Rodrigo Domingues
Who I am
Growing up near the beaches of São Paulo, Brazil, I developed a deep fascination for marine life from a young age. Spending countless hours surfing, I often pondered the presence of sharks nearby, feeling a blend of awe and respect for these creatures. Their beauty and majesty captivated me, prompting my focus on sharks and rays during my undergraduate studies in marine biology at Santa Cecilia University.
During this formative period, I eagerly explored the diverse marine fauna brought ashore by local fishers each day, though sadly often lifeless. Following my undergraduate studies, in 2009 I began to pursue a Master’s degree, delving into conservation genetics applied to elasmobranchs. My research focused on identifying Carcharhinus sharks in the south-western Atlantic, a challenging task due to their morphological similarities. By leveraging genetic tools, I successfully distinguished between species.
This experience ignited my passion for genetics and its role in conservation biology. Subsequently, during my PhD studies, I investigated the genetic connectivity and phylogeography of pelagic sharks such as Carcharhinus signatus (night shark) and C. falciformis (silky shark) in the western Atlantic Ocean (SOSF). In addition, I wrote a report emphasising the importance of genetic diversity in informing shark and ray conservation policies. Since completing my PhD, I have continued to explore the genetic underpinnings of shark and ray ecology and evolution, employing genetics as a pivotal tool in my research endeavours.
Where I work
My research focuses primarily on the western Atlantic Ocean, with a particular emphasis on the population genetics of several shark species such as the night, silky and scalloped hammerhead sharks. Recently, however, I have shifted my attention to endemic elasmobranchs in the south-western Atlantic.
Brazil stands out among the 18 megadiverse countries, boasting 7,491 kilometres (4,655 miles) of coastline that is dotted with numerous marine protected areas, yet faces significant impact from human activities. The coast of the state of São Paulo encompasses several cities, among them São Vicente, the oldest city in Brazil, and neighbouring Santos, home to the world’s longest beachfront garden and renowned football club Santos FC. However, it also hosts Latin America’s largest industrial hub (Cubatão) and port (Santos), which contribute significantly to marine pollution through direct and indirect discharge into estuaries and the ocean.
Despite these challenges, the region is also characterised by unspoilt marine protected areas just a few kilometres away. The juxtaposition of these two contrasting environments makes the Baixada Santista region an exceptional natural laboratory for studying the impacts of human activities on various endemic and endangered elasmobranch species.
What I do
I am a molecular ecologist specialising in bio-informatics, genetics, evolution and omics sciences (transcriptomics and genomics), with a keen interest in the diversity, ecology and evolution of elasmobranchs. Utilising the four letters of the genetic code – A, C, G and T – I strive to decode biological, physiological, ecological and evolutionary insights in marine fish, particularly elasmobranchs. My research employs molecular methodologies such as population genetics, seascape genetics and phylogeography, and is also directed towards developing wildlife forensic tools for law enforcement and trade monitoring.
Throughout my scientific career I have balanced field work, lab experiments and computational analyses. Currently, unlike many marine biologists, I dedicate a significant portion of my time to robust bio-informatic analyses on computers. My ongoing research focuses on transcriptomics and genomics to explore how oceanographic features influence the genetic diversity and population structure of elasmobranchs.
For this project, I am investigating the relationship between pollutants and gene expression in critically endangered guitarfish in the south-western Atlantic. The work involves sampling guitarfish from both impacted and protected areas, conducting lab experiments and performing bio-informatic analyses.