Raquel Vasconcelos

Scopus Author ID: 57200105518

I am an Associate Professor at Lusófona University (Lisbon) and the University of Saint Joseph (Macao), and co-Principal Investigator of the MARE-UL research group Marine Bioacoustics and Animal Behaviour. My research lies at the interface of sensory ecology, neurophysiology, and behaviour, aiming to understand acoustic communication systems, auditory processing, and how environmental pressures shape sensory adaptation and evolution.

I combine studies on model species, such as zebrafish, to address key questions in auditory neuroscience, while also working with marine organisms, including commercially relevant species for aquaculture. This integrated approach enables direct applications in marine conservation, ecosystem restoration, and animal welfare.

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2025-ongoing: “Flatfare - Establishing a Code of Best Practices in the Domain of Acoustics, Vibration, and Electromagnetism in Intensive Turbot and Sole Production”. Funded by MAR2030 (Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Aquicultura no Domínio dos Investimentos Produtivos; ref. MAR-021.1.1-FEAMPA-10037). ROV as Scientific Project Coordinator (in co-promotion with Flatlantic SA.).

2023-ongoing: “A-AAGORA - Blueprint for Atlantic-Arctic Agora on cross-sectoral cooperation for restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems and increased climate resilience through transformative innovation”. Funded by HORIZON-MISS-2021-OCEAN-02 (ref. 101093956). Project leader institution: University of Aveiro, Portugal; ROV as Team Member.

2020-2024: “SENSING - Acoustic communication in changing sensory environments: testing adaptive responses with the vocal fish model Danionella translucida”. FDCT, Macao: ref. 0068/2020/A2. Project Leader. Team members: Paulo Fonseca (University of Lisbon, Portugal), Celia Schunter (The University of Hong Kong), Fangyi Chen (Southern University of Science and Technology, China), David Gonçalves (University of Saint Joseph, Macao).

2018-2021: “ZAN - Acquired hearing loss in the Zebrafish model: investigating the mechanisms underlying Aging and Noise effects on the vertebrate auditory system”. FDCT, Macao: ref. 046/2018/A2. Project Leader. Team members: Miguel Godinho Ferreira (Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal; IRCAN, France), Dong Liu (Southern University of Science and Technology, China).

2015-2018: “ZEBRASONIC - Listening to the Environment: Importance of Early Acoustic Experience on Development and Hearing in Zebrafish”. FDCT, Macao: ref. 036/2015/A1. Project Leader. Team member: Andrew Bass (Cornell University, USA).

2012-2016: “The vocal brain of fish: development of auditory processing and vocal motor control”. FDCT, Macao: ref. 019/2012/A1. Project Leader. Team member: Joseph Sisneros (University of Washington, USA).

SELECTED
RESEARCH PROJECTS

PUBLICATIONS

Ramos, A., Torrado, S., Gonçalves, D., Vasconcelos, R. O.* (2025). Evaluating the Effects of Boat Noise on Hearing Loss, Behavior, and Reproduction in Marine Medaka (Oryzias melastigma). Submitted to Science of the Total Environment, Preprint: zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.14756419
Duan, S., Su, J., Li, X., Vasconcelos, R. O., Wu, L., Li, X. (2025) Underwater noise induces cognitive impairments and anxiety-like behavior in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) via disruption of the microbiota-gut-brain and HPI axes. Environmental Science & Technology (under review).
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Alves, D., Amorim, M. C. P., Fonseca, P. J. (2025) Auditory representation of conspecific calls improves throughout ontogeny in a singing fish. Biology Letters 21, 20250289. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2025.0289
Wang, W., Turco, T., Pradeau, A., Fonseca, P. J., Vasconcelos, R. O., Amorim, M.C.P., Coureaud, G., Beauchaud, M. (2025) Long-Term Boat Noise Effects on Growth and Behavioural Patterns During Early Life Stages of the African Cichlid Maylandia zebra. Freshwater Biology, e70077. doi: 10.1111/fwb.70077
Remédios B, Gomes M, Costa F, Vasconcelos RO, Rosa R, Pimentel MS. (2025) Physiological and behavioral responses of seahorse newborns to acute hypoxia. Mar Environ Res 211, 107344. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107344
Duan, S.**, Vasconcelos, R. O.**, Wu, L., Li, X., Sun, W., Li, X. (2025) Managing Aquaculture Noise: Impacts on Fish Hearing, Welfare, and Mitigation Strategies. Reviews in Aquaculture 17, e70013. doi:10.1111/raq.70013
Ramos, A., Gonçalves, D., Vasconcelos, R. O.* (2025) Exploring tropical freshwater soundscapes in Southeast Asia: insights into auditory sensory adaptation of wild Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens. PeerJ 13:e18491. doi:10.7717/peerj.18491
Penim, J., Beauchaud, M., Millot, M., Faria, A. M., Vieira, M., Fonseca, P. J., Vasconcelos, R. O.**, Amorim, M. C. P.** (2024) Turning up the heat: effects of temperature on acoustic communication in the two-spotted goby (Pomatoschistus flavescens). Marine Environmental Research 202, 106714, doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106714 (**equal contributors /senior authors)
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Bolgan, M., Matos, A., Van-Dunem, S., Penim, J., Amorim, M. C. P. (2024) Characterization of the vocal behavior of the miniature and transparent fish model, Danionella cerebrum. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 155, 781-789, doi: 10.1121/10.0024346
Lau, I. H., Vasconcelos, R. O.* (2023) Noise-induced damage in the zebrafish inner ear endorgans: evidence for higher acoustic sensitivity of saccular and lagenar hair cells. Journal of Experimental Biology 226, doi:10.1242/jeb.245992
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Gordillo-Martinez, F., Ramos, A., Lau, I. H. (2023) Effects of Noise Exposure and Ageing on Anxiety and Social Behaviour in Zebrafish. Biology 12, 1165., doi:10.3390/biology12091165
Vasconcelos, R. O. (2023) Zebrafish as a Model in Bioacoustics: Investigating Sensory Responses to Noisy Environments. In Popper, A.N., Sisneros, J., Hawkins, A.D., Thomsen, F. (eds) The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-10417-6_172-1.
Wang, W., Turco, T., Fonseca, P. J., Vasconcelos, R. O., Coureaud, G., Amorim, M. C. P., Beauchaud, M. (2023) Chronic Boat Noise Impacts on the Early Life Stages of Cichlids (Maylandia zebra): Preliminary Findings. In Popper, A. N., Sisneros, J., Hawkins, A. D., Thomsen, F. (eds) The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-10417-6_179-1.
Wong, M. I., Lau, I. H., Gordillo-Martinez, F., Vasconcelos, R. O.* (2022) The effect of time regime in noise exposure on the auditory system and behavioural stress in the zebrafish. Scientific Reports 12, 15353, doi:10.1038/s41598-022-19573-y
Lara, R., Breitzler, L., Lau, I. H., Gordillo-Martinez, F., Chen, F., Fonseca, P. J., Bass, A. H., Vasconcelos, R. O.* (2022) Noise-induced hearing loss correlates with inner ear hair cell decrease in larval zebrafish. Journal of Experimental Biology 225, doi:10.1242/jeb.243743
Lara, R., Vasconcelos, R. O.* (2021) Impact of noise amplitude and temporal patterns on development, physiological stress and behavioural patterns in larval zebrafish. Scientific Reports 11, 6615, doi:10.1038/s41598-021-85296-1
Breitzler, K., Lau, I. H., Fonseca, P. J., Vasconcelos, R. O.* (2020) Noise-induced hearing loss in zebrafish: investigating structural and functional inner ear damage and recovery. Hearing Research 391, doi:10.1016/j.heares.2020.107952
Lara, R., Vasconcelos, R.* (2019) Characterization of the natural soundscape of zebrafish and comparison with the captive noise conditions. Zebrafish 16, doi:10.1089/zeb.2018.1654. COVER ARTICLE
Amorim, M. C. P.**, Vasconcelos, R. O.**, Bolgan, M., Pedroso, S., Fonseca, P. J. (2018) Acoustic communication in marine shallow waters: testing the acoustic adaptive hypothesis in sand gobies. Journal of Experimental Biology 221, doi:10.1242/jeb.183681. (**equal contributors)
Chaves, P., Valdoria, C., Amorim, M.C.P., Vasconcelos, R. O.* (2017) Ontogenetic development of the inner ear saccule and utricle in the Lusitanian toadfish: potential implications for auditory sensitivity. Hearing Research 353, 112-121, doi:10.1016/j.heares.2017.06.008
Vasconcelos, R. O., Alderks, P., Sisneros, J. A. (2016) The development of structure and sensitivity of the fish inner ear. In Sisneros, J. A. et al. (Eds.) Fish Hearing and Bioacoustics. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 877, 291-318, Springer Science Business Media. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21059-9_14.
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Alderks, P. W., Ramos, A., Fonseca, P. J., Amorim, M. C. P., Sisneros, J. A. (2015) Vocal differentiation parallels development of auditory saccular sensitivity in a highly soniferous fish. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218: 2864-2872
Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O., Fonseca, P. J. (2015) Fish sounds and mate choice. In Ladich, F. (Ed.) Sound Communication in Fishes. Vol 4, 1-33, Springer-Verlag Wien. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1846-7_1
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Carriço, R., Ramos, A., Modesto, T., Fonseca, P. J., Amorim, M. C. P. (2012) Vocal behaviour predicts reproductive success in a teleost fish. Behavioral Ecology, 23: 375-383
Bolgan, M., Pedroso, S. S., Vasconcelos, R. O., Jordao, J., Amorim, M. C. P., Fonseca, P. J. (2012) Hearing sensitivity of the painted goby, Pomatoschistus pictus. In Popper, A. N., Hawkins, A. (eds), The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 730: 109-11. Springer Science Business Media. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-7311-5_24.
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Fonseca, P. J., Amorim, M. C. P, Ladich, F. (2011) Representation of complex vocalizations in the Lusitanian toadfish auditory system: evidence of fine temporal, frequency and amplitude discrimination. Proceedings of Royal Society B, 278: 826-834
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Sisneros, J. A., Amorim, M. C. P., Fonseca, P. J. (2011) Auditory saccular sensitivity of the vocal Lusitanian toadfish: low frequency tuning allows acoustic communication throughout the year. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 197: 903-913
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Simões, J. M., Almada, V. C., Fonseca, P. J., Amorim, M. C. P. (2010) Vocal behaviour during territorial intrusions in the Lusitanian toadfish: boatwhistles also function as territorial ‘keep-out’ signals. Ethology, 116: 155-165
Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O., Parreira, B. (2009) Variability in the sonic muscles of the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus): acoustic signals may reflect individual quality. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 87: 718-725
Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O. (2008) Variability in the mating calls of the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus: potential cues for individual recognition. Journal of Fish Biology, 72: 1355-1368
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Ladich, F. (2008) Development of vocalization, auditory sensitivity and acoustic communication in the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus. Journal of Experimental Biology, 211: 502-509
Vasconcelos, R. O.*, Amorim, M. C. P., Ladich, F. (2007) Effects of ship noise on the detectability of communication signals in the in the Lusitanian toadfish. Journal of Experimental Biology, 210: 2104-2112
Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O., Marques, J., Almada, F. (2006) Seasonal variation of sound production in the Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus. Journal of Fish Biology, 69: 1892-1899