Research interests
My primary area of research centers on evolutionary paleoecology. I primarily utilize the analysis of mammalian fauna found in Plio-Pleistocene sites as a foundational framework for investigating the evolution of hominins. My research places a strong emphasis on understanding how climate-induced environmental changes influenced hominins, with a specific focus on Neanderthals. By examining mammal teeth, including species like bison, deer, horse, and mammoth and using a multiproxy approach, I gain valuable insights into their diet and the landscapes these animals inhabited shortly before their death. These insights are instrumental in reconstructing ancient environments, tracing alterations linked to shifts in climate, and comprehending the behavioral strategies adopted by hominins in diverse ecological settings. In addition to Europe, my research also extends to regions such as the Near East (Israel), Africa (Tanzania, Morocco), and South America (Chile, Argentina, Brazil).
Selected publications
- Uzunidis A, Rivals F, Rufa A, Blasco R & Rosell J 2023, 'The exceptional presence of Megaloceros giganteus in North-Eastern Iberia and its palaeoecological implications: The case of Teixoneres Cave (Moià, Barcelona, Spain)', Diversity, vol. 15, no. 2, 299.
- Martinez-Polanco MF & Rivals F 2023, 'Browsing into a Panamanian tropical rainforest: micro- and mesowear study of Central American red brocket deer', Mammal Research, vol. 68, pp 203-214.
- Rivals F, Belyaev RI, Basova VB & Prilepskaya NE 2023, 'Hogs, hippos or bears? Paleodiet of European Oligocene anthracotheres and entelodonts', Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, vol. 611, 111363.