Groupe de spécialistes des mollusques de la CSE de l'UICN

Manuel Lopes-Lima is a researcher and group leader at CIBIO/InBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Portugal, where he has led the Freshwater Conservation, Diversity and Evolution research group since 2024. His research focuses on the ecology, evolution and conservation of freshwater biodiversity, with particular emphasis on freshwater mussels, one of the most threatened groups of animals globally. His work integrates evolutionary biology, molecular ecology, population genetics and conservation science to understand species diversification, ecological interactions and the drivers of biodiversity decline in freshwater ecosystems.

A central aspect of his career has been the development of extensive international scientific networks spanning Europe, the East Mediterranean and Southwest Asia, Southeast Asia, South America and North America. Through long-standing collaborations with researchers and institutions across these regions, he has contributed to major studies on freshwater biodiversity, systematics, conservation planning and biological invasions. These partnerships have enabled comparative research across diverse freshwater systems and have facilitated knowledge exchange on biodiversity monitoring, evolutionary processes and conservation strategies.

His research also seeks to understand how species respond to environmental change and climate stressors. He investigates how freshwater organisms respond to pressures such as rising temperatures, hydrological change and habitat degradation. By combining genomic approaches, ecological modelling and field studies, his work explores adaptive responses, phenotypic plasticity and population resilience to climate change. This research contributes to understanding the vulnerability of freshwater biodiversity under future climate scenarios and helps inform conservation and management strategies.

Another important component of his research focuses on biological invasions in freshwater ecosystems. He has worked extensively on the distribution, ecology and impacts of invasive freshwater species, particularly invasive bivalves and other aquatic organisms. By combining ecological studies with molecular tools such as environmental DNA, he aims to improve the detection of invasive species, understand their spread and assess their ecological consequences for native communities. These studies contribute to improving early detection, monitoring and management of invasive species at regional and global scales.

In recent years, he has also worked on advancing the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches for freshwater biodiversity monitoring. He has led large-scale biodiversity surveys and conservation assessments in remote regions, including several projects in Africa. By integrating molecular tools, field ecology and conservation planning, his research aims to improve biodiversity detection, identify priority areas for conservation and develop innovative monitoring strategies for aquatic ecosystems.

He has authored more than 200 scientific publications, including books and book chapters, and his work is widely cited in the fields of freshwater ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation science. He is also actively involved in global conservation initiatives and currently co-chairs the Molluscs Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, contributing to global biodiversity assessments and conservation planning for these invertebrate species.

Training early-career scientists and supporting international collaboration are also important aspects of his work. He serves as an Invited Professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and contributes to international teaching programmes, including the MSc in Biodiversity, Genetics and Conservation at Mandume Ya Ndemufayo University in Angola. Over the years, he has supervised numerous MSc and PhD students, organised international scientific meetings and helped establish collaborative research initiatives that strengthen global capacity for freshwater biodiversity conservation.

Before entering academia full time, he spent more than a decade as an entrepreneur managing a commercial aquaculture company. This experience provided him with a strong applied perspective on aquatic ecosystem management and natural resource use. It continues to inform his research today, which seeks to bridge fundamental science and applied conservation, contributing to international conservation strategies, biodiversity assessments and capacity-building initiatives across multiple regions.