Graduate Students

Craig McCain (MS in Environmental Science, 2019-present) is addressing connectivity by large and medium-sized mammals at the Lyndon B. Jonson grasslands via camera trapping. This research, in a fragmented landscape of forest patches in a grassland matrix that is also being disturbed by cattle grazing and prescribed burning, aims at providing land managers with practical recommendations on how to maintain high levels of mammal diversity.

Sara van der Leek (MS in Environmental Science, 2019-present) started a pioneer research on restoring the three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) at LLELA. This species was first detected on this habitat island after a decade of restoration efforts. She is examining habitat use and home range sizes of resident turtles and the effect of head starting and soft release as a strategy for conserving this species and bolster turtle numbers. More information on this research here.

Andrew Morris’ (MS in Environmental Science, 2019-present) research revolves around the study of tardigrades –water bears- in the context of biotic homogenization, illustrating species richness, diversity, and relative abundance as it relates to human development by comparing natural environments to urbanized environments.

Amy Wynia (Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, 2014-2020) studied the ecological importance and population structure of Magellanic Woodpeckers (Campephilus magellanicus) in the world’s southernmost forests. Specifically, she assessed the influence of larvae density and distribution on the woodpecker’s foraging behavior, identified a significant detection technique to increase detection probability, compared dispersal patterns and genetic structure among continental and insular populations, and assessed if Magellanic Woodpeckers were keystone species by providing nest and roost cavities for secondary cavity-nesters and by vectoring wood decay fungi. More here.

Francisco Arellano (M.S. in Biological Sciences, 2015-2020). Francisco studied the composition of materials used in the nest of five sub-Antarctic forest birds. More specifically, he examined the hypothesis that mosses and lichens in the nest protect the eggs and chicks from pathogens. He currently lives in Punta Arenas, Chile, and is a teacher in local high school.

Ramiro D. Crego. 2013-2017. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, University of North Texas. Dissertation: Predatory impacts and variables determining the spatiotemporal occupancy of the invasive American mink (Neovison vison) on a pristine island in Southern Chile. Ramiro completed his MS at Southern Illinois University in 2010-12 modeling wetlands distributions and climate change in Argentina. He worked on the effects of the American mink on the native birds and rodents in Navarino Island, Chile. Ramiro also provided guidelines for controlling mink to help biodiversity conservation in the far south. He is currently working at the Smithsonian Institute with their program in Kenya, modeling spatio-temporal abundance of large ungulates. See Ramiro’s site and publications here.

Francisco Fontúrbel. 2008. Master of Science, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile. Thesis: [Patterns of habitat use and selection, and responses to fragmentation by the Mouse opossum (Dromiciops gliroides Thomas) in a southern Chilean landscape.] In 2013 Francisco earned a doctorate from Universidad de Chile studying the “Effects of habitat transformation on the co-evolutionary dynamics of plant-animal mutualism on a hemiparasitic mistletoe”. He is currently a faculty at Universidad Catolica de Vaparaiso (Chile) where he continues studying animal interactions and human disturbances in southern forests. See Francisco’s publications here.

Ana P. Bertoldi. 2009-2010. Master of Science, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile. Thesis: [Spatial use of fragmented landscapes by the Slender-billed parakeet (Enicognathus leptorhynchus) in southern Chile.]  2010. Environmental consultant, ARDEA Consultoria Ambiental, Porto Alegre, Brazil. 2011. Scholarfellow, Klamath Bird Observatory, Oregon/California, USA. Project: [Adding value to data: the use of visualization tools.]. 2012-2016. Ph.D. student, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Thesis: Movement ecology of Antarctic skuas and its effect on the competition. To see Ana’s publications, click here.

Alfredo Zúñiga. 2010-2013. Master of Science, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile. Thesis: [The carnivore assemblage in the Nahuelbuta Mountain Range: is it the result of habitat types or of interspecific relationships?] Alfredo is working on environmental impact assessments in southern Chile.

Jesús Martínez. 2008-2009. Master of Science, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile.Thesis: [Trophic and spatial ecology of the Culpeo fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus) in the Lago Cochrane National Reserve, 11th Region of Chile.]. Jesus is working in his homecountry Colombia.

Eddy Pérez. 2006-2008. Master of Science, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile. Thesis: [Basis for the monitoring of medium-sized mammals in tropical forests associated to local tourism and hunting, Biosphere Reserve and Communal Territory of Origin Pilón Lajas, Bolivia.]. Eddy worked for the Bolivian government on impact assessments. He is currently working for Petrobras in Bolivia. 

Giovana Gallardo. 2006-2010. Master of Science, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile. Thesis: [Depredation of domestic livestock by Puma and Culpeo fox in Sajama Nacional Park, Bolivia.]. She lives with her family in Canada.