Ecology Labs

Location within campus:Academic Tower, Cubicle 29, Second Floor
Head of Laboratory:Dr. Leopoldo D. Vázquez Reyes
Associate Professor.
leopoldo.vazquez@unam.mx
Research lines per researcher:1. Functional Ecology and Conservation of Birds in the Mexican Dry Tropics.
2. Photography for Conservation.

Ecology and Conservation of Birds in the Mexican Dry Tropics, a biome of significant biodiversity and extraordinary endemism richness. Study of the influence of ecological changes, whether anthropogenic or natural, on bird communities using approaches based on species abundance and functional trait ecology. Analysis of patterns of change in taxonomic and functional dimensions of biodiversity using birds as a model. Photographic Development for Conservation in collaboration with BioPic A.C., a non-governmental organization. Our photographic work has been showcased at national and international forums, including exhibitions at Chapultepec Park’s railings, and featured in media outlets such as National Geographic and Netflix. Collaboration with academics from FES Iztacala, the Museum of Zoology at the Faculty of Sciences, the National Laboratory for Analysis and Synthesis of Ecological Information, and IIES (UNAM campus Morelia); CONABIO, CONANP, INAH, CIPAMEX, Pronatura Veracruz, among others.

  • Jiménez-Arcos, V. H., Calzada-Arciniega, R. A., Alfaro-Juantorena, L. A., Vázquez-Reyes, L. D., Blair, C., Parra-Olea, G. (2019). A new species of Charadrahyla (Anura: Hylidae) from the cloud forest of western Oaxaca, Mexico. Zootaxa, 4554, 371-385.
  • Vázquez-Reyes, L. D., Jiménez-Arcos, V. H., SantaCruz-Padilla, S. A., García-Aguilera, R., Aguirre-Romero, A., Arizmendi, M. C., Navarro-Sigüenza, A. G. (2018). Aves del Alto Balsas de Guerrero: diversidad e identidad ecológica de una región prioritaria para la conservación. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, 89, 873-897.
  • Renton, K. Salinas-Melgoza, A., Rueda-Hernández, R., Vázquez-Reyes, L. D. (2018). Differential resilience to extreme climate events of tree phenology and cavity resources in tropical dry forest: Cascading effects on a threatened species. Forest Ecology and Management, 426, 164-175.
  • Vázquez-Reyes, L. D., Arizmendi, M. C., Godínez-Álvarez, H. O., Navarro-Sigüenza, A. G. (2017). Directional effects of biotic homogenization of bird communities in Mexican seasonal forests. The Condor, 119, 275-288.
  • Vázquez, L., *Renton, K. (2015). High Density of Tree-Cavities and Snags in Tropical Dry Forest of Western Mexico Raises Questions for a Latitudinal Gradient. PLoS ONE, 10: e0116745.
Prospective Thesis Candidate Profile:Proactive and committed social service, undergraduate, and master’s students with an interest in ecology, ornithology, and conservation are encouraged to apply. Good evaluations and basic photography knowledge can be beneficial for your application. Willingness and a positive attitude for teamwork in the field are essential.
Service Social Data:ECOLOGÍA Y FOTOGRAFÍA PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN – 2020-12/63-12. Management and capture of photographic records of Mexican biodiversity. Capture and organization of ecological data in electronic databases. Handling of social media focused on biodiversity conservation. Support in organizing activities related to biodiversity conservation. Possibility of a scholarship (managed by BioPic A.C.).”