World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
44
Citations
7111
World Ranking
5099
National Ranking
163

Overview

Rafael Villafuerte is affiliated with the Spanish National Research Council in Spain. Their research primarily focuses on environmental science and agricultural and biological sciences, with significant contributions in the subfields of ecology, animal science and zoology, and genetics.

Their work extensively covers topics related to wildlife ecology and conservation, rabbits' nutrition, reproduction, and health, animal ecology and behavior studies, and the ecological impacts on species distribution and climate change. Other noted subjects include animal behavior and welfare studies, genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock, and ecology and biodiversity studies.

Villafuerte has published research in various academic venues, frequently contributing to the European Journal of Wildlife Research, Scientific Reports, Mammalian Biology, Journal for Nature Conservation, and Genome Biology and Evolution.

Among their recent papers are:

  • "Individual fate and gut microbiome composition in the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)," 2021, Scientific Reports
  • "Brain Transcriptomics of Wild and Domestic Rabbits Suggests That Changes in Dopamine Signaling and Ciliary Function Contributed to Evolution of Tameness," 2020, Genome Biology and Evolution
  • "Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction," 2021, Conservation Science and Practice
  • "Conflict and cooperation in the management of European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus damage to agriculture in Spain," 2020, People and Nature
  • "Conditioned odor aversion as a tool for reducing post-release predation during animal translocations," 2020, Animal Conservation

They have collaborated frequently with several coauthors, including Miguel Delibes-Mateos, Francisca Castro, Carlos Rouco, Pablo Ferreras, and Miguel Carneiro.

Best Publications

  • Rabbit genome analysis reveals a polygenic basis for phenotypic change during domestication.

    Miguel Carneiro;Carl Johan Rubin;Federica Di Palma;Federica Di Palma;Frank W. Albert

  • Key Role of European Rabbits in the Conservation of the Western Mediterranean Basin Hotspot

    Miguel Delibes-Mateos;Miguel Delibes-Mateos;Miguel Delibes;Pablo Ferreras;Rafael Villafuerte

  • Rabbits as a keystone species in southern Europe

    Miguel Delibes-Mateos;Steve M. Redpath;Elena Angulo;Pablo Ferreras

  • Incidence of viral hemorrhagic disease in wild rabbit populations in Spain

    R. Villafuerte;C. Calvete;J.C. Blanco;J. Lucientes

  • Traditional management of scrubland for the conservation of rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus and their predators in Doñana National Park, Spain

    Sacramento Moreno;Rafael Villafuerte

  • Historical examination of the status of large mammals in Aragon, Spain

    C. Gortázar;J. Herrero;R. Villafuerte;J. Marco

  • Extensive predator persecution caused by population crash in a game species: The case of red kites and rabbits in Spain

    Rafael Villafuerte;Javier Viñuela;Juan Carlos Blanco

  • HABITAT-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION, AND ACTIVITY

    Ludgarda Lombardi;Néstor Fernández;Sacramento Moreno;Rafael Villafuerte

  • Cover is safe during the day but dangerous at night: the use of vegetation by European wild rabbits

    Sacramento Moreno;Rafael Villafuerte;Miguel Delibes

  • European rabbit population trends and associated factors: a review of the situation in the Iberian Peninsula

    Miguel Delibes-Mateos;Miguel Delibes-Mateos;Pablo Ferreras;Rafael Villafuerte

  • FIRST EPIZOOTIC OF RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE IN FREE LIVING POPULATIONS OF ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS AT DOÑANA NATIONAL PARK, SPAIN

    Rafael Villafuerte;C. Calvete;Christian Gortázar;Sacramento Moreno

  • A comparison of brain gene expression levels in domesticated and wild animals

    Frank W. Albert;Mehmet Somel;Miguel Carneiro;Ayinuer Aximu-Petri

  • Wild rabbit restocking for predator conservation in Spain

    Sacramento Moreno;Rafael Villafuerte;Sonia Cabezas;Ludgarda Lombardi

  • Assessment of game restocking contributions to anthropogenic hybridization: the case of the Iberian red‐legged partridge

    José Antonio Blanco-Aguiar;Pablo González-Jara;María Ester Ferrero;Inés S. Sánchez-Barbudo

  • Responses of a top and a meso predator and their prey to moon phases

    Vincenzo Penteriani;Vincenzo Penteriani;Anna Kuparinen;Maria del Mar Delgado;Maria del Mar Delgado;Francisco Palomares

  • Habitat related differences in helminth parasites of red foxes in the Ebro valley.

    Christian Gortázar;Rafael Villafuerte;Javier Lucientes;Daniel Fernández-de-Luco

  • Rabbit populations and game management: the situation after 15 years of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in central-southern Spain

    Miguel Delibes-Mateos;Pablo Ferreras;Rafael Villafuerte

  • Epidemiology of viral haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis in a free-living population of wild rabbits

    C. Calvete;R. Estrada;R. Villafuerte;J. J. Osácar

  • The Genomic Architecture of Population Divergence between Subspecies of the European Rabbit

    Miguel Carneiro;Frank W. Albert;Sandra Afonso;Ricardo J. Pereira

  • Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

    Unknown

  • Modelling hunting strategies for the conservation of wild rabbit populations

    Elena Angulo;Rafael Villafuerte

Frequent Co-Authors

Pablo Ferreras
Pablo Ferreras University of Castilla-La Mancha
Christian Gortázar
Christian Gortázar University of Castilla-La Mancha
Nuno Ferrand
Nuno Ferrand University of Porto
Javier Millán
Javier Millán Universidad de Zaragoza
Beatriz Arroyo
Beatriz Arroyo Spanish National Research Council
Paulo C. Alves
Paulo C. Alves University of Porto
Leif Andersson
Leif Andersson Texas A&M University
Julia E. Fa
Julia E. Fa Manchester Metropolitan University
Javier Viñuela
Javier Viñuela University of Castilla-La Mancha
Michael W. Nachman
Michael W. Nachman University of California, Berkeley

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring Ecology and Evolution can open unexpected doors into allied health and science careers. Many students find online options appealing for their convenience and flexibility. For those considering a switch to nursing—a field with high demand for science-trained professionals—there are now online absn programs for non nurses that provide fast-track pathways. These programs are ideal for graduates from science disciplines looking to build a healthcare career quickly.

Another accelerated route is through the shortest rn to bsn program, which enables registered nurses to complete their bachelor’s in as few as six months, often fully online. With a BSN, you can advance into specialized roles—including the high-growth field of psychiatric care.

Becoming a nurse practitioner is another popular step. Research shows how to become a np quickly, highlighting fast and flexible educational options. For those interested in mental health, pursuing a PMHNP is rewarding—and salaries are increasingly competitive across the US. Find detailed state-by-state compensation insights via this pmhnp salary resource.

Best Scientists Citing Rafael Villafuerte

Trending Scientists