A) Doctoral thesis
Molecular characterization of parasites that infect lizards and their influence on colour ornaments. Thesis dissertation Rodrigo Megía-Palma. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 2016.
B) Publications with peer review process
39. Gilbert, E., Žagar, A., López-Darias, M., Megía-Palma, R., Lister, K. A., Jones, M. D., Carretero, M. A., Serén, N., Beltran-Alvarez, P., Wollenberg-Valero, K. C. (2024). Environmental factors influence cross-talk between a heat shock protein and an oxidative stress protein modification in the lizard Gallotia galloti. Plos One 19 (3): e0300111.
38. Rivera-Rea, J., González-Morales, J. C., Megía-Palma, R., Bastiaans, E., Quintana, E., & Manjarrez, J. (2024). Seasonal changes in male color patches and parasite load of the male lizard Sceloporus torquatus. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03425-4.
37. Megía-Palma, R., Palomar, G., Martínez, J., Antunes, B., Dudek, K., Žagar, A., Serén, N., Carretero, M. A., Babik, W., & Merino, S. (2024). Lizard host abundances and climatic factors explain phylogenetic diversity and prevalence of blood parasites in an oceanic island. Molecular Ecology https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17276.
36. Aguilar, P., Pérez i de Lanuza, G., Martínez-Gil, H., Dajčman, U., T. Simčič, C. Pinho, A. Žagar, Megía-Palma, R. (2023). Color morphs of the fire salamander are discriminated at night by conspecifics and predators. Journal of Zoology. DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13131.
35. Serén, N., Megía‐Palma, R., Simčič, T., Krofel, M., Guarino, F. M., Pinho, C., Žagar, A., & Carretero, M. A. (2023). Functional responses in a lizard along a 3.5‐km altitudinal gradient. Journal of Biogeography. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14711.
34. Blázquez-Castro, S., Barrientos, R., & Megía-Palma, R. (2023). Unusual double erythrocyte infection by heterogeneric parasites in the lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus (Linnaeus, 1758). Herpetology Notes, 16, 669-672.
33. Megía-Palma, R., Redondo, L., Blázquez-Castro, S., & Barrientos, R. (2023). Differential recovery ability from infections by two blood parasite genera in males of a Mediterranean lacertid lizard after an experimental translocation. Journal of Experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology. DOI: 10.1002/jez.2732
32. Roca, V., Gómez-Ramírez, F., Espasandín, I., Megía-Palma, R., Perera, A., & Martínez-Freiría, F. (2023). First helminthological data on the Iberian adder, Vipera seoanei. Parasitology Research, 1-9. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07849-9
31. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Fitze, P. S., Cuervo, J. J., Belliure, J., Jiménez-Robles, O., Cabido, C., Martín, J., & Merino, S. (2023). Genetic diversity, phylogenetic position, and co-phylogenetic relationships of Karyolysus, a common blood parasite of lizards in the western Mediterranean. International Journal for Parasitology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.12.006
30. Megía-Palma, R., Paranjpe, D., Cooper, R. D., Blaimont, P., & Sinervo, B. (2022). Natural parasites in conjunction with behavioral and color traits explain male agonistic behaviors in a lizard. Current Zoology. DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac095.
29. Van Nieker, J. H., Megía-Palma, R., Forcina, G. (2022). Thermoregulatory function and sexual dimorphism of the throat sack in Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) across Africa. Avian Research. DOI: 10.1016/j.avrs.2022.100047.
28. Rivera-Rea, J., González-Morales, J.C., Fajardo, V., Megía-Palma, R., Bastiaans, E., Manjarrez, J. (2022). Phenological variation in parasite load and inflammatory response in a lizard with an asynchronous reproductive cycle. The Science of Nature 109: 34. DOI: 10.1007/s00114-022-01793-x
27. Megía-Palma, R., Merino, S., Barrientos, R. (2022). Longitudinal effects of habitat quality, body condition, and parasites on colour patches of a multiornamented lizard. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 76, 73. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03182-w
26. Žagar, A., Simčič, T., Dajčman, U., Megía-Palma, R. (2022). Parasitemia and elevation as predictors of hemoglobin concentration and antioxidant capacity in two sympatric lizards. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 270:111233. DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111233
25. Megía-Palma, R., Barja, I., Barrientos, R. (2022). Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and ectoparasites as biomarkers of heat stress close to roads in a Mediterranean lizard. Science of the Total Environment 802. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149919.
24. Dajčman, U., Carretero, M. A., Megía-Palma, R., Perera, A., Kostanjšek, R., Žagar, A. (2021). Shared haemogregarine infections in competing lacertids. Parasitology 149(2): 193-202. doi:10.1017/S0031182021001645.
23. Drechsler, R. M., Belliure, J., Megía-Palma, R. (2021). Phenological and intrinsic predictors of mite and haemacoccidian infection dynamics in a Mediterranean community of lizards. Parasitology DOI: 10.1017/S0031182021000858.
22. Megía-Palma, R., Barrientos, R., Gallardo, M., Martínez, J., Merino, S. (2021). Brighter is darker: the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis revisited in lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab081.
21. Rutschmann, A., Dupoué, A., Miles, D., Megía-Palma, R., Lauden, C., Richard, M., Badiane, A., Rozen-Rechels, D., Brevet, M., Blaimont, P., Meylan, S., Clobert, J., Le Galliard, J. F. (2021). Intense nocturnal warming alters growth strategies, coloration, and parasite load in a diurnal lizard. Journal of Animal Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13502.
20. Barrientos, R., Megía-Palma, R. (2021). Associated costs of mitigation-driven translocation in small lizards. Amphibia-Reptilia DOI:10.1163/15685381-bja10040.
19. Van Niekerk, J. H., Megía-Palma, R., Forcina, G. (2021). Call variation of Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) across Africa defies the effects of spatial gradients. Ibis: International Journal of Avian Science DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12945.
18. Megía-Palma, R., Arregui, L., Pozo, I., Zagar, A., Serén, N., Carretero, M.A., Merino, S. (2020). Geographic patterns of stress in insular lizards reveal anthropogenic and climatic signatures. Science of the Total Environment 749: 141655.
17. Megía-Palma, R., Jiménez-Robles, O., Hernández-Agüero, J. A., De la Riva, I. (2020). Plasticity of haemoglobin concentration and thermoregulation in a mountain lizard. Journal of Thermal Biology 92: 102656.
16. Megía-Palma, R., Paranjpe, D., Blaimont, P., Cooper, R., Sinervo, B. (2020). To cool or not to cool? Intestinal coccidians disrupt the behavioral hypothermia of lizards in response to tick infestation. Ticks a & tick-borne diseases 11: 101275.
15. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Cuervo, J. J., Belliure, Jiménez-Robles, O., Gomes, V., Cabido, C., Pausas, J. G., Fitze, P. S., Martín, J., Merino, S. (2018): Molecular evidence for host-parasite co-speciation between lizards and Schellackia parasites. International Journal for Parasitology 48: 709-718.
14. Megía-Palma, R., Paranjpe, D., Reguera, S., Martínez, J., Cooper, R. D., Blaimont, P., Merino, S., Sinervo, B. (2018): Multiple color patches and parasites in Sceloporus occidentalis: Differential relationships by sex and infection. Current Zoology https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy007
13. Álvarez-Ruiz, L., Megía-Palma, R., Reguera, S., Ruiz, S., Zamora-Camacho, F. J., Figuerola, J., Moreno-Rueda, G. (2018): Opposed elevational variation in prevalence and intensity of endoparasites and their vectors in a lizard. Current Zoology https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy002.
12. Megía-Palma, R., Jorge, A., Reguera, S. (2018): Raman spectroscopy reveals the presence of both eumelanin and pheomelanin in the skin of lacertids. Journal of Herpetology 52(1), 67-73.
11. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Merino, S. (2018): Manipulation of parasite load induces significant changes in the structural-based throat color of male Iberian green lizards. Current Zoology https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zox036.
10. García-Roa, R., Megía-Palma, R., Ortega, J., Jara, M., López, P., Martín, J. (2017): Interpopulational and seasonal variation in the chemical signals of the lizard Gallotia galloti. PeerJ 5: e3992.
9. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Paranjpe, D., D’Amico, V., Aguilar, R., Palacios, M. G., Cooper, R., Ferri-Yáñez, F., Sinervo, B., Merino, S. (2017): Phylogenetic analyses reveal that Schellackia parasites (Apicomplexa) detected in American lizards are closely related to the genus Lankesterella: is the range of Schellackia restricted to Old World? Parasites & Vectors 10 (1): 470.
8. Rivero-de Aguilar, J., Megía-Palma, R., Badás, E. P., Martínez, J., Merino, S. (2016): Testing a new method for reducing ectoparasite infestation in nest-boxes. Ardeola 63 (2): 383-393.
7. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Merino, S. (2016): Structural- and carotenoid-based throat colour patches in males of Lacerta schreiberi reflect different parasitic diseases. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 70 (12): 2017-2025.
6. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Merino, S. (2016): A structural colour ornament correlates positively with parasite load and body condition in an insular lizard species. The Science of Nature 103: 52.
5. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Nasri, I., Cuervo, J. J., Martín, J., Acevedo, I., Belliure, J., Ortega, J., García-Roa, R., Selmi, S., Merino, S. (2016): Phylogenetic relationships of Isospora, Lankesterella and Caryospora species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) infecting lizards. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution 16 (1): 275-288.
4. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Acevedo, I., Martín, J., García-Roa, R., Ortega, J., Peso-Fernández, M., Albaladejo, G., Cooper, R. D., Paranjpe, D. A., Sinervo, B. R., Merino, S. (2015): Phylogeny of the reptilian Eimeria: are Choleoeimeria and Acroeimeria valid generic names? Zoologica Scripta 44 (6): 684-692.
3. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Merino, S. (2014): Molecular characterization of haemococcidian genus Schellackia (Apicomplexa) reveals the polyphyletic origin of the family Lankesterellidae. Zoologica Scripta 43 (3): 304-312.
2. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Merino, S. (2013): Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences of Schellackia parasites (Apicomplexa: Lankesterellidae) reveals their close relationship to the genus Eimeria. Parasitology 140: 1149-1157.
1. Harvey, D. J., Gange, A. C., Hawes, C. J., Rink, M., Abdelhalden, M., Al Fulaij, N., Asp, T., Ballerio, A., Bartolozzi, L., Brustel, H., Cammaerts, R., Carpaneto, G. M., Cederberg, B., Chobot, K., Cianferoni, F., Drumont, A., Ellwanger, G., Ferreira, S., Grosso-Silva, J. M., Gueorguiev, B., Harvey, W., Hendriks, P., Istrate, P., Jansson, N., Jelaska, L. S., Jendek, E., Jovic, M., Kervyn, T., Krenn, H. W., Kretschmer, K., Legakis, A., Lelo, S., Moretti, M., Merkl, O., Megía-Palma, R., Neculianu, Z., Rabitsch, W., Merino, S., Smit, J., Smith, M., Sprecher-Uebersex, E., Telnov, D., Thomaes, A., Thomsen, P. F., Tykarski, P., Vrezev, A., Werner, S., Zach, P. (2011): Bionomics and distribution of the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus (L) across Europe. Insect Conservation and Diversity 4: 23-38.
C) Publications without peer review process
5. Hernández-Agüero, J. A., Megía-Palma, R. (2020). Primer registro de respuesta agresiva de Gallotia galloti hacia su imagen especular. Boletín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española 31: 31-32.
Title translation: First record of aggressive response of Gallotia galloti to its own specular image.
4. Megía-Palma, R. (2017): Lagartijas y pavos reales: 42 años de una idea que revolucionó la ecología. Naturalmente: Revista del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales 16: 19-22.
Title translation: Lizards and peacocks: 42 years of a revolutionary idea that changed the ecology.
3. Megía-Palma, R. (2016): Caracterización molecular de los parásitos que infectan lagartos y su influencia sobre los ornamentos de color. Naturalmente: Revista del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales 9: 47-48 (Summaries of theses).
Title translation: Molecular characterization of parasites that infect lizards and their influence on colour ornaments
2. Megía-Palma, R. (2012): Un caso de polidactilia en Lacerta schreiberi en el Sistema Central. Boletín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española 23 (1): 54-56.
Title translation (A12): A case of polydactyli in Lacerta schreiberi in the Central System.
1. del Cerro, S., Megía, R., Rivero de Aguilar, J., Martínez de la Puente, J., Merino, S. (2010): Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente y la teoría de la evolución por selección natural. eVolución 5 (1): 21-24.
Title translation (A14): Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente and the theory of evolution by natural selection.
