GuestSeminars
Room 101 DCV, NOVA FCT & Online
Add to Calendar 2026-02-27 11:00:00 2026-02-27 12:00:00 GuestSeminars@UCIBIO | José Ricardo Paula The behavioural complexity of cleaning mutualisms. José Ricardo Paula, MARE,  Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa   Host: Ana Rodrigo, UCIBIO NOVA   Online Link: https://ucibio.pt/l/GuestSeminars   Abstract: Cooperation in animal societies often evolves under the shadow of conflict, as the mutual benefits of cooperative behaviour are frequently challenged by the temptation to cheat.   Cleaning mutualisms represent one of the most intricate forms of interspecific cooperation in the animal kingdom. In these interactions, so-called client fish offer access to parasites in exchange for cleaning services provided by cleaner fish, who in turn benefit from a reliable food source. However, these interactions are fraught with potential conflicts, including the risk of predatory clients consuming cleaners, competition for partners, and the cleaners’ preference for ingesting nutritious host mucus over harmful ectoparasites. These social challenges are thought to have selected for advanced cognitive abilities in cleaner wrasse, enabling them to manage the complexities of interspecific cooperation. Cleaners have been shown to exercise impulse control, assess partner value through image scoring, and modify behaviour based on social context and past experiences. Their decision-making involves tactics such as deception, reputation management, reconciliation, individual and self-recognition, and social tool use—traits once thought to be limited to within-species cooperation in highly social vertebrates. In this talk, I will provide an overview of our research investigating the behavioural, cognitive and neurobiological basis of cleaning mutualisms.   I will present recent findings on the mechanisms of learning and self-recognition, species-level and contextual variation in dishonest behaviour, and the broader cognitive ecology that shapes these interactions. Finally, I will discuss the ecological consequences of cleaning behaviour for reef communities, highlighting the role of these mutualisms in structuring fish abundance, diversity, and ecosystem resilience. Together, these studies position cleaning mutualisms as a powerful model for exploring the evolution of cooperation and cognition in the wild.     Short-bio: Assistant Professor in Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. After a PhD in Biology (2020), José was a post-doc in Portugal and Hong-Kong. He returned to Portugal after being awarded a CEEC contract (2022) where, during this time, he won a FLAD Science Award where he developed his work in Hawaii (2023-2024). Professional interests: Development of complex animal behaviour, how this behaviour modulates biodiversity and how human impacts can lead to cascading effects by behavioural alteration.  Loves hike, cook, travel, and scuba dive. Room 101 DCV, NOVA FCT & Online UCIBIO info@simbiose.com Europe/Lisbon public
jose ricardo paula

The behavioural complexity of cleaning mutualisms.

José Ricardo Paula, MARE,  Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa

 

Host: Ana Rodrigo, UCIBIO NOVA

 

Online Link: https://ucibio.pt/l/GuestSeminars

 

Abstract:

Cooperation in animal societies often evolves under the shadow of conflict, as the mutual benefits of cooperative behaviour are frequently challenged by the temptation to cheat.

 

Cleaning mutualisms represent one of the most intricate forms of interspecific cooperation in the animal kingdom. In these interactions, so-called client fish offer access to parasites in exchange for cleaning services provided by cleaner fish, who in turn benefit from a reliable food source. However, these interactions are fraught with potential conflicts, including the risk of predatory clients consuming cleaners, competition for partners, and the cleaners’ preference for ingesting nutritious host mucus over harmful ectoparasites. These social challenges are thought to have selected for advanced cognitive abilities in cleaner wrasse, enabling them to manage the complexities of interspecific cooperation. Cleaners have been shown to exercise impulse control, assess partner value through image scoring, and modify behaviour based on social context and past experiences. Their decision-making involves tactics such as deception, reputation management, reconciliation, individual and self-recognition, and social tool use—traits once thought to be limited to within-species cooperation in highly social vertebrates. In this talk, I will provide an overview of our research investigating the behavioural, cognitive and neurobiological basis of cleaning mutualisms.

 

I will present recent findings on the mechanisms of learning and self-recognition, species-level and contextual variation in dishonest behaviour, and the broader cognitive ecology that shapes these interactions. Finally, I will discuss the ecological consequences of cleaning behaviour for reef communities, highlighting the role of these mutualisms in structuring fish abundance, diversity, and ecosystem resilience. Together, these studies position cleaning mutualisms as a powerful model for exploring the evolution of cooperation and cognition in the wild.

 

 

Short-bio:

Assistant Professor in Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa.

After a PhD in Biology (2020), José was a post-doc in Portugal and Hong-Kong. He returned to Portugal after being awarded a CEEC contract (2022) where, during this time, he won a FLAD Science Award where he developed his work in Hawaii (2023-2024).

Professional interests: Development of complex animal behaviour, how this behaviour modulates biodiversity and how human impacts can lead to cascading effects by behavioural alteration. 

Loves hike, cook, travel, and scuba dive.

GuestSeminars@UCIBIO | José Ricardo Paula