El Niño | Bioinvasions | Molecular Diversity

 
El Niño Top

The aim of this Cross-cutting Team (CCT-El Nino) is to understand how climate factors and associated meteorological phenomena such as El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affect biodiversity, from the individual to the population, community and ecosystem levels. To attain this goal, three major approaches are used:

  • Experimental studies of physiological and behavioral responses to heat/cold/water.
  • Statistical analyses of long-term data series, mainly in Chile.
  • Comparative studies of similar phenomena (ENSO versus NAO) in different hemispheres, mainly in Europe and the United States.

Team members

This team draws researchers from CASEB programs, from Chilean universities, and from foreign centers. Team Leader is Dr. Mauricio Lima. Currently, team researchers are:

  • Program 1: Dr. Francisco Bozinovic.
  • Program 2: Dr. Fabian Jaksic, Dr. Mauricio Lima, Dr. Laurent Crespin (Postdoc).
  • Program 3: Dr. Jose Miguel Farina, .
  • Program 4: Dr. Pablo Marquet.
  • Program 5: Dr. Patricio Ojeda, Dr. (c) Eduardo Hernandez (doctoral student).
  • Program 6: Dr. Juan Carlos Castilla.
  • University of Oslo, Norway: Dr. Nils Christian Stenseth.
  • University of La Serena: Mgr. Arturo Cortes (Fellow).
  • University of Santisima Concepcion: Dr. Patricio Camus (Fellow)

Team publications

  • Belgrano, A., M. Lima, N. C. Stenseth & O. Lindahl. 2004. Responses of phytoplankton communities to climate variability. Pp: 109-114. In Stenseth N. C., G. Ottersen, J. W. Hurrell & A. Belgrano (Eds.): Ecological effects of climatic variations in the North Atlantic. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. PDF
  • Berryman, A. A. & M. Lima. 2006. Deciphering the Effects of Climate on Animal Populations: Diagnostic Analysis Provides New Interpretation of Soay Sheep Dynamics. The American Naturalist 168: 784-795. PDF
  • Berteaux, D., M. M. Humphries, C. J. Krebs, M. Lima, A. G. McAdam, N. Pettorelli, D. Reale, T. Saitoh, E. Tkadlec, R. B. Weladji & N. Chr. Stenseth. 2006. Constraints to projecting the effects of climate change on mammals. Climate Research 32: 151-158 PDF
  • de la Maza M., M. Lima, P.L. Meserve, J.R. Gutierrez & F.M. Jaksic. 2009. Primary production dynamics and climate variability: ecological consequences in semiarid Chile. Global Change Biology 15: 1116-1126.
  • Estay, S.A. & M. Lima. 2009. Combined effect of ENSO and SAM on the population dynamics of the invasive yellowjacket wasp in central Chile. Population Ecology: in press. DOI 10.1007/s10144-009-0179-8.
  • Estay, S.A., M. Lima & F.A. Labra. 2009. Predicting insect pest status under climate change scenarios: combining experimental data and population dynamics modelling. Journal of Applied Entomology: In press. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2008.01380.x.
  • Farias, A. A. & F. M. Jaksic. 2007. Effects of functional constraints and opportunism on the functional structure of a vertebrate predator assemblage. Journal of Animal Ecology 76: 246-257. PDF
  • Hernandez-Miranda, E. & F. P. Ojeda. 2006. Inter-annual variability in somatic growth rates and mortality of coastal fishes off central Chile: an ENSO driven process? Marine Biology 149: 925–936. PDF
  • Holmgren M., P. Stapp, C. R. Dickman, C. Gracia, S. Graham, J. R. Gutierrez, C. Hice, F. Jaksic, D. A. Kelt, M. Letnic, M. Lima, B. C. Lopez, P. L. Meserve, W. B. Milstead, G. A. Polis, M. A. Previtali, M. Richter, S. Sabate & F. A. Squeo. 2006. Extreme climatic events shape arid and semiarid ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 4 (2): 87-95. PDF
  • Holmgren M., P. Stapp, C. R. Dickman, C. Gracia, S. Graham, J. R. Gutierrez, C. Hice, F. Jaksic, D. A. Kelt, M. Letnic, M. Lima, B. C. Lopez, P. L. Meserve, W. B. Milstead, G. A. Polis, M. A. Previtali, M. Richter, S. Sabate & F. A. Squeo. 2006. A synthesis of ENSO effects on drylands in Australia, North America and South America. Advances in Geosciences 6: 69-72. PDF
  • Jaksic, F. M. 2004. El Nino effects on avian ecology: lessons learned from the southeastern Pacific. Pp. 61-72 in Proceedings of the 7th Neotropical Ornithological Congress, Ornitologia Neotropical. PDF
  • Jaksic, F. M. 2004. El Nino and the birds: a resource-based interpretation of climatic forcing. Pp. 36-40 in Villegas L., H. Zeballos, K. Caballero & P. Jimenez (Eds.): Memorias de la V Jornada Nacional de Ornitologia, Arequipa, Peru.
  • Jaksic, F. M. & M. Lima. 2003. Myths and facts on ratadas: Bamboo blooms, rainfall peaks and rodent outbreaks in South America. Austral Ecology 28: 237-251. PDF
  • Latorre, C., J.L. Betancourt & M.T.K. Arroyo. 2006. Vegetation and climate history of a perennial river canyon in the Rio Salado Basin (22ºS) of northern Chile. Quaternary Research 65: 450-466.
  • Latorre, C., P.I. Moreno, G. Vargas, A. Maldonado, R. Villa-Martinez, J.J. Armesto, C. Villagran, M. Pino, L. Nunez & M. Grosjean. 2007. Late Quaternary environments and palaeoclimate. In: Gibbons, W. & T. Moreno, Eds. The Geology of Chile, pp. 309-328. London Geological Society Press, London. PDF
  • Lima, M. 2003. Modelling the structure of non-linear and non-additive climatic forces in small rodent population dynamics. Pp. 373-379 in Singleton, G. R., L. A. Hinds, C. J. Krebs & D. M. Spratt (Eds.): Rats, mice and people: rodent biology and management. ACIAR Monograph No. 96, 564 pp.
  • Lima, M. & A. Berryman. 2006. Predicting nonlinear and non-additive effects of climate: the Alpine ibex revisited. Climate Research 32: 129-135. PDF
  • Lima M. & F. M. Jaksic. 2004. The impacts of ENSO on terrestrial ecosystems: a comparison with NAO. Pp: 169-175. In Stenseth N. C., G. Ottersen, J. W. Hurrell & A. Belgrano (eds) Ecological effects of climatic variations in the North Atlantic. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. PDF
  • Lima, M., S.K. Morgan Ernest, J.H. Brown, A. Belgrano & N.C. Stenseth. 2008. Chihuahuan desert kangaroo rats: nonlinear effects of population dynamics, competition, and rainfall. Ecology 89: 2594-2603.
  • Lima, M., N. C. Stenseth & F. M. Jaksic. 2002. Food web structure and climate effects on the dynamics of small mammals and owls in semiarid Chile. Ecology Letters 5: 273-284. PDF
  • Lima, M., N. C. Stenseth & F. M. Jaksic. 2002. Population dynamics of a South American rodent: seasonal structure interacting with climate, density dependence and predator effects. Proceedings of The Royal Society of London B 269: 2579-2586. PDF
  • Lima, M., A.A. Berryman & N.C. Stenseth. 2006. Feedback structures of northern small rodent populations. Oikos 112: 555-564 PDF.
  • Lima, M., M. A. Previtali & P. Meserve. 2006. Climate and small rodent dynamics in semi-arid Chile: the role of lateral and vertical perturbations and intra-specific processes. Climate Research 30: 125-132. PDF
  • Martinez E. A., L. Cardenas & R. Pinto. 2003. Recovery and genetic diversity of the intertidal kelp Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophycea) 20 years after El Nino 1982/83. Journal of Phycology 39: 504-509. PDF
  • Murua R., L. A. Gonzalez & M. Lima. 2003. Second-order feedback and climatic effects determine the dynamics of a small rodent population in a temperate forest of South America. Population Ecology 45: 19-24. PDF
  • Murua R., L. A. Gonzalez & M. Lima. 2003. Population dynamics of rice rats (a Hantavirus reservoir) in southern Chile: feedback structure and non-linear effects of climatic Oscillations. Oikos 102: 137-145. PDF
  • Previtali, M. A., M. Lima, P.L. Meserve, D.A. Kelt & J.R. Gutierrez. 2009. Population dynamics of two sympatric rodent species in a variable environment: rainfall, resource availability, and predation. Ecology 90: 1996-2006.
  • Pulgar, J.M., F.P. Ojeda & F. Bozinovic. 2006. Intraspecific geographic and seasonal physiological variability in an intertidal fish, Girella laevifrons, along a climatic gradient. Journal of Fish Biology 68: 975-981 PDF
  • Stenseth, N. C., A. Mysterud, G. Ottersen, J. W. Hurrell, K-S Chan & M. Lima. 2002. [Review] Ecological effects of climate fluctuations. Science 297: 1292-1296. PDF, ISI Special Topics
  • Stenseth N. C., G. Ottersen, J. W. Hurrell, A. Mysterud, M. Lima, K.-S. Chan, N. G. Yoccoz & B. Adlandsvik. 2003. Studying climate effects on ecology through the use of climate indices: the North Atlantic Oscillation, El Nino Southern Oscillation and beyond. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 270: 2087-2096. PDF
  • Stenseth N. C., H. Leirs, A. Skonhoft, S. A. Davis, R. P. Pech, H. P. Andresassen, G. R. Singleton, M. Lima, R. M. Machangu, R. H. Makundi, Z. Zhang, P. B. Brown, D. Shi & X. Wan. 2003. Mice and rats: the dynamics and bio-economics of agricultural rodent pests. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 1(7): 367-375. PDF
  • Takesue, R. K., A. van Geen, J. D. Carriquiry, E. Ortiz, L. Godinez-Orta, I. Granados, M. Saldivar, L. Ortlieb, N. Guzman, J. C. Castilla, M. Varas, M. Salamanca & C, Figueroa. 2004. Influence of coastal upwelling and El Nino-Southern Oscillation on nearshore water along Baja California and Chile: Shore-based monitoring during 1997–2000. Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans 109: PDF
  • Tirado, C., A. Cortes, F.M. Jaksic & F. Bozinovic. 2008. ENSO-associated response of field urine osmolality in the insectivorous marsupial Thylamys elegans. Journal of Arid Environments 72: 2011-2016. PDF

Team theses

  • Arim, Matias. "Productividad primaria y estructura trofica: Cambios temporales a escala poblacional y comunitaria". Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Advisors: F. Jaksic and P. Marquet. Filed November 2005.
  • Farias, Ariel. “Efectos de la disponibilidad de recursos sobre la diversidad funcional de un ensamble de vertebrados depredadores de Chile central". Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Advisors: F. Jaksic & M. Lima. Filed September 2006.
  • Hernandez, Eduardo “Demografia de peces costeros residentes en la zona litoral de Chile central: efecto de factores exogenos y endogenos en su dinamica espacio-temporal”. Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Advisors: P. Ojeda and M. Lima. Filed January 2007.
    Current position: Postdoctoral Associate, Universidad de Concepcion.
  • Pulgar, Jose. "Tolerancia fisiologica termica de peces en el intermareal rocoso de la costa de Chile”. Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Advisors: F. Bozinovic and P. Ojeda. Filed May 2004.


Team outreach

  • Lima, M. 2005. Rodents and Climate in Semiarid Chile: population dynamic theory and the non-additive effects of rainfall. Rodent Research. Newsletter 19, April 2005: pp. 4-5. PDF
  • Lima, M. 2006. Los efectos ecologicos de las fluctuaciones climaticas. Investigacion y Ciencia, julio 2006: pp. 46-52. PDF
  • Symposium: El Nino: Causes and consequences of ecological patterns in time and space. Joint Annual Meeting of the Botanical Society of Chile and the Biological Society of Chile. Termas de Puyehue, Chile. 13 November 2002. Poster.
  • Symposium: Climate change in an ecological and evolutionary framework. Joint Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Chile and the Biological Society of Chile. Termas de Puyehue, Chile. 14 November 2002. Poster.
  • Vision Universitaria PUC. 2006. A partir de madrigueras de roedores, estudian los cambios climaticos en el desierto. PDF
Bioinvasions Top

The aim of this Cross-cutting Team (CCT-Bioinvasions) is to understand how biological invaders affect Chilean biodiversity, from population, to community and ecosystem levels. To attain this goal, three major approaches are used:

  • Review of historical, archival, or museological data on invaders in Chile.
  • Analyses of long-term and spatial data series in Chile, for detection of trends among invaders and natives.
  • Comparative studies of invaders in their new (Chile) and original (native) ranges.

Team members

This team draws researchers from CASEB programs, and from Chilean governmental agencies concerned with bioinvasions. Team Leader is Dr. Fabian Jaksic. Currently, team researchers are:

  • Program 1: Dr. Francisco Bozinovic.
  • Program 2: Dr. Matias Arim, Dr. Fabian Jaksic, Dr. Eduardo Palma (Researchers).
  • Program 3: Dr. Juan Armesto, Dr. Jose Miguel Farina (Researchers).
  • Program 4: Dr. Pablo Marquet.
  • Program 5: Dr. Alvaro Palma (Researcher).
  • Program 6: Dr. Juan Carlos Castilla, Dr. Sergio Navarrete (Researchers); Dr. Ricardo Guinez (Fellow).
  • Program 7: Dr. Juan Correa (Researcher).
  • Program 8: Dr. Sergio Castro (Researcher); Dr. (c) Milagros Jimenez (Doctoral student), Dr. (c) Gabriel Lobos (Doctoral student), Dr. Petra Wallem (Postdoc).
  • Museo Nacional de Historia Natural: Mgr. Melica Munoz-Schick.
  • Servicio Agricola y Ganadero: Mgr. J. Agustin Iriarte.
  • Universidad Catolica de la Santisima Concepcion: Dr. Paula Neill
  • Universidad de Chile, INTA: Dr. Marco Mendez.
Team publications
  • Anderson, C.B., G. Martinez-Pastur, M.V. Lencinas, P.K. Wallem, M.C. Moorman & A.D. Rosemond. 2009. Do introduced North American beavers Castor canadensis engineer differently in southern South America? An overview with implications for restoration. Mammal Review 39: 33-52. PDF
  • Arim, M., S. R. Abades, P. E. Neill, M. Lima & P. A. Marquet. 2006. Spread dynamics of invasive species. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103: 374-378. PDF
  • Astorga M., R. Guinez, J. C. Ortiz & J. C. Castilla. 2002. Variacion fenotipica y genetica en el tunicado Pyura preaputialis (Heller, 1878) en el area norte de la bahia de Antofagasta, Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 75: 515-526. PDF
  • Camus, P. & F.M. Jaksic. 2009. Piscicultura en Chile: entre la Productividad y el Deterioro Ambiental. 1856-2008. Alfabeta Artes Graficas, Santiago. 100 pp. More info.
  • Camus, P., S. Castro & F. Jaksic. 2008. El conejo europeo en Chile: historia de una invasión biológica. Historia 41: 305-339.
  • Castilla J. C., A. G. Collins, C. P. Meyer, R. Guinez & D. R. Lindberg. 2002. Recent introduction of the dominant tunicate, Pyura praeputialis (Urochordata, Pyuridae) to the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile. Molecular Ecology 11:1579-1584. PDF
  • Castilla, J.C., R. Guinez, A. Caro& V. Ortiz. 2004. Invasion of a rocky intertidal shore by the tunicate Pyura praeputialis in the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. PNAS 101: 8517-8524. PDF
  • Castilla J.C., N. A. Lagos & M. Cerda. 2004. Marine ecosystem engineering by the alien ascidian Pyura praeputialis on a mid-intertidal rocky shore. Marine Ecology Progress Series: 268: 119-130 PDF
  • Castilla, J. C., M. Uribe, N. Bahamonde, M. Clarke, R. Desqueyroux-Faundez, I. Kong, H. Moyano, N. Rozbaczylo, B. Santelices, C. Valdovinos & P. Zavala. 2005. Down under the southeastern Pacific: marine non-indigenous species in Chile. Biological Invasions 7: 213–232. PDF
  • Castro, S.A.. 2009. Piscicultura en Chile: entre la productividad y el deterioro ambiental 1856-2008 (2009). Camus P & F Jaksic. Ediciones Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. 100 pp. ISBN 978-956-14-1055-8. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 82: 591-592.
  • Castro, S.A., E. Badano, D. Guzman & L. Cavieres. 2009. Biological invasion of a refuge habitat: Anthriscus caucalis (Apiaceae) decreases diversity, evenness, and survival of native herbs in the Chilean matorral. Biological Invasions (DOI 10.1007/s10530-009-9547-8): in press.
  • Castro, S. A. & F. M. Jaksic. 2008. Patterns of turnover and floristic similarity show a non-random distribution of naturalized flora in Chile, South America. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 81: 111-121. PDF
  • Castro, S. A. & F. M. Jaksic. 2008. Role of non-established plants in determining biotic homogenization patterns in Pacific oceanic islands. Biological Invasions 10: 1299-1309. PDF
  • Castro, S. A. & F. M. Jaksic. 2008. How general are global trends in biotic homogenization? floristic tracking in Chile, South America. Global Ecology and Biogeography 17: 524-531. PDF
  • Castro, S. A., F. Bozinovic & F. M. Jaksic. 2008. Ecological efficiency and legitimacy in seed dispersal of an endemic shrub (Lithrea caustica) by the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in central Chile. Journal of Arid Environments 72: 1164-1173. PDF
  • Castro, S. A., J. A. Figueroa, M. Munoz-Schick & F. M. Jaksic. 2005. Minimum residence time, biogeographical origin, and life cycle as determinants of the geographical extent of naturalized plants in continental Chile. Diversity and Distributions 11: 183-191. PDF
  • Castro, S. A., A. Camousseight, M. Munoz-Schick & F. M. Jaksic. 2006. Rodulfo Amando Philippi, el naturalista de mayor aporte al conocimiento taxonomico de la diversidad biologica de Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 79: 133-143. PDF
  • Castro, S. A., M. Munoz & F. M. Jaksic. 2007. Transit toward floristic homogenization on oceanic islands in the south-eastern Pacific: comparing pre-European and current floras. Journal of Biogeography 34: 213-222. PDF
  • Castro, S. A., L. Marone & F. M. Jaksic. 2006. Invasiones. Capitulo 13 en Ecologia de comunidades, 2ª. edicion ampliada (Jaksic, F. M. & L. Marone), Ediciones Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, 336 pp.
  • Figueroa, J.A., S.A. Castro, P.A. Marquet & F.M. Jaksic. 2004. Exotic plant invasions to the mediterranean region of Chile: causes, history and impacts. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 77: 465-483. PDF
  • Iriarte, J.A., G.A. Lobos & F.M. Jaksic. 2005. Invasive vertebrates in Chile and their control and monitoring by governmental agencies. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 78: 143-154. PDF
  • Jaksic, F. M., J. A. Iriarte, J. E. Jimenez & D. R. Martinez. 2002. Invaders without frontiers: cross-border invasions of exotic mammals. Biological Invasions 4: 157-173. PDF1 PDF2
  • Labra, F.A., S. Abades & P.A. Marquet. 2005. Distribution and abundance: scaling patterns in exotic and native bird species. En: D.F. Sax, J.J. Stachowicz & S.D. Gaines (eds). Species Invasions. Insights into ecology, evolution and biogeography. Sinauer Associates Inc. Massachusetts. Pp. 421-446. PDF
  • Lardies, M.A. & F. Bozinovic. 2008. Genetic variation for plasticity in physiological and life-history traits among populations of an invasive species, the terrestrial isopod Porcellio laevis. Evolutionary Ecology Research 10: 747–762. PDF
  • Lobos, G. A. & F. M. Jaksic. 2005. The ongoing invasion of African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) in Chile: causes of concern. Biodiversity and Conservation 14: 429-439. PDF
  • Lobos, G., M. Ferres & R. E. Palma. 2005. Presencia de los generos invasores Mus y Rattus en areas naturales de Chile: un riesgo ambiental y epidemiologico. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 78: 113-124. PDF
  • Neill, P., O. Alcalde, S. Faugeron, S.A. Navarrete & J.A. Correa. 2006. Invasion of Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides in northern Chile: a new threat for Gracilaria farming. Aquaculture: 259: 202-210. PDF
  • Palma, A.T., M.G. Silva, C.A. Munoz, C. Cartes & F.M. Jaksic. 2008. Effect of prolonged exposition to pulp mill effluents on the invasive aquatic plant Egeria densa and other primary producers: a mesocosm approach. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry 27: 387-396. PDF
  • Sabat P., J.M. Riveros, C. Lopez-Pinto. 2005. Phenotypic flexibility in the intestinal enzymes of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 140 135– 139. PDF
  • Skewes, O., R. Rodriguez & F. M. Jaksic. 2007. Ecologia trofica del jabali europeo (Sus scrofa) silvestre en Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 80: 295-307. PDF
  • Teillier, S., J.A. Figueroa & S.A. Castro. 2009. La provincia de Valparaíso presenta una diversa flora nativa y una alta proporcion de flora naturalizada. Gayana, Botanica: accepted.
  • Wallem, P. K., C. G. Jones, P. A. Marquet & F. M. Jaksic. 2007. Identificacion de los mecanismos subyacentes a la invasion de Castor canadensis (Rodentia) en el archipielago de Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 80: 309-325. PDF

Team theses

  • Astorga, Marcela. "Estructura genetica poblacional intra e intercontinental del piure Pyura praeputialis Heller, 1878) de las costas chilenas y australianas: implicancias biogeograficas y evolutivas". Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Concepcion. Advisor: J.C. Castilla. Filed December 2003.
  • Castro, Sergio. "Efecto de plantas naturalizadas y mamiferos pastoreadores sobre la diversidad de hierbas nativas en el matorral de Chile central: puesta a prueba de un modelo de impacto". Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Advisor: F. Jaksic. Filed March 2006.
  • Cuevas, Maria Fernanda. "Ecologia del jabali Sus scrofa en el desierto del monte central, Argentina”. Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisico-Quimicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, Argentina. Advisors: M. C. Provensal & F. Jaksic. To be ended December 2010.
  • Jimenez, Milagros. "La heterogeneidad temporal en la precipitacion determina la invasibilidad y coexistencia de especies nativas y exoticas en las comunidades de herbaceas anuales de zonas semiaridas. Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Catolica de Chile. Advisors: J. Armesto & F. Jaksic. To be ended December 2010.
  • Lobos, Gabriel. "Impacto ecologico y diversidad genetica de la rana africana (Xenopus laevis) en Chile". Doctoral Thesis. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Forestales, Universidad de Chile. Advisors: P. Cattan & F. Jaksic. To be ended December 2010.
  • Neill, Paula.“Distribucion de la macroalga introducida Codium fragile (Chlorophyta) en Chile y sus efectos sobre la estructura de los ensambles del submareal rocoso del Norte Chico”. Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Advisors: S. Navarrete and J. Correa. Filed April 2007.
  • Nellis, Lisa. "Dispersal, Competition, and the Synergistic Interactions of Multiple Species Invasions" Doctoral Thesis, University of Chicago, USA. Advisors: T. Wooton & J.M. Farina. Filed June 2008.
  • Wallem, Petra. "Consecuencia de las interacciones positivas sobre los patrones de distribucion y abundancia de Castor canadensis en Tierra del Fuego". Doctoral Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Advisors: F. Jaksic & P. Marquet. Filed April 2009.
Team outreach
  • Wallem, P. & E. Silva-Aranguiz. 2005. Recopilacion de la literatura sobre vertebrados invasores en Chile.
    Nellis, L. 2006. Guia ilustrada de Plantas Nativas e Introducidas en Juan Fernandez. Field Museum. Chicago. PDF
  • Vision Universitaria PUC. May 2006. "Especies introducidas en Chile alteran la biodiversidad y los ecosistemas. Una cohabitacion incomoda para la flora y fauna nativas". PDF
  • Note on Dr. Jaksic research and opinions. El Mercurio. Especies invasoras: A 6 km por ano avanza la plaga de castor. 26 August 2007. PDF
  • Project: " Proyecto Semilla IABIN (Inter American Biological Information Network) para elaborar una Base de Datos de Especies Invasivas en Chile." Authors Dr. S. Castro & Dr. P.Wallem.
  • Project "Diseno de un procedimiento para evaluar la calidad de invasividad de una especie exotica y para calificar a especies exoticas asilvestradas como invasoras" For CONAMA. Authors: Dr. S. Castro & Dr. P. Wallem.
Molecular Diversity Top
  • To infer the phylogeny of marine and terrestrial Chilean and Neotropical taxa based on molecular data
  • To evaluate the phylogeographic relationships at the intra- and interspecific level as well as the patterns of migration/colonization in altitudinal/latitudinal gradients of selected Chilean species.
  • To evaluate the genetic structure diversity of taxa
  • To evaluate the impact of habitat fragmentation and species exploitation on the erosion of molecular diversity
  • To infer population demographic history using methods of population genetic inference
  • By means of comparative methods to evaluate what ecological characters are independent or not of evolutionary history (phylogeny)
  • To evaluate patterns of molecular evolution of selected genes over the phylogenetic relationships to better understand the historical diversity of taxa.
  • To study microbial biodiversity through culture-independent, molecular approaches
  • Discussion of a proper use of classical and new methods (i.e., softwares) to address molecular diversity studies
  • To collaborate through teaching lectures, based on molecular diversity topics, across the different courses of which members of CASEB and this team are involved

Team members

This team draws researchers from CASEB programs and from other Universities concerned with evolutionary biology. Team leader is Dr. Eduardo Palma. Currently team researchers are:

  • Programs 2 & 4: Dr. Eduardo Palma, Dr. Juan Opazo (Fellow), Dr. Fernando Torres-Perez (Fellow), Dr. Cristian Hernandez (Postdoc)
  • Program 6: Dr. Ricardo Guinez (Fellow)
  • Program 7: Dr. Bernardo Gonzalez, Dr. Sylvain Faugeron
  • Universidad Austral de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias: Dr. Marcela Astorga
  • Universidad Catolica del Norte, Coquimbo: Dr. Pilar Haye
  • Universidad de Chile. INTA: Dr. Marco Mendez Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias: Dr. Elie Poulin
  • Universidad de Concepcion: Dr. Pedro Victoriano