Research Interest
My research area is evolutionary ecology with an emphasis on the evaluation of the impact of environmental change (natural or anthropogenic) on ectotherm organisms from an integrative phenotype perspective with attention to ecophysiological and life-history traits.
My main research hypothesis is that ecology studies the distribution and abundance of organisms and their interaction with the environment, but this interaction is not only restricted by biotic and abiotic factors currently operating in the environment, but also the ability to develop adaptations (i.e. evolve) to the environment and their variations (e.g. global change). That’s why, documenting the range of variation in genetically based traits close to fitness gives us the opportunity to explain past patterns of adaptation, and on the other hand estimate the potential for future evolution. In this way, evolutionary ecology makes predictions that can be tested.
The life-history and physiology traits are critical components of the ability of an organism to survive and invade a particular habitat. Furthermore, genetic variation for life-history traits is a prerequisite for the expansion of the ecological range of a species.
My research area is evolutionary ecology with an emphasis on the evaluation of the impact of environmental change (natural or anthropogenic) on ectotherm organisms from an integrative phenotype perspective with attention to ecophysiological and life-history traits.
My main research hypothesis is that ecology studies the distribution and abundance of organisms and their interaction with the environment, but this interaction is not only restricted by biotic and abiotic factors currently operating in the environment, but also the ability to develop adaptations (i.e. evolve) to the environment and their variations (e.g. global change). That’s why, documenting the range of variation in genetically based traits close to fitness gives us the opportunity to explain past patterns of adaptation, and on the other hand estimate the potential for future evolution. In this way, evolutionary ecology makes predictions that can be tested.
The life-history and physiology traits are critical components of the ability of an organism to survive and invade a particular habitat. Furthermore, genetic variation for life-history traits is a prerequisite for the expansion of the ecological range of a species.
Research Grants
- 2022-2026: Co-Pi FONDECYT Regular Nº 1221699 “The origin and dynamics of a biogeographic transition: a metacommunity perspective”. PI Bernardo Broitman.
- 2022-2026: Co-Pi FONDECYT Grant Nº 1221322 “Partitioning patch-scale structural and functional heterogeneity in the thermal environment of eco-enginereed carbonate-based modules for ecological restoration of intertidal habitats along coastal-urban gradients“. PI Nelson Lagos.
- 2021-2026: Adjunt Research Coastal Socio-Ecological Millenium Institute (SECOS).
- 2019–2022: PI FONDECYT Grant Nº 1190444 “Natural Selection in the sea: the chilean coastal upwelling system as a natural laboratory”.
- 2019-2022: Co-Pi Fondecyt Grant Nº 1190710 "Speciation genomics in marine organisms: Scurria limpets as a novel model to study the evolution of genomic divergence".
- 2017-2020: PI ANILLO Grant ACT- 172037 (ANID): “Integrating structure and function of ecological, mechanical and mineralogical properties of marine calcifiers: shell carbonates as source of bio-inspiration (Carbo-Nat-Lab)”.
- 2017– 2019: PI INACH Grant: “Global change impacts in the Western Antarctic Penninsula: role of environmental variability and food availability on Laternula elliptica to ocean acidification and warming”.
- 2014–2018: PI Fondecyt Grant Nº 1140092: “Determinants of marine biogeographic breaks: the underestimated relevance of pH variation.
- 2013–2020: Co-Pi Millenium Nucleus NC 1200286 Center for the study of multiple-drivers on marine socio-ecological systems (MUSELS), Ministerio de Economia, Fomento y Turismo.
- 2012-2014: Co-Pi FONDAP Grant 15110027: Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR).
- 2011– 2014: PI FONDECYT Grant 1110743 “Impact of global warming on intertidal crustaceans along the chilean coast: an organismal approach”.
- 2010–2013: Co-Pi ANILLO Grant ACT-132 (CONICYT) “Influence of the near-future ocean acidification on shellfish resources. Latitudinal variation and Fresh water inputs”.
- 2009–2012: Co-Pi FONDECYT Grant 1090624 “Understanding climate effects of increased Temperature and Ocean Acidification on benthic invertebrates of the Southeastern Pacific Coastal Ecosystems”.
- 2008–2010: PI FONDECYT Grant 1080123 “Cambio Ambiental y la evolución de la plasticidad fenotípica: la necesidad de integrar la ontogenia en organismos con ciclos de vida complejo”.
- 2006– 2007: PI Research Grant Dirección Postgrado & Investigación INV 18/06 Universidad Santo Tomás “Variación geográfica en un cangrejo endémico de las costas de Chile: unión funcional entre rasgos metabólicos y de historia de vida”.
- 2004-2006: PI FONDECYT Postdoctoral Research Grant 3040042 “Integrando la fisiología en la variación poblacional de historia de vida: ¿adaptación local y/o plasticidad fenotípica?”
- 2001-2003: PI CONICYT Doctoral Grant 2002 “Variación adaptativa a lo largo de una clina latitudinal. Identificación de las presiones selectivas y estimación del potencial microevolutivo en rasgos de historia de vida de artrópodos terrestres”.
- 1996–1998: Co-Pi FONDECYT Grant 1951202, “Alimentación suspensívora - detritívora en bivalvos de la infauna: una estrategia dual para optimizar el aprovechamiento de la oferta alimentaria”.
- 1996: Benthos program in Antarctic campaign Antarktis XIII/4 (2) in southernmost part of South America, research vessel Polarstern.
- 1994 – 1995: Co-Pi Research Grant "La reproducción de los camarones carídeos de Chile: una comparación latitudinal". DID - UACH Nº S-94-53, Universidad Austral de Chile.
- 1994: Integrant of International Expedition "Joint Magellan Victor Hensen Campaign 1994".