Dr. Geraldo Wilson Fernandes | Ecologia | Best Academic Researcher Award
Professor Titular,University of Minas Gerais ,Brazil
Prof. Geraldo Wilson Afonso Fernandes stands out as an internationally respected ecologist with over four decades of contributions to science. He is a thought leader in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and ecological interactions. His CNPq 1A fellowship, global collaborations, and leadership in impactful ecological projects make him a model candidate for any high-level research award.
Profile:
Education:
Geraldo Wilson Afonso Fernandes holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil, earned in 1983. He completed both his M.Sc. (1987) and Ph.D. (1992) in Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology at Northern Arizona University (NAU), USA, under the supervision of Dr. Peter W. Price. His postgraduate research focused on the distribution patterns and mechanisms of gall-forming insects. He has also completed two postdoctoral fellowships: one at Stanford University (2015–2016), where he served as a Tinker Professor, and another at the University of Seville (2019–2020), supported by CAPES.
Professional Experience;
Fernandes is a highly respected ecologist and a CNPq Level 1A Research Productivity Fellow in Brazil. Over his career, he has held visiting professorships at the University of Alberta (2011), Stanford University (2016), and the University of Seville (2020). He is affiliated with several graduate programs in Brazil, including Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management, Genetics (both at UFMG), Biodiversity and Natural Resource Use (UNIMONTES), and the Recovery of Degraded Areas (UFV). Internationally, he collaborates with research programs in Mexico, including INECOL, UNAM, and the University of Seville.
Research Focus:
His research is centered on biodiversity, ecosystem services, community ecology, herbivory, environmental monitoring, ecological restoration, climate change, chemical ecology, and ecological interactions. He has made significant contributions to understanding the ecological roles of gall-forming insects and the biogeography of biodiversity patterns. He also leads a major international project under the CYTED program (Spain), focusing on the role of protected areas in supporting ecosystem services, particularly the ecological and economic implications of pollinator declines.
Skills:
Fernandes is an expert in ecological monitoring, biodiversity assessment, and ecosystem service evaluation. His skillset also includes field-based ecological research, data analysis, bioprospecting, and the development of phytotherapeutic and biodiversity-based products. His interdisciplinary expertise spans environmental science, chemical ecology, and climate-related ecological modeling.
Awards and Recognition:
In 2018, Fernandes was elected a full member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences—one of the highest academic honors in the country. He has received multiple fellowships and awards from Brazilian research agencies, including CNPq and CAPES. His academic distinction is further underscored by his long-standing role as a top-tier CNPq researcher (Level 1A).
Publications:
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Title: Adapting to a shifting planet: The future of Drosera species amidst global challenges and conservation imperatives.
Authors: Olivares-Pinto, Ulises; Lopes, Julio Cesar Santiago; Ruiz-Aguilar, Criseida; Oki, Yumi; Fernandes, Geraldo Wilson.
Journal: Anthropocene
Volume: 49
Pages: 100466
Year: 2025
Citations: –
2.
Title: Addressing the urgent climate and biodiversity crisis through strategic ecosystem restoration in Brazil.
Authors: Liévano-Latorre, Luisa Fernanda; De Almeida-Rocha, Juliana M.; Akama, Alberto; Almeida, Hernani Alves; Andrade, Ricardo Teixeira Gregório; Dos Anjos, Marcelo Rodrigues; Antonini, Yasmine; Bahia, Thaise de Oliveira; Barbosa, Flavia Rodrigues; Barbosa, Reinaldo Imbrózio; Barros, Claudia Franca; Bergallo, Helena Godoy; Brabo, Liliane Souza; Camilo, Andre Restel; Capellão, Renata; Carpanedo, Rainiellen de Sá; Castilho, Carolina Volkmer; Cavalheiro, Larissa; Cerqueira, Rui; Cordeiro, Carlos Leandro; Córdova, Milton Omar; Crouzeilles, Renato; Da Cunha, Cátia Nunes; Desbiez, Arnaud; Dreschler-Santos, Elisandro Ricardo; et al.
Journal: Biological Conservation
Volume: 302
Pages: 110972
Year: 2025
Citations: 1
3.
Title: Complex temporal dynamics of insect metacommunities along a tropical elevational gradient.
Authors: Neves, Frederico S.; Silva, Pedro Giovâni da; Camarota, Flávio; Nunes, Cássio Alencar; Hortal, Joaquín; De Castro, Flávio S.; Beirão, Marina; Ramos, Letícia; Solar, Ricardo; Fernandes, Geraldo Wilson.
Journal: Ecography
Volume: 2025
Pages: e07455
Year: 2025
Citations: –
4.
Title: Mining tailings severely impact plant communities in a rainforest watershed.
Authors: Fernandes, G. Wilson; Ramos, Letícia; De Souza Justino, Wénita; Kenedysiiqueira, Walisson; Figueiredo, João Carlos Gomes; Oki, Yumi; Goulart, Fernando Figueiredo; Dos Santos, Rubens Manoel; Viana, João Herbert Moreira; Nunes, Yule Roberta Ferreira; Aguilar, Ramiro; Poorter, Lourens; Van Der Sande, Masha T.; Negreiros, Daniel.
Journal: Anthropocene
Volume: 49
Pages: 100462
Year: 2025
Citations: –
5.
Title: Towards the reference ecosystems for quartzitic campo rupestre: Floristic composition and soil relationships.
Authors: Cunha-Blum, Jéssica; Ramos, Letícia; Negreiros, Daniel; Paiva, Dario C.; Gomes, Vanessa M.; Borges, Leonardo M.; Teles, Aristônio M.; Fernandes, G. Wilson.
Journal: Ecological Engineering
Volume: 211
Pages: 107463
Year: 2025
Citations: –
6.
Title: Unveiling Rainfall’s Role in Shaping Woody Plant Functional Traits and Diversity in Northern Namibia.
Authors: Shikongo, Albertina M. N.; Fabiano, Ezequiel C.; Fernandes, Geraldo W.
Journal: African Journal of Ecology
Volume: 63
Pages: e70014
Year: 2025
Citations: –
7.
Title: Variation in wood density across South American tropical forests.
Authors: Sullivan, Martin J. P.; Phillips, Oliver L.; Galbraith, David; Almeida, Everton; De Oliveira, Edmar Almeida; Almeida, Jarcilene; Dávila, Esteban Álvarez; Alves, Luciana F.; Andrade, Ana; Aragão, Luiz; Araujo-Murakami, Alejandro; Arets, Eric; Arroyo, Luzmila; Cruz, Omar Aurelio Melo; Baccaro, Fabrício; Baker, Timothy R.; Banki, Olaf; Baraloto, Christopher; Barlow, Jos; Barroso, Jorcely; Berenguer, Erika; Blanc, Lilian; Blundo, Cecilia; Bonal, Damien; Bongers, Frans; et al.
Journal: Nature Communications
Volume: 16
Pages: 2351
Year: 2025
Citations: –
Conclusion:
Dr. Xiang Que demonstrates an excellent balance of academic rigor, research innovation, and potential for Prof. Geraldo W. A. Fernandes is exceptionally qualified for the Best Researcher Award, and his career reflects the award’s ideals of global scientific leadership, innovation in ecological research, and long-standing academic excellence. Any recognition bestowed upon him would not only be deserved but would also uplift the visibility of critical ecological and biodiversity research in the Global South.