Anthropological Institute & Museum

Research Interests

Brain tissue required a high amount of energy to be developed and maintained. However, most of the studies in brain size evolution have focused in the benefits of having big brains whereas energetic costs associated to brain enlargement have been less considered. The aim of my PhD project is to test the predictions flowing from the energy-cost perspective in order to integrate them with the benefits-oriented approach. So, I hope to understand better the taxonomic variation in relative brain size and clear the conditions under which positive pressures would be able to produce bigger brains. For this, I will compile data to conduct multivariate tests in different taxonomic groups in order to evaluate their validity, and test whether energetic and developmental costs are compensated by other benefits. My PhD project will be under the supervision of Prof. Carel van Schaik and Dr. Karin Isler (Anthropological Institute, University of Zurich).

Academic Record

MSc in Animal Biodiversity – Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain (2007)

MSc in Experimental Biology – Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain (2006)

BSc in Biology, specialty of Biology of Organisms and Systems – Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain (2004)

Thesis

"Diet and development effect on the brains of Columbiformes”, submitted to the Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain (2007)

“Learning and feeding efficiency in urban pigeons (Columba livia): the cost of being a juvenile”, submitted to the Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain (2007)

Relevant Research Experience

• Assistance period in the library of the Zoological Museum of Barcelona, Spain (2002)

• Collaboration in the reintroduction project of the Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni) in the Bird Garden of Marlow, Germany (2004)

• Elaboration of the census of urban pigeon (Columba livia) in Gava, Spain (2006)

• Collaboration in several projects directed by the Research Group in Biology, Ecology, Behaviour, Phylogeny and Conservation of Vertebrates of the Department of Animal Biology of the University of Barcelona, Spain (2005-2007)