Rita Fortuna
About
Research
I am interested in understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that influence critical behavioral and life-history adaptations in nature, and on conducting research that helps us predict how wild populations can respond to their rapidly changing environments.
My current work investigates the eco-evolutionary dynamics of partial migration, using as study system a long-term monitored population of European shags from Scotland. In collaboration with Jane Reid and colleagues, I have led studies quantifying early-life potential for rapid evolution of seasonal migration, and selection on early-life plasticity in migration versus residence. I am now investigating the effects of partial migration on pairs' reproductive success.
Background
Before moving to Trondheim, I was working on my PhD thesis at CIBIO (Porto) and CEFE-CNRS (Montpellier), and I obtained my degree from the University of Porto in 2022.
In my PhD project, I studied reproductive investment and offspring survival, and how these varied according to weather, predation and social conditions, in a population of cooperatively breeding sociable weaver birds that has been monitored for several years in South Africa.
Publications
Please visit my Google Scholar page for updated information on my publications: Google Scholar page
2026
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Haaland, Thomas Ray;
Payo-Payo, Ana;
Acker, Paul;
Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Ratikainen, Irja Ida.
(2026)
Eco-evolutionary dynamics of partially migratory metapopulations in spatially and seasonally varying environments.
Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
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Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Acker, Paul;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Gunn, Carrie;
Harris, Michael P..
(2026)
Early-life stasis in partial seasonal migration is underpinned by among-cohort variation in migratory plasticity and selective disappearance.
Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
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Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Acker, Paul;
Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Gunn, Carrie;
Harris, Michael P..
(2026)
Temporal dynamics of selection on early-life phenotypic plasticity in seasonal migration versus residence.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences
Academic article
2024
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Fortuna, Rita;
Covas, Rita;
D'Amelio, Pietro B;
Silva, Liliana R.;
Parenteau, Charline;
Bliard, Louis.
(2024)
Interplay of cooperative breeding and predation risk on egg allocation and reproductive output.
Behavioral Ecology
Academic article
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Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Acker, Paul;
Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Harris, Michael P.;
Newell, Mark A..
(2024)
Season-specific genetic variation underlies early-life migration in a partially migratory bird.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences
Academic article
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Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Acker, Paul;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Gunn, Carrie;
Haaland, Thomas Ray.
(2024)
Early-life variation in migration is subject to strong fluctuating survival selection in a partially migratory bird.
Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
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D'Amelio, Pietro B;
Covas, Rita;
Ferreira, Andre C;
Fortuna, Rita;
Silva, Liliana R.;
Theron, Franck.
(2024)
Benefits of Pair-Bond Duration on Reproduction in a Lifelong Monogamous Cooperative Passerine.
The American Naturalist
Academic article
2023
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Fortuna, Rita;
Paquet, Matthieu;
Biard, Clotilde;
Élard, Loïc;
Ferreira, André C.;
Leroux-Coyaux, Mathieu.
(2023)
Egg components and offspring survival vary with group size and laying order in a cooperative breeder.
Oecologia
Academic article
Journal publications
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Haaland, Thomas Ray;
Payo-Payo, Ana;
Acker, Paul;
Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Ratikainen, Irja Ida.
(2026)
Eco-evolutionary dynamics of partially migratory metapopulations in spatially and seasonally varying environments.
Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
-
Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Acker, Paul;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Gunn, Carrie;
Harris, Michael P..
(2026)
Early-life stasis in partial seasonal migration is underpinned by among-cohort variation in migratory plasticity and selective disappearance.
Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
-
Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Acker, Paul;
Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Gunn, Carrie;
Harris, Michael P..
(2026)
Temporal dynamics of selection on early-life phenotypic plasticity in seasonal migration versus residence.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences
Academic article
-
Fortuna, Rita;
Covas, Rita;
D'Amelio, Pietro B;
Silva, Liliana R.;
Parenteau, Charline;
Bliard, Louis.
(2024)
Interplay of cooperative breeding and predation risk on egg allocation and reproductive output.
Behavioral Ecology
Academic article
-
Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Acker, Paul;
Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Harris, Michael P.;
Newell, Mark A..
(2024)
Season-specific genetic variation underlies early-life migration in a partially migratory bird.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences
Academic article
-
Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Acker, Paul;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves;
Gunn, Carrie;
Haaland, Thomas Ray.
(2024)
Early-life variation in migration is subject to strong fluctuating survival selection in a partially migratory bird.
Journal of Animal Ecology
Academic article
-
D'Amelio, Pietro B;
Covas, Rita;
Ferreira, Andre C;
Fortuna, Rita;
Silva, Liliana R.;
Theron, Franck.
(2024)
Benefits of Pair-Bond Duration on Reproduction in a Lifelong Monogamous Cooperative Passerine.
The American Naturalist
Academic article
-
Fortuna, Rita;
Paquet, Matthieu;
Biard, Clotilde;
Élard, Loïc;
Ferreira, André C.;
Leroux-Coyaux, Mathieu.
(2023)
Egg components and offspring survival vary with group size and laying order in a cooperative breeder.
Oecologia
Academic article
Outreach
2025
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Academic lectureUgland, Cassandra Regine; Acker, Paul; Burthe, Sarah J.; Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves; Gunn, Carrie; Harris, Mike P.. (2025) Early-life variation and selection in seasonal movements in a partially migratory system. BES Annual Meeting 2025 , Edinburgh 15.12.2025 - 18.12.2025
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Academic lectureLovell, Rebecca; Acker, Paul; Burthe, Sarah J.; Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves; Gunn, Carrie; Hewitt, Josie. (2025) Extreme climatic events stochastically disrupt spatial patterns of selection on seasonal migration in European shags. BES Annual Meeting 2025 , Edinburgh 15.12.2025 - 18.12.2025
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Academic lectureFortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves; Acker, Paul; Ugland, Cassandra Regine; Burthe, Sarah J.; Gunn, Carrie; Haaland, Thomas Ray. (2025) Conflicting temporal dynamics of selection, additive genetic variance and plasticity in early-life seasonal migration versus residence constrain the potential for rapid adaptive evolution. ESEB 2025 , Barcelona 17.08.2025 - 22.08.2025
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Academic lectureAcker, Paul; Daunt, Francis; Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves; Burthe, Sarah J.; Wanless, Sarah; Newell, Mark A.. (2025) Environment-specific additive genetic variances for adult survival reveal dramatic contrasts in adaptive evolution across highly fluctuating conditions. ESEB 2025 , Barcelona 17.08.2025 - 22.08.2025
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PosterUgland, Cassandra Regine; Acker, Paul; Burthe, Sarah J.; Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves; Gunn, Carrie; Harris, Michael P.. (2025) Early-life variation in plasticity and selection drives within and among-cohort variation in partial seasonal migration. Oikos Norway 2025 09.04.2025 - 12.04.2025
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Academic lectureHaaland, Thomas Ray; Acker, Paul; Payo-Payo, Ana; Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves; Vickers, Stephen; Ugland, Cassandra Regine. (2025) Plastic versus evolutionary responses to rapid environmental change in partially migratory metapopulations. Oikos Norway 2025 09.04.2025 - 12.04.2025
2024
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Academic lectureFortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves; Acker, Paul; Ugland, Cassandra Regine; Burthe, Sarah J.; Harris, Michael P.; Newell, Mark A.. (2024) Genetic variances and selection on plasticity in early-life seasonal migration vary among seasons and years in a partially migratory population. 3rd Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology , Montréal 26.07.2024 - 30.07.2024
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PosterBonamour, Suzanne; Acker, Paul; Fortuna, Rita Alexandra Fernandes Goncalves; Ugland, Cassandra Regine; Burthe, Sarah J.; Wanless, Sarah. (2024) Escape from upheavals: early-life phenotypic plasticity of seasonal migration versus residence in European shags. Life is plastic: How phenotypic plasticity makes us rethink central problems in biology , Roscoff 17.06.2024 - 21.06.2024
2023
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Academic lectureHaaland, Thomas Ray; Payo-Payo, Ana; Acker, Paul; Fortuna, Rita; Burthe, Sarah J.; Ratikainen, Irja Ida. (2023) Eco-evolutionary dynamics of partially migratory metapopulations. BOU 2023 , Nottingham, UK 04.04.2023 - 06.04.2023
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Academic lectureHaaland, Thomas Ray; Payo-Payo, Ana; Acker, Paul; Fortuna, Rita; Burthe, Sarah J; Ratikainen, Irja Ida. (2023) Eco-evolutionary dynamics of partially migratory metapopulations. Oikos Norway 2023 , NMBU, Ås 13.02.2023 - 15.02.2023
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Academic lectureUgland, Cassandra Regine; Acker, Paul; Daunt, Francis; Fortuna, Rita; Burthe, Sarah J.; Wanless, Sarah. (2023) Early-life development and selection on partial migration in the European Shag. BOU Annual Conference: “Evolutionary responses” , Nottingham 05.04.2023 -
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Academic lectureFortuna, Rita; Acker, Paul; Ugland, Cassandra Regine; Burthe, Sarah J.; Newell, Mark A.; Morley, Tim I.. (2023) Using a multistate capture-recapture animal model to estimate additive genetic variance in early-life seasonal movement. EURING Analytical Meeting 17.04.2023 -
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PosterFortuna, Rita; Acker, Paul; Ugland, Cassandra Regine; Burthe, Sarah J.; Newell, Mark A.; Morley, Tim I.. (2023) Additive genetic variance in early-life partial seasonal migration. BOU Annual Conference: “Evolutionary responses” , Nottingham 05.04.2023 -
2022
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LectureFortuna, Rita. (2022) Sociable weavers: a mother’s perspective on climate, predators and helpers. Learn the Birds Webinar , Virtual 18.08.2022 -
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Academic lectureFortuna, Rita. (2022) Predator playbacks affect maternal egg allocation regardless of group size in a cooperatively breeding bird. International Society for Behavioral Ecology Congress 2022 , Stockholm 28.07.2022 - 02.08.2022
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PosterUgland, Cassandra Regine; Acker, Paul; Daunt, Francis; Fortuna, Rita; Burthe, Sarah; Wanless, Sarah. (2022) Strong natural selection on early life expression of seasonal migration vs. residence. British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2022 , Edinburgh 18.12.2022 - 21.12.2022