamics

 

Ricardo Correia
FCT  PhD student (2010-2014)
Project: Climate change effects on land use and bird communities of Iberian Peninsula extensive agricultural systems: a conservation approach (with J. Palmeirim, University of Lisbon)

 

Martin Sullivan
NERC PhD student (2010-2013)
Project: Environmental and climatic factors that influence current and future distributions of non-native breeding bird species in Southern Europe

 

Audrey Zannese
Post-doctoral Research Fellow (PDRA) (2010-2013)
NERC project: The role of dispersal on species’ ability to respond to climate change

 

Eveliina Kallioniemi
UEA PhD student (2009-2013)
Project: The role of dispersal on species ability to track climate change

 

Teaching Interests

My core teaching is research lead.  I teach ecology to undergraduate and postgraduate students and my teaching includes several links to my research on ecological responses to environmental change.

  • ENV-5014A Population Ecology and Management
  • ENV-6006A Biodiversity Conservation and Human Society
  • ENV-7034A GIS and its Applications for Modelling Ecological and Environmental Change

Administrative Posts

Chair of Postgraduate Taught Programmes SEP at the School of Environmental Sciences

Career

2009-present Academic (Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader/Associate Professor) at the school of Environmental Sciences, UEA

2007-2009 Postdoctoral Researcher in animal movement at Washington State University, Oregon, USA

2003-2007 Postdoctoral Resarcher examining species range contractions due to climate change, at the Universities of Leeds and York

2003 - PhD in Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, UEA

1997-1999 - Project Manager, Liga para a Proteccao da Natureza, Portugal

1997 - Environmental Consultant

1997- MSc in Maths Applied to Biological Sciences, University of Lisbon

1995- BSc in Biology with Ecology, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  2. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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