Rita Fortuna
About
Research
I am an evolutionary and behavioural ecologist, interested in how environmental and genetic variation relate to within- and between-individual differences in phenotypic traits, behaviour and reproductive strategies. At NTNU, I am studying early-life potential for rapid evolution of seasonal migration in European shags, by quantifying the degree of plasticity and genetic effects on juveniles' movement patterns.
Background
Before moving to CBD, I was working on my PhD thesis at CIBIO (Porto) and CEFE-CNRS (Montpellier), and I obtained my degree at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto in 2022. My PhD project was focused on reproductive strategies in cooperatively breeding systems (and particularly females’ prenatal allocation of resources to reproduction), whether/how these vary according to ecological and social conditions of their environment, and the potential consequences of interactive environmental effects on reproductive output, using as a study system a long-term monitored population of southern African sociable weaver birds.
Publications
2024
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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
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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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Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Acker, Paul;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Fernandes Goncalves Fortuna, Rita Alexandra;
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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Fernandes Goncalves Fortuna, Rita Alexandra;
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
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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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;
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
-
Ugland, Cassandra Regine;
Acker, Paul;
Burthe, Sarah J.;
Fernandes Goncalves Fortuna, Rita Alexandra;
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
-
Fernandes Goncalves Fortuna, Rita Alexandra;
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
-
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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PosterUgland, Cassandra Regine; Acker, Paul; Burthe, Sarah J.; Fernandes Goncalves Fortuna, Rita Alexandra; 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 2025-04-09 - 2025-04-12
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Academic lectureHaaland, Thomas Ray; Acker, Paul; Payo-Payo, Ana; Fernandes Goncalves Fortuna, Rita Alexandra; Vickers, Stephen; Ugland, Cassandra Regine. (2025) Plastic versus evolutionary responses to rapid environmental change in partially migratory metapopulations. Oikos Norway 2025 2025-04-09 - 2025-04-12
2024
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PosterBonamour, Suzanne; Acker, Paul; Fernandes Goncalves Fortuna, Rita Alexandra; 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 2024-06-17 - 2024-06-21
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Academic lectureFernandes Goncalves Fortuna, Rita Alexandra; 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 2024-07-26 - 2024-07-30
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. Norsk Økologisk Forening Oikos Norway 2023 , NMBU, Ås 2023-02-13 - 2023-02-15
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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. British Ornithological Union BOU 2023 , Nottingham, UK 2023-04-04 - 2023-04-06
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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 2023-04-05 -
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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 2023-04-17 -
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Academic lectureFortuna, 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 2023-04-05 -
2022
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Academic lectureFortuna, Rita. (2022) Predator playbacks affect maternal egg allocation regardless of group size in a cooperatively breeding bird. ISBE International Society for Behavioral Ecology Congress 2022 , Stockholm 2022-07-28 - 2022-08-02
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Popular scientific lectureFortuna, Rita. (2022) Sociable weavers: a mother’s perspective on climate, predators and helpers. Learn the Birds Learn the Birds Webinar , Virtual 2022-08-18 -
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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 British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2022 , Edinburgh 2022-12-18 - 2022-12-21