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Animal Science and Veterinary
Spain
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Animal Science and Veterinary

D-Index
64
Citations
10860
World Ranking
259
National Ranking
7

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Animal Science and Veterinary in Spain Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Animal Science and Veterinary in Spain Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Animal Science and Veterinary in Spain Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Animal Science and Veterinary in Spain Leader Award

Overview

Santiago Merino is affiliated with the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Spain and conducts research primarily in the fields of Environmental Science, Immunology and Microbiology, and Agricultural and Biological Sciences. Their work spans various subfields including Parasitology, Ecology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Global and Planetary Change, and Infectious Diseases.

The main research topics covered by their publications include Bird parasitology and diseases, Animal Behavior and Reproduction, Avian ecology and behavior, Vector-borne infectious diseases, Parasite Biology and Host Interactions, Amphibian and Reptile Biology, and Viral Infections and Vectors.

The scientist has published numerous articles in a variety of venues, with frequent contributions to the following journals:

  • Integrative Zoology
  • Molecular Ecology
  • Ecosistemas
  • Ardeola
  • The Science of The Total Environment

Some of the recent papers include:

  • "Geographic patterns of stress in insular lizards reveal anthropogenic and climatic signatures" (2020, The Science of The Total Environment)
  • "Experimental manipulation of cavity temperature produces differential effects on parasite abundances in blue tit nests at two different latitudes" (2021, International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife)
  • "Longitudinal effects of habitat quality, body condition, and parasites on colour patches of a multiornamented lizard" (2022, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology)
  • "Brighter is darker: the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis revisited in lizards" (2021, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society)
  • "Nest Gasses as a Potential Attraction Cue for Biting Flying Insects and Other Ectoparasites of Cavity Nesting Birds" (2020, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution)

Santiago Merino collaborates frequently with several co-authors, notably:

  • Javier Martínez
  • Francisco Castaño-Vázquez
  • Marina García-del Río
  • Rodrigo Megía-Palma
  • Alejandro Cantarero

Best Publications

  • Are avian blood parasites pathogenic in the wild? A medication experiment in blue tits (Parus caeruleus).

    Santiago Merino;Juan Moreno;Juan José Sanz;Elena Arriero

  • Climate change and fitness components of a migratory bird breeding in the Mediterranean region

    Juan José Sanz;Jaime Potti;Juan Moreno;Santiago Merino

  • The blood parasite Haemoproteus reduces survival in a wild bird: a medication experiment

    Josué Martínez-de la Puente;Santiago Merino;Gustavo Tomás;Juan Moreno

  • Mites and blowflies decrease growth and survival in nestling pied flycatchers

    Santiago Merino;Jaime Potti

  • Does clutch size evolve in response to parasites and immunocompetence

    Thomas E. Martin;A. P. Møller;S. Merino;J. Clobert

  • Haematozoa in forest birds from southern Chile: Latitudinal gradients in prevalence and parasite lineage richness

    Santiago Merino;Rodrigo A. Vásquez;Javier Martínez;Inocencia Sánchez-Monsálvez

  • Immune defense and host sociality: a comparative study of swallows and martins.

    A. P. Møller;S. Merino;C. R. Brown;R. J. Robertson

  • Haematological variables are good predictors of recruitment in nestling pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca)

    Elisa Lobato;Juan Moreno;Santiago Merino;Juan J. Sanz

  • Experimental evidence that egg color indicates female condition at laying in a songbird

    Juan Moreno;Elisa Lobato;Judith Morales;Santiago Merino

  • Weather dependent effects of nest ectoparasites on their bird hosts

    Santiago Merino;Jaime Potti

  • Environmental and genetic variation in the haematocrit of fledgling pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca

    Jaime Potti;Juan Moreno;Santiago Merino;Oscar Frías

  • Heterophil/lymphocyte ratios and heat-shock protein levels are related to growth in nestling birds

    Juan Moreno;Santiago Merino;Javier MartÍnez;Juan Sanz

  • Consequences of nest reuse for parasite burden and female health and condition in blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus

    Gustavo Tomás;Santiago Merino;Juan Moreno;Judith Morales

  • On the specificity of avian blood parasites: revealing specific and generalist relationships between haemosporidians and biting midges

    Josué Martínez de la Puente;Javier Martínez;Juan Rivero de Aguilar;Juan Rivero de Aguilar;Jessica Herrero

  • New data on epizootiology and genetics of piroplasms based on sequences of small ribosomal subunit and cytochrome b genes

    A. Criado;J. Martinez;A. Buling;J.C. Barba

  • Sexual selection and tail streamers in the barn swallow

    Anders Pape Møller;Andrés Barbosa;José Javier Cuervo;F. de Lope

  • Evidence for the signaling function of egg color in the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

    Juan Moreno;Judith Morales;Elisa Lobato;Santiago Merino

  • Detection of serum immunoglobulins in wild birds by direct ELISA: a methodological study to validate the technique in different species using antichicken antibodies

    J. Martínez;J. Martínez;G. Tomás;S. Merino;E. Arriero

  • High Prevalence of Hematozoa in Nestlings of a Passefine Species, the Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

    Santiago Merino;Jaime Potti

  • Nestling cell-mediated immune response, body mass and hatching date as predictors of local recruitment in the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

    Juan Moreno;Santiago Merino;Juan J. Sanz;Elena Arriero

  • Phytohaemagglutinin injection assay and physiological stress in nestling house martins.

    Santiago Merino;Javier Martı́nez;Anders Pape Møller;Luis Sanabria

  • Seasonal changes in cell‐mediated immunocompetence and mass gain in nestling barn swallows: a parasite‐mediated effect?

    Santiago Merino;Anders Pape Møller;Florentino De Lope

  • Decreased Levels of Blood Trypanosome Infection Correlate with Female Expression of a Male Secondary Sexual Trait: Implications for Sexual Selection

    Jaime Potti;Santiago Merino

Frequent Co-Authors

Javier Martínez
Javier Martínez University of Alcalá
Gustavo Tomás
Gustavo Tomás Spanish National Research Council
Judith Morales
Judith Morales Spanish National Research Council
Josué Martínez de la Puente
Josué Martínez de la Puente University of Granada
Elisa Lobato
Elisa Lobato University of Porto
Jaime Potti
Jaime Potti Spanish National Research Council
Juan José Sanz
Juan José Sanz Spanish National Research Council
Anders Pape Møller
Anders Pape Møller University of Paris-Saclay
José Javier Cuervo
José Javier Cuervo Spanish National Research Council
Petra Quillfeldt
Petra Quillfeldt University of Giessen

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Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring Animal Science and Veterinary studies can open doors to various specialized careers that often require additional certifications and degrees. For individuals interested in behavioral analysis, pursuing one of the best BCBA programs offers valuable credentials to work as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, which can complement animal behavior work.

For those who wish to integrate psychological principles in their practice, particularly with children or families, enrolling in NASP accredited school psychology programs provides essential training and credentials recognized nationwide. This pathway broadens career possibilities beyond traditional veterinary roles.

If clinical mental health aspects are of interest, online programs such as online PsyD programs accredited by APA offer an advanced approach to psychological practice with flexibility and no GRE requirements, ideal for professionals balancing study with work or animal care.

Finally, addressing addiction and behavioral challenges in both humans and animals is a growing field. Programs designed to become a drug counselor online provide crucial skills for counseling and rehabilitation careers related to substance abuse and dependency.

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