Much to the amusement of his friends and family, botanist Arthur Domingos de Melo works hard to keep his houseplants happy, a consequence of his demanding fieldwork in the Caatinga and frequent visits to Garanhuns that leave him with little time for his ferns and succulents. As a result, he prefers to appreciate plants in their natural habitats.

Melo’s current research focuses on the flowers of the Caatinga biome. While the scientific understanding of bee and hummingbird pollination is extensive, much less is known about nocturnal pollinators, especially bats. His work aims to reveal the influence these mammals have on the characteristics of flowers.

Originally from the interior of Pernambuco, Melo moved to Vitória de Santo Antão to pursue his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in plant sciences at the Federal University of Pernambuco, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship. 

He is now a professor and researcher at the Federal University of Sergipe, splitting his time between Itabaiana, Sergipe, and Garanhuns, Pernambuco, where his husband, a professor at UPE, lives. Together, they share a household with three cats and maintain a flourishing partnership despite the distance.