Personal homepage | David Abecasis

Post-graduate researcher.

MSc Coastal and Marine Studies, University of the Algarve 2008.

BSc. (Hon) Biology Applied to the Marine, University of Lisbon 2003.

David Abecasis is a marine biologist with a PhD in Marine Ecology (2013) and a

Masters in Coastal and Marine Studies (2008), both awarded by the University of

Algarve. He is currently a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at this institution.

Current Research Interests

David's main research interests include fish behavioral ecology and marine protected areas (MPAs) design and assessment. Over the last 10 years, he has contributed significantly to these fields of study by using acoustic telemetry to better understand fish movements and habitat use. Recently he has been focusing on evaluating the best MPA design and location through a combination of species distribution models, based on acoustic telemetry data, and spatial conservation planning software. Other research interests include marine biodiversity and fisheries biology. My main research interest is the spatial-temporal dynamics of commercially important fish species inside Marine Protected Areas. Other research interests include marine biodiversity and fisheries biology.

Thesis

PhD thesis: “Multispecies spatial dynamics under different protection levels: an evaluation of the effects and optimal design of the Luiz Saldanha Marine Park”. Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve.

Master’s thesis: “The use of conventional tagging and telemetry to study the movements of four sparidae species in Ria Formosa”. Faculty of Marine Sciences and Environment, University of Algarve.

Honours thesis: “Age and growth of bluemouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus from the Azores” (original title “Idade e crescimento do boca-negra, Helicolenus dactylopterus, nos Açores”). Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon.

 

Publications in international peer reviewed journals

Abecasis, D., Afonso, P., Erzini,K. in press. Can small MPAs protect local populations of a coastal flatfish, Solea senegalensis? Fisheries Management and Ecology.

Almada, F., Abecasis, D., Villegas-Rios, D., Henriques, S., Pais, M., Batista, M., Horta e Costa, B., Martins, J., Tojeira, I., Rodrigues, N., Araújo, R., Souto, M., Alonso, H., Falcón, J., Henriques, F., Catry, P., Cabral, H.N., Biscoito, M., Almada, V. in press. Ichthyofauna of the Selvagens Islands. Do small coastal areas show high species richness in the northeastern Atlantic? Marine Biology Research.

Abecasis, D., Afonso, P., Erzini,K. 2013. Small MPAs do not protect cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). Fisheries Research 147:196-201.

Doropoulos, C., Hyndes, G.A., Abecasis, D., Verges, A. 2013. Herbivores strongly influence algal recruitment in both coral and algal dominated coral reef habitats. Marine Ecology Progress Series 486:153-164.

Abecasis, D., Bentes, L., Lino, P.G., Santos, M. N., Erzini,K. 2013. Residency, movements and habitat use of adult white seabream (Diplodus sargus) between natural and artificial reefs. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 118: 80-85.

Coelho, R., Monteiro, P., Abecasis, D., Gonçalves, J.M.S. 2012. Macrofauna assemblages in a XVII century shipwreck: comparison with natural reefs and sandy bottoms. Brazilian Journal of Oceanography 60(4): 447-462.

Abecasis, D., Bentes, L., Erzini,K. 2012. Movements of Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sparidae) in a coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa, Portugal). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 28 (1): 126-129.

Abecasis, D., Bentes, L., Erzini,K. 2009. Home range, residency and movements of Diplodus sargus and Diplodus vulgaris in a coastal lagoon: Connectivity between nursery and adult habitats. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 85 (4): 525-529.

Abecasis, D., Cardigos, F., Almada, F., Gonçalves, J.M.S. 2009. New records on the ichthyofauna of the Gorringe seamount (Northeastern Atlantic). Marine Biology Research 5:605-611.

Lino, P.G., Bentes, L., Abecasis, D., Santos, M. N. & Erzini, K. Comparative behavior of  wild and hatchery reared white seabream (Diplodus sargus, Sparidae, Perciformes) released on artificial reefs off the Algarve (Southern Portugal). In: Tagging and Tracking of Marine  Animals with Electronic Devices, Nielsen, J.L.; Arrizabalaga, H.; Fragoso, N.; Hobday, A.; Lutcavage, M.; Sibert, J. (Eds.). Series: Reviews: Methods and Technologies in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 2009. Vol. 9, 23-34.

Abecasis, D., Erzini,K. 2008. Site fidelity and movements of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) in a coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa, Portugal). Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 79 (4): 758-763.

Abecasis, D., Bentes, L., Coelho, R., Correia, C., Lino, P.G., Monteiro, P., Gonçalves, J.M.S., Ribeiro J. and Erzini, K. 2008. Ageing seabreams: comparative study between scales and otoliths. Fisheries Research 89: 37-48.

Abecasis, D., Costa, A. R., Pereira, J. G. and Pinho, M.R. 2006. Age and growth of bluemouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus Delaroche, 1809, from the Azores. Fisheries Research 79: 148-154

Abecasis, D., Bentes, L., Ribeiro, J. Machado, D., Oliveira, F., Veiga, P., Gonçalves, J.M.S. & Erzini, K. 2006. First record of the Mediterranean Parrotfish, Sparisoma cretense in Ria Formosa (South Portugal). Marine Biodiversity Records 1, e27.