Get to know... Teresa Freitas

My name is Teresa Raquel, and I am a researcher at the AppClim laboratory, integrated within CITAB. My scientific work focuses on studying the influence of climate on flora and fauna. 

As part of my PhD (2021–2024), I assessed the impact of climate change on crops of national importance, namely chestnut and almond trees in mainland Portugal, to understand how changes in climate patterns affect their productivity and distribution. In parallel, I participated in studies applied to olive groves and vineyards, maintaining the same scientific framework. I am currently involved in the PIMA project, coordinated by LEFT (UTAD), where I carry out ecological studies, with a particular focus on the relationship between climate and species distribution. Among the most recent studies, I highlight research on marsh gentian and the blue butterfly, both important indicators of ecosystem health. In the future, I intend to continue these lines of research, extending the studies already conducted on chestnut and almond trees to a European scale, within the ChAlSE project. 

I believe that the scientific work I carry out can contribute to society by promoting more efficient and sustainable management of agricultural systems, as well as the conservation of biodiversity. I aim to generate knowledge, supported by technical and scientific partnerships, which will enable the anticipation of challenges and support strategies for adaptation to climate change.