- 🎓 BSc in Biology, University San Francisco de Quito USFQ (2020-2024).
- 🔬 Scientist collaborating with MigraMar, Galapagos Reef Revival and others.
- 💻 Based in Manabí, Ecuador 🇪🇨.
I am an Ecuadorian marine biologist working on the application of quantitative and spatial approaches applied in marine ecology and conservation, with a particular focus on the Galápagos Islands and the coast of Ecuador. My experience includes research about the spatial ecology of sharks and other highly mobile marine species, coral reef ecology and restoration, and ecological responses to El Niño events.
I currently collaborate with the MigraMar network on research on sharks and other pelagic species, particularly movement ecology, spatial distribution, and marine connectivity. In paralell, I work with Galápagos Reef Revival, where I study coral survival, growth, and physiological performance in restoration nurseries. Much of my work combines field ecology, data analysis, and spatial analysis in R, with an emphasis on producing reproducible research that can contribute to marine conservation and management.
- Shark and pelagic species movement ecology
- Marine protected areas
- Coral reef ecology and restoration
- Ecological responses to El Niño
- Spatial ecology and GIS
- Citizen science
- Reproducible research workflows in R
Analyze satellite telemetry, BRUVS and citizen science datasets of marine megafauna for associated USFQ–MigraMar research initiatives. Produce technical reports, scientific manuscripts, and cartographic products, under the supervision of Dr. Alex Hearn (USFQ). Supported the baseline ecological study of the recently created Hermandad Marine Reserve. Analyzed multi-taxa ecological datasets including sharks, tuna, seabirds, and cetaceans.
Manage and analyze long-term datasets on coral survival, health, and growth of Pocillopora corals within coral nurseries and outplants. Collaborate closely with project leadership on scientific outputs and data-driven insights for restoration planning. Co-led a feasibility study of coral planting in Galapagos through a pilot project. My undergraduate thesis evaluated the effect of temperature and ENSO on coral survival and bleaching.
Co-leading a citizen science* initiative and collaborative research project investigating how recent El Niño-driven ocean warming affects the distribution, body condition, and survival of Humboldt Current seabirds along the Ecuadorian coast. The project integrates observations from iNaturalist, eBird, community reports, and other datasets with environmental and fisheries data to understand how changes in ocean conditions influence marine food webs AND top predators.
*I use iNaturalist to document marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Contribute observations to citizen-science projects, and support some of my research activities :)
Dávalos, N., Velasco-Cedeño, D., & Brandt, M. (2026). First assessment of the physiological performance of nursery corals in the Galápagos Islands: seasonal impacts on Pocillopora (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae) growth. Revista de Biología Tropical, 74(S1), e202610168. https://doi.org/10.15517/0xznfj40
Velasco-Cedeño, D., Viteri-Basso, E., Vivas, W., & Guerrero-Campoverde, A. (2026). Birds in the Concrete Forest: Nest-site Use on Human-made Structures across Western Ecuador. El Hornero, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v41i1.1538
Velasco-Cedeño, D., Miranda-Moyano, N., Moya, G. F., & Cisneros-Heredia, D. F. (2026). Ecological patterns of hymenopteran pollinators in an Andean urban area derived from participatory science. bioRxiv. Preprint. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.05.21.726748
Pozo, G., Guadalupe, J. J., Pozo, M. J., Cisneros-Heredia, D. F., Cerca, J., Alarcón-Bolaños, P., Suárez, M. V., Dávila-Játiva, M., Peñaherrera-Romero, E., Brito-Zapata, D., Velasco-Cedeño, D., & Torres, M. de L. (2025). Genomic and biogeographic patterns of endemic geckos in the Galapagos Islands reveal population structure and species delimitation on inhabited islands. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-24790-2
Daniel Velasco Cedeño (velascodaniel2002@gmail.com)
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