Members

M. Soledad Albanese

Biologist and PhD in Biological Sciences (Universidad de Buenos Aires)

Assistant Researcher at CONICET

Academic interests: my research interests focus on identifying the processes and factors that regulate native mammal populations in drylands and understanding how these factors, whether natural or anthropogenic, determine life history strategies and influence their spatial patterns and population dynamics. I am interested in population ecology and its application in the conservation and management of wild species.

I seek to identify the factors (anthropogenic and natural) that influence the occupancy, activity rhythms, and ecological strategies of mammals as an adaptive response to living in extreme or anthropized environments and their influence on the population dynamics of these species.

M. Fernanda Cuevas

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (Universidad de Río Cuarto, Córdoba).

Associate Researcher at CONICET

Academic Interests: my research focuses on the ecology of introduced exotic mammals in the drylands of Argentina. In particular, I try to understand the adaptive strategies used by these species to survive the extreme conditions of drylands, which allows their establishment and expansion, integrating different disciplines that contribute to understanding this process.

In addition, I study the new interactions generated in the invaded environment and the impact these exotic species generate on the ecosystem, incorporating the social dimension to provide the necessary and appropriate tools for planning different actions for their control.

Claudia M. Campos

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and Professor of Biology (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba).

Independent Researcher of CONICET

Academic Interests: I study the relationships between people and biodiversity, especially in the context of dryland protected areas. I am interested in putting scientific ecological knowledge and local ecological knowledge in dialogue, thinking about the conservation of both biological diversity and cultural diversity. In a more ecological line of research, I study plant-animal interactions, particularly the dispersal of mesquite seeds by animals in native forests. I am part of the Science Communication Office because I consider education for biodiversity very important. I am currently participating in the preparation of the IPBES report: “Transformative Change”.

Yasmin S. Bobadilla

P.h.D in Biological Sciences (Universidad Nacional de Cuyo).

Postdoctoral fellow. Advisor: M. Fernanda Cuevas. Co-advisor: Sandro Bertolino.

Academic interests: my research interests focus on the ecological and social understanding of the phenomenon of biological invasions as well as their potential effects in order to guide comprehensive management strategies for invasive alien species. The study models I work with, are introduced dryland mammals such as the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the red-bellied squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus).

I specialize in spatial and trophic ecology, facilitation phenomena, and interactions between species, as well as in different approaches that seek to understand the human dimension (social and economic) in the phenomenon of biological invasions.

M. Carolina Moreno

Engineering in Renewable Natural Resources (Universidad Nacional de Cuyo).

Ph.D. student (CONICET). Advisor: Claudia Campos. Co-advisor: Laura Torres.

Academic interests: my main research interests lie in compiling and analyzing the diversity of ecological local knowledge in communities linked to protected areas, as well as analyzing the contexts in which this knowledge is produced. I seek to determine the species of flora and fauna that are of special importance to people, and the causes that explain this importance. The research framework lie within the field of ethnobiology, which deals with the interaction of people with the biotic (and even abiotic) components of the ecosystem.

Alexandra Barahona

Bachelor’s Degree and Professor of Social Communication (Universidad Nacional de  Cuyo).

Ph.D. student (CONICET). Advisor: Claudia Campos.

Academic interests: I work with social perceptions about the importance of communication and education for the conservation of native biodiversity in Mendoza, giving great importance to the possibility of opening and improving direct communication channels with different social actors.

In the last years, I have participated in different research and extension projects in the Mendoza territory with the aim of working towards education and communication for biodiversity conservation. I have also carried out different activities related to science communication from the OCC of IADIZA.

Flavia V. Frohlich

Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences (Universidad Nacional de Tucumán)

Ph.D. student (CONICET). Advisor: M. Fernanda Cuervas. Co-advisor: Sebastián A. Ballari.

Academic interests: My Ph.D. project focuses on evaluating ecological aspects of two exotic mammal species in high-altitude ecosystems: the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the red deer (Cervus elaphus). In particular, I aim to understand the adaptive strategies they use, as well as the impact they generate in the native plant communities. Additionally, I will study the perceptions and attitudes of different social actors in order to guide appropiate management strategies for these species.

Contacto: ffrohlich@mendoza-conicet.gob.ar

Trinidad Olivares

Undergraduate student to obtain Bachelor’s Degree in Basic Sciences with orientation in Biology (Universidad Nacional de Cuyo).

CIN Scholarship, FCEN, UNCuyo. Advisor: M. Fernanda Cuevas

Academic Interests: I am currently working on my undergraduate dissertation to obtain my degree in Biology (FCEN). The general objective of my research project is to evaluate the ecological role of the European hare and its interaction with native and exotic plant species. In this sense, I am interested in knowing the role of the European hare as a potential disperser of native and exotic vegetation in arid zones and the composition of its diet.

During my academic career, I participated in field and laboratory internships related to biological invasions, which motivated my curiosity about this branch of ecology.

Pablo Moreno

Dr. Biological Sciences (Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe). Veterinarian (Universidad J.A. Maza)

Pablo is a researcher at the Argentinian Research Council (CONICET) based at the Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas (IADIZA) and a professor at the Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Ambientales, Universidad J.A. Maza.

Within his research lines, he studies the dynamics of health and disease in arid land mammals from the perspective of the eco-epidemiology of parasites and the dynamics of stress that affect their populations.

Mónica Inés Cona

Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences.

Principal Professional of CONICET

Her activities are related to projects on seed dispersal, diet composition of animals, activity patterns, the impact of exotic species, etc. She provides technical support in herbivore diet studies through microhistological analysis of fecal samples and digestive contents of different wild animals, with the preparation of reference material and catalogs of microphotographs of plant epidermis from various ecosystems of Mendoza and other places outside the province. She carries out the processes of selection, identification of species, and application of computer programs that allow organizing, previewing, and downloading images from camera traps.

María Cielo Linares

Veterinarian (Universidad Juan Agustín Maza) with a postgraduate degree in Veterinary Residency in Public Health (Ministerio de Salud del Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, 2016).

Cielo is currently a Professional Assistant to research (CPA) at IADIZA-CONICET and coordinates the Wild Animal Biotherium and the Institutional Commission for the Care and Use of Experimental Animals (CICUAE) of IADIZA-CONICET.

Contacto: mclinares@mendoza-conicet.gob.ar

CONICET

Diego Zeverini

Higher Technician in Nature Conservation.

Assistant Technician at CONICET

Diego Zeverini’s tasks consist of field assistance related to Animal and Plant Biology, and Ecology research projects; as well as collaborating in sample processing, data collection, and monitoring of environmental variables.

Contacto: dzeverini@mendoza-conicet.gob.ar

CONICET

Rosarito Sánchez Dómina

Bachelor´s degree in Biological Sciences (Universidad Nacional de Cuyo)

Ph.D. student. Advisor: Paola Sassi. Co-advisor: M. Soledad Albanese

Academic interests: the main goal of my Ph.D. project is to evaluate how environmental factors influence the endogenous mechanisms that sustain the semelparous reproductive strategy of Thylamys bruchi, a didelphid marsupial inhabiting the Monte Desert (Mendoza, Argentina). Specifically, to evaluate how the energetic challenges imposed by unfavorable environmental conditions, coupled with the reproductive demands of the species, contribute to explaining senescence and mortality in adults after the reproductive season.

Contacto: rsanchezdomina@mendoza-conicet.gob.ar

ResearchGate / CONICET

Sebastian A. Ballari

CONICET Researcher

Academic interests: my projects are focused on ecology, interactions, impacts and management of invasive alien species, especially mammals in protected areas. My projects are mostly developed in northwestern Patagonia, where from CENAC (Nahuel Huapi National Park-CONICET, Río Negro) I work with introduced ungulates such as wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama), evaluating their impacts on native biodiversity, ecosystem processes and productive activities. I also maintain collaborations with different researchers with researchers in Argentina in projects with invasive exotic mammals to understand the role of these species in the different ecoregions of our country. Recently a new line of research arises, where we are evaluating conflicts socio-ecological, interactions and human perceptions with carnivorous species native to Patagonia, and with introduced ungulates such as wild boar and red deer.

Contact: sebastianballari@gmail.com

ResearchGate / Google Scholar / CONICET / CENAC