RAQUEL VASCONCELOS
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1836-7647
SCOPUS Author ID: 57200105518
Research Gate: Raquel Vasconcelos
Ciência ID (CienciaVitae): 321B-8D3D-4B3D
RESEARCH INTERESTS
SELECTED RESEARCH PROJECTS
My major research interests are animal behaviour and neurophysiology, namely understanding the social role of vocal communication signals and how sounds are produced and detected by the vertebrate nervous system. I am interested in the physiological mechanisms underlying auditory sensitivity and how changes in the environment (eg. increasing noise pollution) can impact hearing, behavior and possible physiological adaptations.
Presently, my research lines focus on social behavior, vocal communication and auditory sensitivity in fish. I have been using the highly vocal Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus, Batrachoididae) and, more recently, the zebrafish Danio rerio, as my major study organisms.
Ongoing research projects cover the following topics: (1) ontogenetic development of multimodal communication; (2) developmental of auditory-vocal systems; (3) hormonal control of auditory sensitivity; and (4) effects of noise on early development and noise pollution.
A parallel project, in collaboration with The University of Hong Kong (Global Night Sky Brightness Monitoring Network), focuses on light pollution in Macau.
- 2021 | 2024 – SenSing – Acoustic communication in changing sensory environments: testing adaptive responses with the vocal fish model Danionella translucida. 在不斷變化的感官環境中的聲音交流:使用發聲魚 Danionella translucida 測試適應性反應. FDCT 068/2020/A2. Research Team: Raquel O. Vasconcelos (PI), Paulo J. Fonseca (University of Lisbon), David Goncalves (USJ, Macau), Celia Shunter (The University of Hong Kong).
- 2016 | 2019 – ZEBRASONIC- Listening to the Environment: Importance of Early Acoustic Experience on Development and Hearing in Zebrafish/ 聆听环境:斑马鱼早期听力及发育的声学体验重要性. FDCT 036/2015/A1. Research Team: Raquel O. Vasconcelos (PI), Andrew H. Bass (team member).
- 2014 | 2015 – Hormonal control of auditory sensitivity in the zebrafish Danio rerio. Postdoc Associate Fellowship, Cornell University, NY, USA. (Raquel O. Vasconcelos; Andrew H. Bass lab)
- 2012 | 2016 – The vocal brain of fish: development of auditory processing and vocal motor control. FDCT 019/2012/A1. Research Team: Raquel O. Vasconcelos (PI), Paulo J. Fonseca (team member), Joseph Sisneros (team member).
- 2011 – Differential roles of saccule and utricle for directional hearing and vestibular sense in a vocal benthic fish, Halobatrachus didactylus. Research Fellowship from the Grass Foundation, Marine Biological Laboratory, MA, USA. (RO Vasconcelos)
PUBLICATIONS
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Bolgan, M., Matos, A., Van-Dunem, S., Penim, J., Amorim, M. C. P. (2024) Characterization of the vocal behavior of the miniature and transparent Danionella cerebrum (Cyprinidae). The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 155. doi: 10.1063/5.0045281.
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Gordillo-Martinez F., Ramos A., Lau I. H. Effects of Noise Exposure and Ageing on Anxiety and Social Behaviour in Zebrafish. (2023) Biology 12, 1165. doi: 10.3390/biology12091165.
- Vasconcelos, R. O. (2023) Zebrafish as a model in Bioacoustics: investigating sensory responses to noisy environments. In: Popper, A.N., Sisneros, J., Hawkins, A.D., Thomsen, F. (eds) The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-10417-6_179-1.
- Wang, W., Turco, T., Fonseca, P. J., Vasconcelos, R. O., Coureaud, G., Amorim, M. C. P., Beauchaud, M. (2023) Chronic Boat Noise Impacts on the Early Life Stages of Cichlids (Maylandia zebra): Preliminary Findings. In: Popper, A.N., Sisneros, J., Hawkins, A.D., Thomsen, F. (eds) The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-10417-6_179-1.
- Lau, I. H., Vasconcelos, R. O. (2023) Noise-induced damage in the zebrafish inner ear endorgans: evidence for higher acoustic sensitivity of saccular and lagenar hair cells. Journal of Experimental Biology 226 (22): jeb245992. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.245992.
- Wong, M. I., Lau, I. H., Gordillo-Martinez, F., Vasconcelos, R. O. (2022) Impact of temporal variation in noise exposure on the auditory system and behavioural stress in the zebrafish. Scientific Reports 12, 15353. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19573-y.
- Lara, R., Breitzler, L., Lau, I. H., Gordillo-Martinez, F., Chen, F., Fonseca, P. J., Bass, A. H., Vasconcelos, R. O. (2022) Noise-induced hearing loss correlates with inner ear hair cell decrease in larval zebrafish. Journal of Experimental Biology 225. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243743.
- Lara, R., Vasconcelos, R. O. (2021) Impact of noise amplitude and temporal patterns on development, physiological stress and behavioural patterns in larval zebrafish. Scientific Reports 11, 6615. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85296-1.
- Breitzler, L., Lau, I. H., Fonseca, P. J., Vasconcelos, R. O. (2020) Noise-induced hearing loss in zebrafish: functional and structural inner ear damage and recovery. Hearing Research 391, 107952. doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2020.107952
- Lara, R. A., Vasconcelos, R. O. (2019) Characterization of the natural soundscape of zebrafish and comparison with the captive noise conditions. Zebrafish, 16, 152-164. COVER ARTICLE
- Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O., Bolgan, M., Pedroso, S., Fonseca, P. J. (2018) Acoustic communication in marine shallow waters: testing the acoustic adaptive hypothesis in sand gobies. Journal of Experimental Biology, jeb183681.
- Chaves. P. P., Valdoria, C. M., Amorim, M. C., Vasconcelos, R. O. (2017) Ontogenetic development of the inner ear saccule and utricle in the Lusitanian toadfish: potential implications for auditory sensitivity. Hearing Research, 352, 112-121.
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Alderks, P., Sisneros, J. A. (2016) The development of structure and sensitivity of the fish inner ear. In Sisneros, J. A. (Ed.) Fish Hearing and Bioacoustics: An anthology in honor of Arthur N. Popper and Richard R. Fay. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Vol. 877, 291-318, Springer Science + Business Media, New York.
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Alderks, P. W., Ramos, A., Fonseca, P. J., Amorim, M. C. P., and Sisneros, J. A. (2015) Vocal differentiation parallels development of auditory saccular sensitivity in a highly soniferous fish. Journal of Experimental Biology 218: 2864-2872. (Featured in Inside JEB – Toadfish hearing improves with age)
- Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O., Fonseca, P. J. (2015) Fish sounds and mate choice. In Ladich, F. (Ed.) Sound Communication in Fishes. Vol. 4, 1-33, Springer-Verlag, Wien.
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Carriço, R., Ramos, A., Modesto, T., Fonseca, P. J., Amorim, M. C. P. (2012) Vocal behaviour predicts reproductive success in a teleost fish. Behavioral Ecology, 23: 375-383.
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Sisneros, J. A., Amorim, M. C. P., Fonseca, P. J. (2011) Auditory saccular sensitivity of the vocal Lusitanian toadfish: low frequency tuning allows acoustic communication throughout the year. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 197: 903-913.
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Fonseca, P. J., Amorim, M. C. P, Ladich, F. (2011) Representation of complex vocalizations in the Lusitanian toadfish auditory system: evidence of fine temporal, frequency and amplitude discrimination. Proceedings of Royal Society B 278: 826-834.
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Simões, J. M., Almada, V. C., Fonseca, P. J. & Amorim, M. C. P. (2010) Vocal behaviour during territorial intrusions in the Lusitanian toadfish: boatwhistles also function as territorial keep-out signals. Ethology 116: 155-165.
- Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O. & Parreira, B. (2009) Variability in the sonic muscles of the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus): acoustic signals may reflect individual quality. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87: 718-725.
- Vasconcelos, R. O. & Ladich, F. (2008) Development of vocalization, auditory sensitivity and acoustic communication in the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus. Journal of Experimental Biology 211: 502-509.
- Amorim, M. C. P. & Vasconcelos, R. O. (2008) Variability in the mating calls of the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus: potential cues for individual recognition. Journal of Fish Biology 72: 1355-1368.
- Vasconcelos, R. O., Amorim, M. C. P. & Ladich, F. (2007) Effects of ship noise on the detectability of communication signals in the in the Lusitanian toadfish. Journal of Experimental Biology 210: 2104-2112.
- Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O., Marques, J. & Almada, F. (2006) Seasonal variation of sound production in the Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus. Journal of Fish Biology 69: 1892-1899.
TEAM
Collaborators
Research
Andrew Bass
Cornell University, USA
Clara Amorim and Paulo J. Fonseca
University of Lisbon, Portugal
Joseph A. Sisneros
University of Washington, USA
Jason Chun Shing Pun
The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Flora Gordillo-Martinez
Postdoc fellow
Flora investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Age-Related of Hearing Loss.
Rafael Ayala Lara
PhD Student
Rafael is looking at the effects of environmentally significant noise levels on early development and stress responses in zebrafish.
Man Ieng (Vivian) Wong
Master Student
Vivian’s work focuses on effects of noise exposure and aging on hearing sensitivity (temporary threshold shifts) and how different gene expression profiles in the saccule may relate to sensory loss.
Former students
Lukas Breitzler, MSc student (USJ, Macau)
Ciara Valdoria, BSc student/research assistant (USJ, Macau)
Patricia Chaves, MSc student (ISPA, Lisbon)
Mei Ka Lam, MSc student (USJ, Macau)
Yolanda Lau
Research Assistant
Yolanda assists in various studies with a focus on morphological changes in the sensory receptors and underlying molecular mechanisms.