Dr. Ada F. Eslava

Short profile

I am an ecologist with interests spanning community ecology, macroecology and biogeography. I particularly interested in investigating the mechanisms underpinning the maintenance of biodiversity, and the processes, either natural or human-induced, that drive biodiversity and ecosystem changes. My goal is also to produce research that can be useful for the management and conservation of ecosystems.

In my current role within the Reassembly research unit, I investigate forest recovery by synthesising abundance, trait, and interaction data across multiple taxa. I also conduct bioinformatic analyses of DNA barcoding and metabarcoding datasets to support the work of my colleagues. These data offer exciting opportunities to expand our knowledge of taxa that are difficult or impossible to monitor without molecular approaches, such as environmental and host-associated microbes.

Although I am fascinated by all organisms, my interest in community ecology first developed through studying freshwater fish communities in the island of Trinidad, which is the famous home of the guppy, but harbours a much more diverse fish fauna than is often appreciated. Thus, I continue to have a particular affinity for fishes and occasionally work on questions related to their ecology.

More broadly, I enjoy teaching and mentoring students, and currently participate in the two research modules taught by our lab while also contributing to student training and supervision.