Luis Martín San José García

My research interest focuses on the study of the distinct evolutionary forces driving animal communication. Particularly, I am interested in the evolution of sexually selected ornamental colorations of animals and how the extant theoretical models (the ‘handicap’ theory, rock-paper-scissors dynamics, etc) explain their origin and evolutionary stability. As model species, I worked with lizards, which commonly show elaborate and diverse ornamental colourful traits that have been rarely studied from an evolutionary point of view. In my research, I combine different approaches to study the evolution of coloration, including physiological, behavioural, and environmental aspects of lizard coloration as well as the influential role of colour traits in population dynamics and speciation.

2012-
First assistant at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne.

2007-2011
PhD, Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid, Spain. “Carotenoid-based coloration of Lacerta vivipara Jacquin 1787: physiological, enviromental and population implications”

2001-2006
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid