João Pedro (JP) Fontenelle

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Biography

JP has a BSc in biological sciences and a MSc in zoology from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil, and a PhD in Environmental Sciences from the University of Toronto, Canada. JP is fascinated by patterns of diversity (genetic and taxonomic) and the eco-evolutionary mechanisms that are involved in the generation and maintenance of these patterns though time and space. JP´s research uses empirical datasets, modelling and bioinformatic tools to examine the temporal and spatial consequences of cyclic irruptive population dynamics on population genetic and molecular ecology inferences, as well as our ability to delineate underlying micro and macro evolutionary processes. When not in the lab, JP spends his time playing and cooking for his two boys and cat, enjoying a nice beer and/or coffee, and zipping around town of his bike.

Currently, JP is a Visiting Scholar at Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (Brazil)

Education

  • University of Toronto
    Doctor of Philosophy : Environmental Sciences (2015-2020)
  • Universidade de São Paulo
    Master of Sciences: Zoology (2011-2013)
  • Universidade de São Paulo
    Bachelor of Sciences: Biological Sciences (2006-2010)

Role in the lab

JP is currently investigating the effects of demographic changes related to irruptive cyclic outbreaks on genetic composition, structure and diversity at the genomic level using individual-based computer models and empirical datasets. By combining simulation models and empirical data, JP’s research aims to document how different demographic patterns of cyclic outbreaks affect our ability to identify the temporal context of outbreaks using a combination of genetic inference methods.

Publications

In review

Hemraj-Naraine, D., Fontenelle, J. P., Acosta-Santos, A., Lovejoy, N., Elford, L., Kolmann, M. A. A new species of freshwater stingray (Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygoninae) from the Demerara River, Guyana. Neotropical Ichthyology.

Published

20). Albert, J., Abrahão, V., Akin, D., Allen, J., Andrade, M., Arce, M., Armbruster, J., Benine, R., Bernt, M., Bichuette, M., Birindelli, J., Bragança, P., Britto, M., Buckup, P., Burns, M., Calegari, B., Carvalho, T., Casatti, L., Costa, W., Crampton, W., Dagosta, F., Egan, J., Fernández, L., Figueiredo, J., Fitzgerald, D., Fontenelle, J. P., Haddad, E., Kolmann, M., Langeani, F., Lehmann, P., Leitão, R. P., Loeb, M., Lucena, C., Lucinda, P., Lujan, N., Malabarba, L., Matamoros, W., Melo, B., Netto-Ferreira, A., Pavanelli, C., Pelicice, F., Pereira, E., Plasencia, X., Ramos, R., Rocha, M., Roxo, F., Sant’Anna, V., Shibatta, O., Silva, R., Slobodian, V., Stange, M., Tagliacollo, V., Tan, M., Torgersen, K., Winemiller, K., Reis, R. (2025). An Ecological Trait Matrix of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes. Nature Scientific Data.DOI

19). Charvet, P., Fontenelle, J. P., Rincón, G., Rosa, R. S., de Araújo, M. L. G., Prang, G., Torres, Y. (2024) (all authors made an equal contribution to this chapter). River Jewels. IUCN Red List – IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group.DOI

18). Fontenelle, J.P.; Larroque, J.; Legault, S.; Wittische, J.; Underwood, J.A.R.; James, P.M.A. (2024) Multi-year genotype characterization of eastern spruce budworm outbreaking populations from Quebec and adjacent regions. Ecology.DOI

17). Magnuson, A.D.; Dean, M.N.; Weaver, J.; Fontenelle, J.P.; Lovejoy, N.R.; Kolmann, M.A. (2024) Ecological and phenotypic diversification after a continental invasion in Neotropical freshwater stingrays.Integrative and Comparative Biology, icae023.

16). Perez, T. J., Fontenelle, J. P., Kolmann, M. A., Angulo, A., López-Fernández, H., & Lovejoy, N. R. (2023). Comparing Approaches to Specimen Identification using Neotropical Freshwater Fishes in the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. bioRxiv, 2023-10.

15). de Brito, V.; Betancur-R, R.; Burns, M. D., Buser; T. J.; Conway, K. W.; Fontenelle, J. P.; Kolmann, M. A.; McCraney, W. T.; Thacker, J. P.;Bloom, D. D. (2023). Species interactions and niche conservatism limit phenotypic diversification following marine/freshwater transitions in fishes. INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY.

14). Elbassiouny, A. A., Fontenelle, J. P., Kocovsky, P. M., Mandrak, N. E., Lovejoy, N. R. (2023). Genetic structure of the Silver Chub indicates distinctiveness of Lake Erie population. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. DOI

13). Taphorn, D. C., Liverpool, E., Lujan, N. K., DoNascimiento, C., Hemraj, D. D., Crampton, W. G. R., Kolmann, M. A., Fontenelle, J. P., de Souza, L. S., Werneke, D. C., Ram, M., Bloom, D. D., Sidlauskas, B. L., Holm, E., Lundberg, J. G., Sabaj, M. H., Bernard, C., López-Fernández, H., Armbruster, J. W. (2022). Annotated checklist of the primarily freshwater fishes of Guyana. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 168(1), 1-95. DOI

12). de Brito, V.; Betancur-R, R.; Burns, M. D.; Buser, T. J.; Conway, K.; Fontenelle, J. P.; Kolmann, M. A.; McCraney, W. T.; Thacker, J. P.; Bloom, D.D. (2022). Patterns of Phenotypic Evolution Associated with Marine/Freshwater Transitions in Fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology. DOI.

11). Kolmann, M. K., Marques, F. P. L., Weaver, J., Dean, M. N., Fontenelle, J. P., Lovejoy, N. R. (2022). Ecological and Phenotypic Diversification After A Continental Invasion in Neotropical Freshwater Stingrays. Integrative and Comparative Biology. DOI.

10). Frable, B. W., Melo, B. F., Fontenelle, J. P., Oliveira, C., Sidlauskas, B. L. (2022). Biogeographic reconstruction of the migratory Neotropical fish family Prochilodontidae (Teleostei: Characiformes). Zoologica Scripta 51.3 (2022): 348-364. DOI

9). Fontenelle, J. P., Lovejoy, N. R, Kolmann, M. A., Marques, F. P. L. (2021). Molecular phylogeny for the Neotropical Freshwater Stingrays (Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygoninae) reveals limitations fo traditional taxonomy. The Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. DOI

8). Albert, J. S., Bernt, M. J., Fronk, A. H., Fontenelle, J. P., Kuznar, S. L., Lovejoy, N. R. (2021). Neogene megariver captures and the Great Amazonian Biotic Interchange. Global Planetary Change. DOI

7). Fontenelle, J. P., Marques, F. P. L., Kolmann, M. A., Lovejoy, N. R. (2021). Biogeography of the Neotropical freshwater stingrays (Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygoninae) reveals the effects of continent-scale paleogeography and drainage evolution. Journal of Biogeography. DOI

6). Hauser, F. E., Fontenelle, J. P., Elbassiouny, A. A., Mandrak, N. E. and Lovejoy, N. R. (2019). Genetic structure of endangered lake chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta in Canada reveals a differentiated population in a precarious habitat. Journal of Fish Biology. DOIdoi:10.1111/jfb.14155

5). Calegari, B. B., Fontenelle, J. P. (2018). Geographic distribution maps tutorial. Part II – Hypsometric Map. Boletim da Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia No 124. P. 14 – 34.

4). Fontenelle, J. P., Loboda, T. S., Kolmann, M., Carvalho, M. R. (2017). Angular cartilage variation and structure among Neotropical freshwater stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae), with comments on function and evolution. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. P. 1 – 22.

3). Fontenelle, J. P., Carvalho, M. R. (2017). Systematic revision of the Potamotrygon scobina Garman, 1913 species-complex (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae), with the description of three new freshwater stingray species from Brazil and comments on their distribution and biogeography. Zootaxa 4310 (1) P. 1 - 63.

2). Fontenelle, J. P., Carvalho, M. R. (2016). Systematic implications of brain morphology in Potamotrygonidae (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes). Journal of Morphology 277 (2) P. 252 – 263.

1). Fontenelle, J. P., Silva, J. P. C. B., Carvalho, M. R. (2014). Potamotrygon limai, sp. nov. a new species of freshwater stingray from the upper Madeira River system, Amazon basin (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae). Zootaxa (3), P. 249 – 268.

Fundings and Awards

  • Ontario Genomics / CANSSI Ontario Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genome Data Science (OG/CANSSI)
  • International PhD Scholarship (CNPq)
  • International Research Award (FAPESP)
  • Masters in Science Scholarship (FAPESP)
  • Undergraduate Research Scholarship (FAPESP)
  • Top Cited Article - Journal of Biogeography (WILEY)
  • Graduate Student Research Award (UTSC)
  • Edward C. Raney Fund Award (ASIH)
  • Best Student Paper Award (NIA)
  • Best Student Oral Presentation Award (3rd place) (ISPCNF)
  • T-Holder’s Academic Excellence Award (UofT)

Society Memberships

  • Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE)
  • Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution (CSEE)
  • Ecological Society of America (ESA)
  • American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology (ASIH)
  • Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia (SBI)
  • Neotropical Ichthyology Association (NIA)