Head Researchers
Dr. Alejandro Bortolus
IPEEC - CONICET
bortolus@gmail.com
The study of Ecological Interactions has always attracted me in science. What processes shape the patterns we see in Nature? What originates, maintains, and regulates the distribution of animals and plants in Nature? Answering these questions is always a challenge. Even more challenging is trying to find out whether the processes we observe today have changed over the last centuries or more, and how time-related changes may affect the way us scientists actually perceive Nature. In GEAC, I am responsible of a research program aiming to 1) describe the interactions shaping coastal environments dominated by terrestrial plants and 2) analyze scientific, cultural, and ethical factors that alter scientists’ perception of ecological patterns in Nature. Over the past 20 years I framed my research within the problem of Biological Invasions.
Dra. Evangelina Schwindt
IBIOMAR - CONICET
schwindtcnp@gmail.com
My research is focused in marine and estuarine biological invasions of coastal communities at the regional and global scales. I'm interested in the patterns and processes occurring in invasions from the historical and actual perspectives, the impact caused by invasive species and the management strategies we can apply. In GEAC, I am responsible of a research program aiming to create novel knowledge about the ecological interactions shaping invaded coastal communities, and to contribute to the creation of regulations that will help minimizing the negative effects of biological invasions on human welfare and the environment.
Current Students
Lic. Sofía Haller
IPCSH - CONICET
Advisor: Evangelina Schwindt
Co-advisor: Julio Vezub
hallersc@gmail.com
I am currently studying about Maritime Enviromental History of Patagonia, specifically how shipping connections of the region in the 19th Century impacted in the dispersion of species. The reconstruction of navigation and anchoring patterns on the vessels that visited the region in that period (sealing, whaling, commercial and expeditionary ships from all around the world) allow me to consider how different species got to the Patagonic Shore, on board or attached to the vessels and ballast of the ships, affecting the coastal ecology.
Lic. Nicolás Battini
IBIOMAR - CONICET
Advisors: Evangelina Schwindt and Alejandro Bortolus
nicolasbattini@gmail.com
The general objective of my PhD thesis is to understand the ecological processes that favor the establishment and dispersion of the exotic species of the regional port areas. For that, I focus on the grey side-gilled sea slug (Pleurobranchaea maculata), a recently established invasive species in the area, and I conduct both field and aquarium experiments to 1) identify this species potental predators and 2) evaluate the impact it has on native communities.
Lic. Clara B. Giachetti
IBIOMAR - CONICET
Advisors: Evangelina Schwindt and Marcos Tatián
claragia88@gmail.com
I am PhD student, and the goal of my study is understand the ecological patterns and processes that are involved in colonization success of the invasive ascidians in different artificial structures in the port of Puerto Madryn, Argentina. I will use Ascidiella aspersa and Ciona intestinalis as models for testing predation and competition hypothesis in marine bioinvasions. I carry out experiments in the port and under controlled conditions in aquarium.
Lic. Emilia Calcagno
IDEA - CONICET
Advisors: Marcos Tatián and Evangelina Schwindt
calcagnoemilia@gmail.com
I am a PhD student and the aim of my thesis is to evaluate the impact of ascidians, specially the invasive ones, on the bentho-pelagic coupling and in the composition of macrobenthic communities, through the study of their trophic ecology and the epibenthic communities in their tunics. My study focuses on port areas, as they are key nodes for the introduction of alien species, and I will use three ascidians as a model, which dominate the fouling communities of the port: Ascidiella aspersa, Ciona spp. and Asterocarpa humilis.
Lic. Karen Castro
IBIOMAR - CONICET
Advisors: Evangelina Schwindt and Enrique Morsán
karen.l.castro88@gmail.com
The aim of my PhD thesis is to study the patterns and ecological processes involved in the regional spread of marine invasive species in coastal areas. Particularly I want to identify the marine invasive species present in the ports of this region, from historical and current records. Also, I am interested in the potential vectors involved in the regional dispersion/spread of marine invasive species.
Support Staff
Dra. Graciela Casas
IBIOMAR - CONICET
graciela@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar
My work is closely linked to the study of benthic marine algae, from subtidal and intertidal rocky communities of Patagonia (Argentina). Related to this taxonomic group, I perform technical advisory, university teaching and collaborations in many different research projects. Also I am organizing the scientific collection of seaweeds "Herbarium of Marine Algae", adding new samples to registers, and testing the newly created Database.
Collaborating Researchers
Dr. James T. Carlton
Williams College Mystic Marine
Estados Unidos
Dra. Sandra Obenat
IIMyC - UNMDP
Argentina
Dr. Claudio De Francesco
IIMyC - CONICET - UNMDP
Argentina
Fabrizio Scarabino
DINARA - MNHN - UdelaR
Uruguay
Dra. Laura López Greco
IBBA - CONICET - UBA
Argentina
Dr. Marcos Tatián
IDEA - UNC - CONICET
Argentina
Dr. Enrique Morsan
CIMAS - UNCOMA - CONICET - Prov. de Río Negro - Argentina
Dra. Marcela Tonello
IIMyC - CONICET - UNMDP
Argentina
Dr. Julio Vezub
IPCSH - CONICET
Argentina
Former Students
Dra. María Emilia Diez
CONICET- Argentina
Dra. María Paula Raffo
CONICET- Argentina
Dra. Verónica "Colo" Soñez
Dra. Yanina L. Idaszkin
CONICET- Argentina
Dra. Verónica Savoya
Macacha
Dra. María Martha "Pitu" Méndez
CONICET- Argentina
Dra. María Cruz Sueiro
CONICET- Argentina
Dr. Carlos "Litos" Rumbold
CONICET- Argentina
Dra. Pamela Quiroga
CONICET- Argentina
Dra. Ileana Ríos
CONICET- Argentina
