Otília Correia

Associate Professor

Ecophysiology Functional adaptations Biodiversity Mediterranean vegetation Ecological restoration

I received a PhD in Biology - Ecology and Systematics, from the University of Lisbon in 1988 and I am currently leading the Environmental Stress and Functional Ecology group (ESFE) of cE3c.

At present, I am an Associate Professor at the Plant Biology Department of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, where I have been involved in several courses related with Plant Ecology, Terrestrial Ecosystems Dynamics and Ecophysiology.

For many years I have been involved in the ecophysiological and phenological patterns of Mediterranean species, underlying responses to environmental stresses (drought, high light and temperature).

My particularly goal is to understand the impacts of abiotic and biotic drivers in ecosystems structure and functioning, in particular the effects of fire, water stress and invasive species. I am also interested in understanding the role that restoration might play in reducing human impacts on biotic communities and in developing techniques to increase and accelerate successional processes in restored sites.

My main research interests are: (i) plant functional traits and ecophysiological mechanisms that allow plant persistence in stressful habitats; (ii) plant ecology of Mediterranean and sand dune ecosystems; (iii) regeneration and vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean ecosystems; (iv) restoration and rehabilitation of degraded areas.