Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: MICHAELLA PEREIRA ANDRADE

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MICHAELLA PEREIRA ANDRADE
DATE: 18/08/2025
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: https://conferenciaweb.rnp.br/sala/charles-3
TITLE:

Other minds: an ecological, behavioral, and evolutionary Study of sentience and welfare in octopuses (Cephalopoda: Mollusca: Conchifera)

PAGES: 141
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUMMARY:

The question of the existence and nature of minds other than human minds is one of the most profound challenges in philosophy and science. Recognizing sentience in other species impacts ethical responsibilities, but when we move away from vertebrates, the challenge of understanding which species are sentient becomes exponentially greater. In this scenario, octopuses, a group within Cephalopoda, emerge as an important and unique case study. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the sentience of octopuses with an integrative approach, combining theoretical, behavioral, and evolutionary studies. As a model, we used wild Octopus insularis, a medium-sized benthic octopus that lives in shallow, clear waters off the coast of Northeast Brazil. This species provided the opportunity to establish metrics of negative welfare by correlating them with different contexts, such as fishing pressures. The interspecific relationships of these animals were also analyzed, revealing context-dependent behaviors. Additionally, we refute arguments put forward in the literature about the inability of sentience in octopuses, and propose a new hypothesis for the evolution of sentience based on the concept of deep homology. Our results, taken together, strengthen the evidence for octopuses as sentient beings, contributing empirical data to ethical debates on the welfare of wild animals, as well as their conservation.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - Interno ao Programa - 1676326 - CHARLES MORPHY DIAS DOS SANTOS
Membro Titular - Examinador(a) Interno ao Programa - 1908726 - CIBELE BIONDO
Membro Titular - Examinador(a) Externo à Instituição - TIAGO FALÓTICO
Membro Suplente - Examinador(a) Interno ao Programa - 1763449 - FERNANDO ZANIOLO GIBRAN
Membro Suplente - Examinador(a) Externo à Instituição - NINA FURNARI