Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (DCEA), NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT) Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica

Carlos David Santos is an ecologist and conservation biologist whose current research focuses on the ecological impacts of sea level rise on coastal wetland ecosystems. He is an Assistant Professor at NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT-NOVA) and an Affiliated Scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany.
Carlos has developed broad expertise in animal tracking, spatial ecology, and remote sensing, integrating these approaches to investigate large-scale patterns of ecological processes and environmental change. His work sits at the intersection of behavioural ecology, conservation biology, and global change science, with particular emphasis on how climate-driven pressures and anthropogenic activities are reshaping ecosystems.
As a former professor and researcher in Brazil, Carlos played a central role in conservation initiatives focused on shorebirds and coastal wetlands, working in partnership with academic institutions, NGOs, and governmental agencies. He contributed to the establishment of protected areas and the development of national conservation policies aimed at safeguarding critical habitats for shorebirds along the Brazilian coast and in the Amazon.
His scientific contributions span diverse fields, including bird migration, shorebird foraging ecology, the ecological impacts of wind energy development, tropical forest conservation, and freshwater fish ecology. Many of his recent publications are based on large-scale, publicly available datasets, which he leverages to address urgent conservation challenges.
Currently based at MARE – NOVA, Carlos leads research projects that combine satellite imagery, biologging, and geospatial modelling to monitor and predict the effects of sea level rise and related stressors on coastal wetlands.
His work supports evidence-based conservation planning and contributes to global efforts in biodiversity protection and ecosystem resilience, in alignment with MARE’s mission to advance high-impact, policy-relevant environmental research.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5693-9795

Google Scholar ID: n5JCT30AAAAJ

Scopus Author ID: 13008240200

Researcher ID: E-5881-2013

Ciência ID: B01E-4459-6C98

Phone: (+351) 963739860

Email: cdsantos@fct.unl.pt