Scientifics CV

Researchers
	Jorge O. Ares Ing. Agr. (University of Buenos Aires). Dr. rer. nat. (University Georg-August Goettingen, Germany). Independent Researcher CONICET E-mail: joares@cenpat.edu.ar

	Luciano Avila Licenciado in Biological Sciences (Rio Cuarto National University); PhD in Biological Sciences - Zoology (Tucuman National University); Postdoctoral Fellow (Integrative Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA). Adjunct Researcher CONICET. E-mail: avila@cenpat.edu.ar
I am Licenciado en Ciencias Biológicas (1990, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, UNRC) and PhD en Biological Science, Zoology (1996, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. UNT). My postdoctoral formation was in the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (1985-1987) and Departmento of Integrative Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, EE.UU. (2000-2004). I received several graduated fellowship during my graduate/postgraduated formation: Ayudante de Investigación (1987-1988) and Beca de Formacion (1990-1991, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto), Beca de Formación Primer Nivel (1991-1993, Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas de la Provincia de Córdoba, CONICOR), Becario de Perfeccionamiento (1993-1995), Postdoctoral Interno (1995-1997) and Postdoctoral Externo (2001-2003) of the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET). Now, I am Research Scientist of the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET). Results of my research activity have been published in 27 peer review articles, 45 notes, and have been communicated in 27 Scientific Meetings. My present interest is related with systematic, phylogeny, evolution, ecology and biogeography of South American reptiles.
	Ricardo Baldi Biologist (University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco), Dr. (University of London, United Kingdom). Researcher associated to CENPAT. Research Fellow WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) E-mail: rbaldi@cenpat.edu.ar
Degree in Biology (Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia - UNP). PhD in Ecology. (University of London, United Kingdom). Associate Researcher at CENPAT (Argentine Research Council). Research Fellow WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). Also working as Associate Professor in Genetics and Evolution (UNP) and lecturing in Animal Behaviour. My interest is focused on the ecological processes affecting populations of key vertébrate species in the arid ecosystem. I am based at CENPAT since 1999, supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society (New York) working on guanaco and mara ecology in Patagonia. In January 2003 I started a project on puma ecology funded by the Chubut provincial government, and in October 2003 I started developing a monitoring programme of guanaco and rhea populations as a consultant hired by the National Parks Agency for the recently created Monte León National Park in Southern Patagonia. In the longer term, my aim is to develop management and conservation strategies affecting the arid ecosystem through research on the mechanisms influencing population processes. So far, I published 10 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, submitted 12 papers at national and international scientific meetings and gave several conferences in Argentina and abroad including London and New York. I am currently supervising four undergraduate theses conducted by local biology students.
	Ana María Beeskow Biologist (University of Córdoba). Master of Science in Arid Lands Studies (Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA.). Adjunct Researcher (S/D) CONICET E-mail: beeslow@cenpat.edu.ar

	Mónica Beatriz Bertiller Ing. Agr. (University of Buenos Aires). Dr. rer. nat. (University Georg-August-Goettingen, Germany). Independent Researcher CONICET. E-mail: bertil@cenpat.edu.ar
I am Agronomic Engineer graduated in the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina (1973). In 1986, I obtained my PhD (magna cum laude) in the Faculty of Forestry, University of Goettingen of Germany. Actually, I am Research Scientist of the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET) and Associated Professor of the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences in the University of Patagonia. My areas of interest are the Ecology of Arid environments with special emphasis in the Plant-soil Relationships, Plant Ecology, Ecology and Management of Rangelands and Nutrient Cycling. Since September 1991, I am Head of the Scientific Research Area of Terrestrial Ecology in the National Patagonic Center (CENPAT). Results from my research activity have been published in more than 50 ISI indexed Journals and have been communicated in more than 70 Scientific Meetings. Part of the results have been also published in divulgation journals or communicated in workshops oriented to the technical-productive sector. I have been research director from seven Fellowships and three Research Scientists funded by the National Research Council. I actively take part in the formation of human resources through the direction of doctoral candidates and undergraduate students. In the last five years, I have received funding for 5 Research Projects from National and International agencies. I also have an active participation in the evaluation of Research projects and Scientific Prizes (from Research agencies, Governments and National Universities) and as referee of National and International Journals. I am also involved in educational transference and as consultant.
	Alejandro Bisigato E-mail: bisigato@cenpat.edu.ar
I am Agronomist (UBA), Ph D (UBA), and Assistant Researcher (CONICET). My interest in ecology concerns the ecological consequences of domestic grazing over desert ecosystems, and particularly over Patagonian-arid ecosystems. My previous work has been orientated to identify the consequences of domestic grazing on the structure of vegetation in the Patagonian Monte. Likewise, I was interested in the identification of some mechanisms responsible of these changes. Nowadays, I am interested in the consequences of changes in the spatial pattern of plant patches on the distribution of water, the dynamics of plant populations, and the grazing behaviour of grazers.
	Alejandro Bortolus (1996) Licenciado in Biological Sciencies and (2001) Doctor in Biological Sciences (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina), (2003) Postdoctorate in Salt Marsh Ecology (Brown University, USA). (presently) CONICET-Researcher. Advisor: Dra. Monica B. Bertiller. E-mail: bortolus@cenpat.edu.ar
Starting my career as a field ecologist focused on plant–animal interactions in estuarine environments, I became interested in ecosystem and community ecology of coastal environments, biological invasions, macroecology and environmental management and conservation. My doctorate thesis offered the first set of experimental studies evaluating the ecological processes structuring salt marshes in Argentina. Part of my research now is to compare the ecological similarities between salt marshes of North and South America (http://www.brown.edu/Departments/EEB/research/bortolus.htm). Even though I spend most of my time doing practice rather than theory, I am also very interested on the structure of biological theories, the standards of biological explanation, and the ways in which biological theories are tested today. Presently, as a CONICET-Researcher at ET-CENPAT I am studying and characterizing salt marshes and other intertidal environments of Patagonia and the SW Atlantic. My approach involves the combination of ecological lab- and field-experiments, with a macroecological perspective that combines intra- and inter-regional comparisons and it will help to optimize the strategies of conservation and management of Patagonian coastal environments. I am also co-leading several projects evaluating the effect of exotic invasive species on native intertidal communities dominated by non-terrestrial organisms.
	Pablo Bouza Geologist, Buenos Aires University. Doctor in Geological Sciences, Buenos Aires University. Assistant Researcher (CONICET), director: Dr. Héctor del Valle. E-mail: bouza@cenpat.edu.ar
My study subject is about soil-geomorphology relationship in arid ecosystems of the NE of Chubut province. My topics of interest include soil genesis and soil degradation and their relationship with the Quaternary geology. My first studies on the arid soils of Patagonia dealt with the genesis and evolution of desert pavements, the micro-morphology of soil crusts types and the genesis of argillic horizons and calcretes. Recently I visited the Department of Pedology and Agricultural Chemistry of the University of Granada (Spain) where I was working in soil chemistry, clay mineralogy (X-ray diffraction), soil micro-morphology and sub-microscopy analysis (SEM-EDS). In relation to these subjects, at the moment I am working on the neoformation of clays with special emphasis in fibrous mineral (palygorskite and sepiolite) like paleopedological indicators. I have been also working on the dispersion geochemistry of base metals in soils of the "Cordillera Patagónica" as well as on soil cartography and contamination of heavy metals and arsenic in "Ría de Huelva" (University of Granada-CSIC, Spain).
	Daniel de Lamo Veterinary Physician (University of Buenos Aires). Ms. Sc. Biology; Ph. D. Physiology (University of Illinois, USA) E-mail: delamo@cenpat.edu.ar
Veterinary Medicine. Fac. de Ciencias Veterinarias. 1976. Master of Science (Biology) 1985. Ph. D. (Physiology). University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. U.S.A. 1989. Graduate Fellow and Assistant Researcher (Natl. Board Sci. Res., CENPAT-CONICET,Argentina). Assistant Professor (General Physiology; Comparative Animal Ecophysiology) at the Puerto Madryn Campus, Univ. Nac. de la Patagonia SJB. Former Professor of Graduate Studies at Univ. Nac. del Sur . Adviser, Professor and Consultant for Research Proposal and Graduate candidates in 4 Public Universities of Argentina. Member of the Academic Council (faculty), Natural Sciences School for the period 2001-2005. Member of the Academic Board for Faculty and Director selection in Public Universities and the Natl. Agricultural Institute of Argentina (INTA). Published 22 scientific reviewed papers, 4 chapters in books, 6 technical articles and 15 technical reports. At present, Head of research projects with the Univ. Nac. de la Patagonia and the Wildlife Direction of the Chubut Province. My research goals aim to the conservation, sustainable use of the guanaco (a native ungulate) and the preservation of the environment in the fragile ecosystems of the Argentina Patagonia.
	Héctor del Valle Ing. Agr. (University of the South). Master of Science (College of Pos-Graduates, Chapingo, México). Dr. (University of the South). Independent Researcher CONICET. E-mail: delvalle@cenpat.edu.ar

	Nelda Olivera E-mail: olivera@cenpat.edu.ar

	César Mario Rostagno Ing. Agr. (University of Córdoba). Ms. Sci. (Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, U.S.A.). Ph. D in Range Sciences (Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, U.S.A.). Adjunct Researcher (S/D) CONICET E-mail: rostagno@cenpat.edu.ar

	Sergio Saba Zoologist (University of La Plata). Dr. (University of La Plata). Associate Professor University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco E-mail: saba@cenpat.edu.ar