Lilian Rodrigues Ferreira de Melo

About

I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in ecological interactions, pollination systems, and the evolution of floral traits. Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher at Uppsala University in the lab of Prof. Mario Vallejo-Marin. My work focuses on how pollinator behavior influences pollen transfer patterns and male reproductive success in buzz-pollinated species. I design and conduct controlled experiments in flight arenas to observe and record bee interactions with Solanum flowers, providing insights into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of pollination.

Education

• 2019 - 2023 PhD in Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity. Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
  Title: Evolution of pollen flowers in Angiosperms, 2023
  Advisor: Vinícius Lourenço Garcia de Brito
  Co-supervisor: Thaís Nogales da Costa Vasconcelos
• 2017 - 2019 Master's degree in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources. Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
  Title: Evolution of stem dimorphism and its correlation with floral and reproductive traits in a family with pollen flowers, 2019
  Advisor: Prof. Dr. Vinicius Lourenço Garcia de Brito
  Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ana Paula de Souza Caetano
• 2012 - 2016 Bachelor of Biological Sciences. Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
  Title: Dynamics of nectar secretion in yellow passion fruit flowers (Passiflora edulis Degener) and its relationship with the visitation rate of pollinators and thieves
  Advisor: Prof. Dr. Solange Cristina Augusto

Research

I investigate how bee behavior during floral visits influences pollen movement and male fitness in buzz-pollinated species, using flight arena experiments and detailed pollination tracking methods.

Publications

1. Barônio GJ; Guimarães BMC; Oliveira LC; Melo, LRF; Antunes PR; Cardoso RKOA; Araújo TN. (2018). Between flowers and visitors: strategies for providing and collecting floral resources. Oecologia Australis v.22, 390-409. link
2. Melo LRF; Guimarães BMC; Barônio GJ; Oliveira LC; Cardoso RKOA; Araújo TN; Telles FJ. (2018). How bees perceive flowers and why this is important? Oecologia Australis v.22, 362-389. link
3. Melo LRF; Vasconcelos T; Reginato M; Caetano APS; Brito VLG. (2021). Evolution of stamen dimetrism in Melastomataceae, a large radiation of pollen flowers. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics v.48, 125589. link
4. Melo LRF; Vasconcelos TNC; Caetano APS; Brito VLG. (2022). Stamen Diversity in Melastomataceae: Morphology, Color, and Function. In Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae, Springer. link
5. Reginato M, Ordónez-parra CA, Messeder JVS, Brito VLG, Dellinger A, Kriebel R, Melo LRF, et al. (2024). MelastomaTRAITs 1.0: A Database of Functional Traits in Melastomataceae. Ecology 105(6): e4308. link
6. Anderson B, et al. including Melo LRF. (2024). Pollen Wars: Explosive Pollination Removes Pollen Deposited from Previously Visited Flowers. Am Nat. Dec 204(6):616-625. link

CV

You can download my full curriculum vitae in PDF format below:

Download CV (PDF)

Photos

A glimpse into my fieldwork, experiments, and scientific journey.

Contact

Email: lilian.melo@ebc.uu.se

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0472-9101

ResearchGate: Profile