Renato Silva

In 2013, I graduated in Biology by the faculty of Science of University of Porto. Since september 2014, I attend the second year of masters course in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution. I am working in my master thesis in distribution patterns and population structure of golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Europe and Middle East, under the supervision of Dr. Francisco Alvares and Drª Raquel Godinho.

The distribution of the Golden jackals in Europe is extremely dynamic and this canid is found across southwestern Europe from Italy until Romania. However, both species distribution and genetic evaluation are under documented, although previous studies detected a high genetic structure in golden jackal populations in Israel and the Balkans. I will analyze mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from tissue samples of European and Middle East golden jackals and access the population structure, genetic diversity and gene flow among these populations. With my study I aim contribute to obtaining greater information about distribution of golden jackal in Europe, to update the area of presence and compile information of this species, and understand the genetic diversity and population structure of golden jackal in Europe and Middle East, in order to support management strategies and to infer the source populations and routes of expansion for Europe.

My main interest is in population genetics and its application to conservation.