Welton Dionisio da Silva

@sites.usp.br

Post doctoral research at the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo

Welton Dionisio da Silva


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https://researchid.co/dr.dosdos
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of São Paulo (2025), working at the interface of ecology, data science, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on natural language processing (NLP) and neural networks based on metaheuristic algorithms applied to biodiversity, education, and public health. I hold a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB, 2023), a Masters degree in Animal Biology from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE, 2018), and a specialization in Data Science (2024), along with an MBA in Big Data (2025). Following my Ph.D., I worked as a science teacher with an emphasis on astronomy (20232024), integrating research- and experiment-based pedagogical practices, culminating in the discovery of a new asteroid and recognition with the Asteroid Hunting Award from the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI, 2024). In the same year, I published the childrens book A Aventura Espacial (2024), which blends el

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Artificial Intelligence
19

Scopus Publications

99

Scholar Citations

7

Scholar h-index

2

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • She Doesn't Whisper: Female-Prominent Stridulation Shaped by Morphology in a Buthid Scorpion and Insights on Its Function
    Welton Dionisio‐da‐Silva, Natália Maria Câmara Luna, Patrício Adriano da Rocha, Rodrigo Hirata Willemart, Marcio Bernardino daSilva
    Ethology, 2026
    Stridulation, acoustic communication produced by friction between specialized body structures, is a poorly studied antipredator mechanism. Scorpions may display multiple defensive responses, yet acoustic signaling in such defensive context remains poorly studied. Given the sexual dimorphism commonly observed in scorpion body size and pectines, the latter, which may be involved in sound production, could vary morphologically and result in acoustic differences. We hypothesized that (1) stridulatory apparatus of the scorpion Jaguajir rochae (Borelli, 1910) is sexually dimorphic, (2) sexual dimorphism in stridulatory structures affects acoustic parameters, and (3) stridulatory responses vary with stress, tested via (2.1) mechanical and (2.2) mechano‐chemical stimulation. Sound‐producing structures and acoustic parameters were measured and stridulation was tested under high/low mechanical stress and mechano‐chemical stress, the latter using chemical cues from a mammalian predator. Females exhibited larger pectinal structures, whereas males showed a higher allometric ratio relative to body size. Stridulatory signals in J. rochae showed sexual differentiation primarily in delta time, dB Sound Pressure Level, and low frequency, as revealed by Principal Component Analysis, what explains 38.7% of acoustic variance. Females produced longer and more intense signals, whereas males exhibited slightly higher peak frequencies. Yet, the occurrence of stridulatory responses was similar across different stress treatments. These findings reveal that sexual dimorphism in stridulatory apparatus influences acoustic parameters and that stridulation in J. rochae can be triggered by mechanical stimulation, supporting its role as a defensive behavior. This study provides the first evidence of sex‐specific acoustic variation in scorpion stridulation and elucidates its function as an antipredator strategy.
  • Hide and seek: chemical cues drive site preference among potential mates and intraguild competitors
    Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, Katarina Luisa Araujo Rocha-da-Silva, Helena Maria Gonçalves Veloso, Marcio Bernardino DaSilva
    Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2025
    Chemical perception is essential among arthropods for mate recognition, prey search, and predator avoidance, especially for solitary predators which are often aggressive. Such mechanisms may be intensified in environments like the Caatinga, a seasonally dry tropical forest in Brazil, characterized by low habitat complexity and high seasonal variation. Thus, we investigated chemical perception between two scorpion species from this environment, involved in intraguild competition. Experiments assessed their response to chemical cues from prey, predators, and potential mates. We use Y-mazes to test the time spent by the scorpions between Y-arms with or without a given substrate-borne chemical cue (site preference) and the number of active individuals during trials (presence of activity). Scorpions’ activity was not influenced by chemical stimuli, although they clearly exhibit site preferences. The smaller predators avoided sites with the larger species’ chemical cues, while the larger predators preferred sites with the smaller species’ cues. Additionally, both species trailed female chemical cues. These findings suggest a dual-oriented arms race where prey and predator modulate their behaviour to avoid and hunt heterospecifics, respectively. This study provides the first evidence of a scorpion using chemical cues to detect a heterospecific scorpion and highlights the importance of this trait in arachnids.
  • Growth paths: morphological and morphometric traits throughout life stages of the sea cucumber Thyonidium seguroensis (Deichmann 1930) (Dendrochirotida: Thyonidiidae)
    Victória Stevenson, Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, Martin Lindsey Christoffersen, Jéssica Prata
    Zoomorphology, 2025
  • What's for dinner? Prey consumption by Neotropical scorpions across contrasting environments
    W. Dionisio-da-Silva, S.Í.A. Foerster, J.E. Gallão, A.F.A. Lira
    Journal of Arachnology, 2024
    The overall assumption that scorpions are generalist predators is often based on conspicuous information from the literature. Here, we compiled a list of prey consumption by scorpions from different environments in Brazil to produce a documentation of predations by this taxon. This list is based on observations made under natural conditions in Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, and Cerrado formations. We compiled 135 predation instances including 11 scorpion species from field work through 14 years. The observed diet composition of the scorpions was mainly based on cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, and other scorpions. Such data highlights the generalist diet and cannibalism of scorpions with many cannibalistic events among the records of intraguild predation. Overall, this study broadens the knowledge of the diet composition of Brazilian scorpions under natural conditions.
  • Reproductive investment in the Brazilian scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones: Buthidae): Do larger females produce better offspring?
    W. Dionisio-da-Silva, C. M. Albuquerque, de. de, Lira A.F. Araujo, de. de
    Invertebrate Zoology, 2023
    Dionisio-da-Silva, Welton, Albuquerque, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de, Lira, André Felipe de Araujo (2023): Reproductive investment in the Brazilian scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones: Buthidae): Do larger females produce better offspring? Invertebrate Zoology 20 (1): 90-96, DOI: 10.15298/invertzool.20.1.04, URL: https://doi.org/10.15298/invertzool.20.1.04
  • New records of the not-so-rare males of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Scorpiones: Buthidae)
    Stenio Italo Araujo Foerster, Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, Adriana Barbosa dos Santos, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque, André Felipe de Araujo Lira
    Journal of Arachnology, 2022
    Parthenogenesis and sex-ratio bias may lead to erroneous assumptions concerning the natural history of some arachnids. To help address this issue, this study provides new data on the sex ratio and geographic distribution of sexual populations of the scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876). Ultraviolet light lanterns were used to detect specimens during nocturnal searches performed in both urban and non-urban environments scattered thorough northeastern Brazil. Males of T. stigmurus were reported for 10 new localities, and although we did not find males in urban environments, non-urban populations presented near symmetrical sex ratios. Such results suggest that reproductive strategies in this species may be modulated by environmental conditions. Also, the general tendency of less biased sex ratios in non-urban environments reported here is in accordance with previous studies that indicated the occurrence of geographical parthenogenesis in this species. Thereby, we propose that sexual populations of T. stigmurus are less rare than previously reported.
  • Fitness differences between parthenogenetic litters of the synanthropic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae)
    Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, Cleide M.R. Albuquerque, André F.A. Lira
    Animal Biology, 2022
    Clonal lineages in similar environments may be influenced by non-Mendelian inheritance, such as maternal age effects and developmental instabilities. These mechanisms may affect the developmental fitness of parthenogenetic litters. In this study, the scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) was used to analyze the effects of non-Mendelian variation on parthenogenetic litters. A total of 75 juveniles from five females were reared under the same controlled conditions, while their development was observed and evaluated through differences in offspring fitness traits (litter size, prosoma size, developmental time, and mortality) between the litters. First and second litters had a similar litter size, although second litters exhibited longer developmental time in the early instar stages (second and third) than first litters. These results indicate that T. stigmurus females allocated nutrient resources to maximize litter size rather than developmental fitness in subsequent litters. Differences in developmental time found in early instars but not in late instars may have occurred as a result of stochastic developmental variations in young individuals. Such variation in duration of development has the potential to influence survival of juveniles in natural environments because individuals that grow faster may avoid large predators and consume larger prey, compared to those that do not.
  • Fear as an enemy? Behavioral changes of Ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) triggered by chemical cues from an intraguild predator
    Matheus Leonydas Borba Feitosa, Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, André Felipe de Araújo Lira, Wendel José Teles Pontes
    Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2022
    Fear level and intraguild predation are factors that act together to directly influence animal behavior, population dynamics, and community structure. These factors trigger stress, which promotes behavioral, morphological, physiological, and demographic changes, especially in the prey. Some invertebrates, such as scorpions, are known to have a refined chemoreception system to perceive both prey and predators. Therefore, we investigated the ability of an intraguild prey, the scorpion Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982, to detect chemical traces of its predator, the scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893. Our goal was to verify whether A. mauryi exhibits antipredator behavior induced exclusively by chemical cues from its predator. Ananteris mauryi specimens were subjected to two experimental treatments: one with and one without traces of T. pusillus. The results showed that A. mauryi tended to avoid substrates with chemical traces of T. pusillus, confirming its capacity for chemical detection. As a result of this perception, changes in behavioral frequencies were triggered, generating an antipredator behavioral repertoire. These findings were supported by behavioral changes, such as tail wagging, which is performed exclusively by scorpions in the presence of a predator and at imminent risk of predation.
  • Unity Makes Strength: Recruited Pheidole radoszkowskii Mayr Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Steal Large Prey from a Bothriurus asper Pocock Scorpion (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae)
    W. Dionisio-Da-Silva, I. N. Souza, L. P. Araujo-Da-Silva, T. V. Silva-Filho
    Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 2021
  • Influence of the edge-core gradient on the scorpion assemblage (Arachnida, Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest
    André Felipe de Araujo Lira, Rogério Ferreira de Oliveira, Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, Geraldo Jorge Barbosa de Moura
    International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021
  • Life-history traits of the Brazilian litter-dwelling scorpion: post-embryonic development and reproductive behaviour in Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 (Scorpiones: Buthidae)
    André Felipe de Araujo Lira, Jonathas Correia Correia de Araújo, Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque
    Journal of Natural History, 2021
  • Notes on the courtship behavior of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus
    Stênio Italo Araújo Foerster, Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, Adriana Barbosa dos Santos, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque, André Felipe de Araújo Lira
    Acta Arachnologica, 2021
  • Excreta grooming behavior in a litter-dwelling scorpion species (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Brazil
    L.M. Pordeus, W. Dionisio-da-Silva, A.F.A. Lira, C.M.R. Albuquerque
    Journal of Arachnology, 2020
  • Erratum: Record of ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) preyed upon by ectatomma planidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian atlantic rainforest: Clarification (Entomological News 128 (497-503)
    Entomological News, 2020
  • A Species of Colonides Schmidt, 1889 (Coleoptera: Histeridae) Associated with an Army Ant Emigration in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest Remnant
    André F. A. Lira, Francisco C. Lima-Júnior, Welton Dionisio-da-Silva
    Coleopterists Bulletin, 2019
  • Prey-predator interactions between two intraguild predators modulate their behavioral decisions
    Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, André Felipe de Araujo Lira, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque
    Acta Ethologica, 2019
  • Record of Ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Preyed upon by Ectatomma planidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest
    Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, André Felipe de Araujo Lira
    Entomological News, 2019
  • Distinct edge effects and reproductive periods of sympatric litter-dwelling scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest
    Welton Dionisio-da-Silva, André Felipe de Araujo Lira, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque
    Zoology, 2018
  • Random or clumped: How litter dwelling scorpions are distributed in a fragment of Brazilian Atlantic forest
    Gabriela Cavalcanti Silva de Gusmao SANTOS, Welton DIONISIO-DA-SILVA, Joao Pedro SOUZA-ALVES, Cleide Maria Ribeiro de ALBUQUERQUE, Andre Felipe de Araujo LIRA
    European Journal of Entomology, 2018

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Growth paths: morphological and morphometric traits throughout life stages of the sea cucumber Thyonidium seguroensis (Deichmann 1930) (Dendrochirotida …
    V Stevenson, W Dionisio-da-Silva, ML Christoffersen, J Prata
    Zoomorphology 144 (1), 2 , 2025
    2025
  • Hide and seek: chemical cues drive site preference among potential mates and intraguild competitors
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, KL Araujo Rocha-da-Silva, HMG Veloso, ...
    Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 144 (4), blae058 , 2025
    2025
  • What's for dinner? Prey consumption by neotropical scorpions across contrasting environments
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, SÍA Foerster, JE Gallão, AFA Lira
    The Journal of Arachnology 52 (1), 26-30 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 9
  • Reproductive investment in the Brazilian scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones: Buthidae): Do larger females produce better offspring?
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, CMR de Albuquerque, AF de Araujo Lira
    2023
  • Fitness differences between parthenogenetic litters of the synanthropic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae)
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, CMR Albuquerque, AFA Lira
    Animal Biology 72 (4), 435-446 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 1
  • Fear as an enemy? Behavioral changes of Ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) triggered by chemical cues from an intraguild predator
    MLB Feitosa, W Dionisio-da-Silva, AFA Lira, WJ Teles-Pontes
    Canadian Journal of Zoology 100 (8), 488-493 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 8
  • New records of the not-so-rare males of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876)(Scorpiones: Buthidae)
    SIA Foerster, W Dionisio-da-Silva, AB dos Santos, CMR de Albuquerque, ...
    The Journal of Arachnology 50 (1), 27-29 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 6
  • Notes on the courtship behavior of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus
    SIA Foerster, W Dionisio-da-Silva, AB dos Santos, CMR de Albuquerque, ...
    Acta Arachnologica 70 (2), 83-86 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 8
  • Unity Makes Strength: Recruited Pheidole radoszkowskii Mayr Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Steal Large Prey from a Bothriurus asper Pocock Scorpion (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae)
    W Dionisio-Da-Silva, IN Souza, LP Araujo-Da-Silva, TV Silva-Filho
    Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 123 (3), 665-668 , 2021
    2021
  • Life-history traits of the Brazilian litter-dwelling scorpion: post-embryonic development and reproductive behaviour in Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 (Scorpiones …
    AF de Araujo Lira, JC Correia de Araújo, W Dionisio-da-Silva, ...
    Journal of Natural History 55 (21-22), 1323-1334 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 3
  • Influence of the edge-core gradient on the scorpion assemblage (Arachnida, Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest
    AFA Lira, RF de Oliveira, W Dionisio-da-Silva, GJB de Moura
    International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 41 (1), 447-454 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 2
  • Excreta grooming behavior in a litter-dwelling scorpion species (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Brazil
    LM Pordeus, W Dionisio-da-Silva, AFA Lira, CMR Albuquerque
    The Journal of Arachnology 48 (1), 98-99 , 2020
    2020
  • A Species of Colonides Schmidt, 1889 (Coleoptera: Histeridae) Associated with an Army Ant Emigration in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest Remnant
    AFA Lira, FC Lima-Júnior, W Dionisio-da-Silva
    The Coleopterists Bulletin 73 (4), 1111-1113 , 2019
    2019
  • Record of Ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) preyed upon by Ectatomma planidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, AF de Araujo Lira
    Entomological News 128 (5), 497-503 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 9
  • Prey-predator interactions between two intraguild predators modulate their behavioral decisions
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, AF de Araujo Lira, CMR de Albuquerque
    acta ethologica 22 (3), 195-201 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 14
  • Distinct edge effects and reproductive periods of sympatric litter-dwelling scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, AF de Araujo Lira, CMR de Albuquerque
    Zoology 129, 17-24 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 32
  • Random or clumped: How litter dwelling scorpions are distributed in a fragment of Brazilian Atlantic forest
    GCSDG Santos, W Dionisio-Da-Silva, JP Souza-Alves, ...
    European Journal of Entomology 115, 445-449 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 7

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Distinct edge effects and reproductive periods of sympatric litter-dwelling scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, AF de Araujo Lira, CMR de Albuquerque
    Zoology 129, 17-24 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 32
  • Prey-predator interactions between two intraguild predators modulate their behavioral decisions
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, AF de Araujo Lira, CMR de Albuquerque
    acta ethologica 22 (3), 195-201 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 14
  • What's for dinner? Prey consumption by neotropical scorpions across contrasting environments
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, SÍA Foerster, JE Gallão, AFA Lira
    The Journal of Arachnology 52 (1), 26-30 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 9
  • Record of Ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) preyed upon by Ectatomma planidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, AF de Araujo Lira
    Entomological News 128 (5), 497-503 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 9
  • Fear as an enemy? Behavioral changes of Ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) triggered by chemical cues from an intraguild predator
    MLB Feitosa, W Dionisio-da-Silva, AFA Lira, WJ Teles-Pontes
    Canadian Journal of Zoology 100 (8), 488-493 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 8
  • Notes on the courtship behavior of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus
    SIA Foerster, W Dionisio-da-Silva, AB dos Santos, CMR de Albuquerque, ...
    Acta Arachnologica 70 (2), 83-86 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 8
  • Random or clumped: How litter dwelling scorpions are distributed in a fragment of Brazilian Atlantic forest
    GCSDG Santos, W Dionisio-Da-Silva, JP Souza-Alves, ...
    European Journal of Entomology 115, 445-449 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 7
  • New records of the not-so-rare males of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876)(Scorpiones: Buthidae)
    SIA Foerster, W Dionisio-da-Silva, AB dos Santos, CMR de Albuquerque, ...
    The Journal of Arachnology 50 (1), 27-29 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 6
  • Life-history traits of the Brazilian litter-dwelling scorpion: post-embryonic development and reproductive behaviour in Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 (Scorpiones …
    AF de Araujo Lira, JC Correia de Araújo, W Dionisio-da-Silva, ...
    Journal of Natural History 55 (21-22), 1323-1334 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 3
  • Influence of the edge-core gradient on the scorpion assemblage (Arachnida, Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest
    AFA Lira, RF de Oliveira, W Dionisio-da-Silva, GJB de Moura
    International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 41 (1), 447-454 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 2
  • Fitness differences between parthenogenetic litters of the synanthropic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae)
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, CMR Albuquerque, AFA Lira
    Animal Biology 72 (4), 435-446 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 1
  • Growth paths: morphological and morphometric traits throughout life stages of the sea cucumber Thyonidium seguroensis (Deichmann 1930) (Dendrochirotida …
    V Stevenson, W Dionisio-da-Silva, ML Christoffersen, J Prata
    Zoomorphology 144 (1), 2 , 2025
    2025
  • Hide and seek: chemical cues drive site preference among potential mates and intraguild competitors
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, KL Araujo Rocha-da-Silva, HMG Veloso, ...
    Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 144 (4), blae058 , 2025
    2025
  • Reproductive investment in the Brazilian scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones: Buthidae): Do larger females produce better offspring?
    W Dionisio-da-Silva, CMR de Albuquerque, AF de Araujo Lira
    2023
  • Unity Makes Strength: Recruited Pheidole radoszkowskii Mayr Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Steal Large Prey from a Bothriurus asper Pocock Scorpion (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae)
    W Dionisio-Da-Silva, IN Souza, LP Araujo-Da-Silva, TV Silva-Filho
    Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 123 (3), 665-668 , 2021
    2021
  • Excreta grooming behavior in a litter-dwelling scorpion species (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Brazil
    LM Pordeus, W Dionisio-da-Silva, AFA Lira, CMR Albuquerque
    The Journal of Arachnology 48 (1), 98-99 , 2020
    2020
  • A Species of Colonides Schmidt, 1889 (Coleoptera: Histeridae) Associated with an Army Ant Emigration in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest Remnant
    AFA Lira, FC Lima-Júnior, W Dionisio-da-Silva
    The Coleopterists Bulletin 73 (4), 1111-1113 , 2019
    2019