José Carlos Caetano Xavier is a Portuguese scientist and Polar explorer.
Early life and education
Xavier graduated from University of Algarve with a master's degree in Marine Biology in 1997 and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 1999. He has been carrying out Antarctic research since 1997, on 7 research expeditions ; most recently in 2012.
Career
Xavier is a Professor and principal investigator of the Institute of Marine Research of the University of Coimbra and at the British Antarctic Survey collaborating with researchers from more than 15 countries. He was one of the leading scientists for the implementation of the national research program PROPOLAR and of the educational program LATITUDE60!, during the International Polar Year. Xavier co-founded the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists and is also a member of the Education and Outreach sub-committee of the International Polar Year. He is involved in more than 40 educational activities and events, nationally and internationally, giving talks in schools, producing exhibitions and directing educational films, among other activities. He was involved in the institutional efforts for Portugal to join the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research, European Polar Board and signing the Antarctic Treaty. He co-led Portugal's polar science, education and outreach activities during the International Polar Year.
Investigation interests
In his research areas are Marine Biology, Behavioral Ecology, Oceanography, Modeling, Foraging and Feeding Ecology. Xavier studies the foraging behavior and feeding ecology of top predators in relation to climate change. As a marine biologist, his main research areas are focused on understanding food web dynamics in marine ecosystems. Xavier studies penguins, albatrosses, seals and other mammals, sharks, conger eels and other fish, turtles, paying special attention to Cephalopods in the diet of top predators.
Behavioral ecology of top predators in relation to climate change in the Antarctic Ocean
Food choices of top predators: squid, fish or krill
Quantification of the impact of predators in ocean resources: implications on conservation and fisheries management
Awards
In 2011, Xavier was the youngest recipient of the Martha T. Muse Prize for his work on science and politics in the Antarctic
Books
Scientific societies
Scientific committee for Antarctic Research research program SCAR Ant-ERA
Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research Development Council
Co-secretary and newsletter editor of the research program Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic, of the Scientific Committee of Antarctic Research
Finance Committee of the Scientific Committee of the Antarctic Research
Scientific standing group of Life Sciences of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research
Scientific Committee of the research program Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics for the Southern Ocean, program integrated in Globec and IMBER.mber of the Scientific Standing Group of Life Sciences of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research )
Financial Committee for the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research
Research Program Evolution and Biodiversity for the Antarctic of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research
2010-2011 – Secretary and newsletter editor of the research program Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic, of the Scientific Committee of Antarctic Research
2011 – Member of the scientific commission of the program PROPOLAR
2011 – Reviewer and scientific coordinating commission member of the mobility program “New generation of Early Career Scientists” from the bank CGD
2010-2011 – Reviewer of SCAR Fellowships for Life Sciences
2010 – Stipend Committee of the OSLO IPY Conference for the evaluation of scholarships for early career scientists
2010 – Life Science Selection Committee for the Travel Grants for South American researchers to attend the Oslo IPY.
2007-2010 – Invited Scientist for International Polar Year Days
Editorial Board Member of the Open Fish Science Journals
