Lilian T. Manica

Lilian T. Manica is a Professor in the Zoology Department at the Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), where she leads research in behavioral ecology and avian biology. She is dedicated to understanding the complex interplay between behavior, evolution, and ecology in Neotropical birds, with her research focused on sexual selection, animal communication, host-parasite interactions, and conservation.
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Her academic journey began with a PhD in Ecology from the Universidade de Brasília (2009-2013), where she investigated multimodal sexual selection in Blue-black Grassquits. This built upon her Master's work on cooperative breeding in White-banded Tanagers, forming the foundation for her current focus on Atlantic Forest species like the Swallow-tailed Manakin.​
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She serves as Associate Editor for Ornithology and is a former Executive Committee member of the Animal Behavior Society. Her integrative research bridges fundamental questions in animal behavior, advancing both scientific knowledge and biodiversity studies in threatened ecosystems.
André C. Guaraldo

André C. Guaraldo is a professor at the Zoology Department at UFPR since 2022 (between 2019 and 2022, professor at the Department of Zoology of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora). He is a biologist graduated at UNESP Rio Claro, where he gained experience with reproduction, migration and ecology of birds (thanks to his friend Carlos Otávio Araújo Gussoni), as well as frugivory and seed dispersal. He has a PhD in Ecology from the University of Brasilia (UnB). In 2014 he developed a postdoctoral project (PDJ) in the laboratory of Dr. Regina Macedo (UnB) and between the late 2014 and early 2019 he was a postdoctoral fellow (PNPD) in PPG Ecology and Conservation at UFPR.
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In Ornithology, he has experience with traditional techniques (e.g.: observations, captures, acoustic and visual censuses of populations, ring marking, nest monitoring, biological sample collection, taxidermy) and the use of more specific methods and more recent technologies (e.g.: stable isotope analysis and use of geolocators). He has fluency in sampling and experimental design and linear and circular univariate data analysis.
PhD students

Victor André Rodrigues
PPG Zoologia UFPR
Project: Stopovers and staging areas for migratory birds: a review of the state of the art, identification and conservation
Advisor: André Guaraldo
Master students
Elisa de Castro Wille Nonino
PPG Ecologia e Conservação UFPR
Project: Invisible networks: Microbiome, sociability and coloration in swallow-tailed manakins
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Laura Valeria Cubillos Ariza
PPG Ecologia e Conservação UFPR
Project: City survivors: Assessing the body condition of birds in an urban gradient in the Atlantic Forest
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Helena Ody Neves
PPG Zoologia UFPR
Project: Vibrational and sexual stimuli in the courtship of swallow-tailed manakins: a new perspective on reproductive behaviour in Pipridae (Aves: Passeriformes)
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Undergraduate students
Gabriel Luiz Burak
Biological Sciences UFPR
Project: Gestural and acoustic elements in bird courtship: understanding female performance.
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Past members
Postdoc
Daniela Malgarini Perez - website
PPG Ecologia e Conservação and Jovem Talento CAPES/PRINT
Project: Building hope: can nests help mitigate the effects of climate change in birds
PhD students
Paulo Sérgio Pereira de Amorim
PPG Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza UFJF
Project: Effects of neighbor-stranger discrimination on the life-history of the Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
Advisor: André Guaraldo
Rafael de Oliveira Fratoni
PPG Ecologia e Conservação UFPR
Project: "Display consistency in lekking birds: the role of signal complexity, relatedness and social interactions"
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Victor Aguiar de Sousa Penha
PPG Ecologia e Conservação
Title: "Ecology and macroevolution of birds and the relationship with malaria parasites: implications for plumage coloration and the influence of life history"
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Pedro Henrique Lima Ribeiro
PPG Zoologia
Project: "The Swallow-tailed Manakin display and relationship with environmental and social contexts"
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Susana Aguilar Mugica
PPG Zoologia
Title: "Dinámica espacio temporal de la comunidad de aves acuáticas, influencia de la estructura del paisaje y efectos del cambio climático, en función de la conectividad de humedales costeros del sur de Cuba"
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Master's
Pablo Fernandes Rêgo Nóra
PPG Zoologia UFPR
Project: "Effects of parasites on elements of the courtship display of Swallow-tailed manakin males (Chiroxiphia caudata, Passeriformes: Pipridae)."
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Gabriela Monique de Oliveira
PPG Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza UFJF
Advisor: André Guaraldo
Sarah Pereira Barros (co-advisored)
PPG Ecologia e Conservação UNEMAT
Advisor: Fabricius M. C. B. Domingos
Rafael de Oliveira Fratoni
PPG Ecologia e Conservação
Project: "Song and territory of the Neotropical River Warbler (Myiothlypis rivularis) and relationship with parasites"
Karla Patricia da Silva (co-advisored)
Title: "Understanding altitudinal migration inTurdus flavipes: a bioacoustic approach"
PPG Ecologia e Conservação UFPR
Advisor: André Guaraldo
Laura Schaedler
PPG Ecologia e Conservação
Project: "Phenotypic interaction networks in Swallow-tailed Manakins (Chiroxiphia caudata)"
Fernando José Ferneda Freitas
PPG Zoologia
Project: "Birds and coccidian oocysts: is plumage coloration a predictor of parasites infection?"
Co-advisor: Karla M. Campião (UFPR)
Collaborator: Regina H. Macedo (UnB)
Gabriel Massaccesi De La Torre
PPG Ecologia e Conservação
Title: "Effects of hemiparasites and body condition on plumage coloration of Turdus albicollis"
Co-advisor: André Guaraldo (UFPR)
Collaborator: Érika Braga (UFMG)
Eduardo Brandt
PPG Zoologia
Title: "Bioacoustic response of five Passeriformes under anthropogenic noise"
Pedro Henrique Lima Ribeiro
PPG Zoologia
Title: "Cooperative displays in blue manakins (Chiroxiphia caudata) and copulation success"
Scientific Initiation
Helena Ody Neves
Biological Sciences UFPR
Advisor: Lilian Manica
Larissa Gomes de Jesus
Biological Sciences - Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
Project: Lateralization in the visual system of the Swallow-tailed Manakin in context of the courtship display
Bárbara Stefânea da Silva
Biological Sciences - Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
Project: Geographic variation in the Green-backed Trogon (Trogon viridis) song
Ana Beatriz Roscia Costa
Title: "Does morphology define an acrobat? The case of blue manakins (Chiroxiphia caudata)"
Laura Maria Schaedler
Title: "Vocal repertoire of blue manakins (Chiroxiphia caudata)"
Undergraduate Thesis
Carolina Martins
Biological Sciences UFPR
Advisor: André Guaraldo
Letícia Mara Ceolin Antqueves
Title: Artificial nests occupation by Red-tailed Parrot Amazona brasiliensis (Aves: Psittaciformes) at Ilha Rasa, Guaraqueçaba, PR
Rafael de Oliveira Fratoni
Title: "Ectosymbionts and their effect on body condition of Atlantic Forest Passeriformes"
Amanda Cristina Protski
Title: "Latitudinal variation of songs in blue-black grassquits"
Stephanie Caroline Schubert
Title: "Validating the WikiAves platform as a tool for studying migratory patterns of Brazilian birds"
Co-advisor: André Guaraldo
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Thays Verônica Prestes
Title: "Behavioral responses of urban birds to anthropogenic disturbance in green areas in Curitiba, PR"
Co-advisor: André Guaraldo