Daniela Pareja Mejía
About me
I am a biologist and herpetologist with a focus on amphibian behavior, ecology, and conservation. My research integrates behavior, personality, and movement ecology in treefrogs to better understand their ecological roles and conservation needs. I am also passionate about science communication, mentorship, and building networks that empower women in STEM.
Daniela Pareja Mejía is a behavioral ecologist specializing in amphibian behavior, movement ecology, and conservation. She earned her PhD at the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (Brazil) and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Her work integrates behavioral, ecological, and neurobiological approaches to understand how amphibians respond to environmental challenges.
Daniela has led research on Neotropical frogs, including studies on personality, movement patterns, and antipredator strategies. She is also the founder of SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador and actively promotes conservation, education, and mentorship initiatives for women in science across Latin America.
Other Memberships/Affiliations
Degrees:
M., Solé, M., & O'Connell, L. A. (2025). Shadowboxing
Salamanders: Defensive Behavior in Two Amazonian
Bolitoglossa Species (Amphibia: Plethodontidae). Acta
Herpetologica.
Shaykevich, D. A., Pareja-Mejía, D., Golde, C., Pašukonis, A., &
O'Connell, L. A. (2025). Neural and sensorybasis of homing
behaviour in the invasive cane toad, Rhinella marina.
Proceedings B, 292(2041), 20250045.
Roseno, R. S., Pareja-Mejía, D., SANTOS, L. S. D., Diele-Viegas,
L. M., Carilo Filho, L. M., Nascimento, P. R., ... & Solé, M. (2024).
Tracking the little ones: use of fluorescent powder to follow a
leaf litter lizard (Coleodactylus meridionalis, Squamata:
Sphaerodactylidae) in the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia,
Brazil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 96(3),
e20230728.
Pareja-Mejía, D., Benevides, J., Gomes, L., Moreira Da Silva
Neto, E., Queiroz Menezes, V., Silva Roseno, R., ... & Solé, M.
(2023). Following the footsteps of Burmeister's leaf frog
(Phyllomedusa burmeisteri) in the Atlantic forest of Brazil.
Scientific Reports, 13(1), 16698