Rodrigo Alfonso Vásquez Salfate
Rodrigo Alfonso Vásquez Salfate

Facultad de Ciencias
Universidad de Chile
Casilla 653, Santiago
E-mail: rvasquez@uchile.cl
Phone: 56-2-9787385
Fax: 56-2-2727363

 
 


Education: University of Chile, Licenciatura en Biología, 1989. University of Chile, Magister en Ecología, 1992; Oxford University, England, D.Phil., 1996; University of Chile, Postdoctoral, 1996-1998.

Present academic positions: Associate Professor, University of Chile. Associate Investigator, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB).

Honors and prizes: BBVA Prize in Conservation Biology Research, 2004.

Research: My research comprises the analysis of behavioral and reproductive adaptations using the conceptual tools of ecology and evolutionary biology. In collaboration with colleagues and students, we focus on understanding phenotypic variation (sometimes extending our analysis to physiological and morphological traits) and its adaptive value in natural populations, and comprehending phenotypic responses to environmental stress and heterogeneity at local and geographic scales. Current ongoing research includes geographic variation in behavior and life history traits of forest birds (e.g., the furnariid bird Aphrastura spinicauda) and small mammals (e.g., the caviomorph rodent Octodon degus), genetic analysis, behavioral and immunological responses to habitat heterogeneity, environmental stress and parasitism, and intra-specific phenotypic variation (and its adaptive value) related to foraging, social, and reproductive behavior of vertebrates (small mammals and birds) and invertebrates (e.g., the cosmopolitan spider Zygiella x-notata). With the aim of assessing the ecological and evolutionary relevance of natural and human-induced stress factors, we expect to study the use of marginal habitats within a given species` geographic distribution, the influence of altitudinal and latitudinal climatic extremes, and the effect of UV-B radiation on reproductive behavior and immunocompetence of target species. A central theme refers to how organisms cope with predictable and unpredictable changes in the environment. Our research takes place in northern Chile (Huasco and Limarí valleys) to Patagonia (Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn), and takes advantage of field stations in Chiloé (Senda Darwin) and Navarino (Omora Foundation) islands.

Publications

  • Bozinovic, F., J.M. Rojas, B.R. Broitman & R.A. Vásquez (2009) Basal metabolism is correlated with habitat productivity among populations of degus (Octodon degus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology 152: 560-564.
  • Martínez, J., J. Martínez-De La Puente, J. Herrero, S. Del Cerro, E. Lobato, J. Rivero-De Aguilar, R.A. Vásquez & S. Merino (2009) A restriction site to differentiate Plasmodium and Haemoproteus infections in birds: on the inefficiency of general primers for detection of mixed infections. Parasitology 136: 713-722. <PDF>
  • Quispe, R., C.P. Villavicencio, A. Cortes & R.A. Vásquez (2009) Inter-Population Variation in Hoarding Behaviour in Degus, Octodon degus. Ethology115: 465-474.<PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. (2009) Ventajas del desplazamiento intermitente. Carrera con paradas: la locomoción del degú. Quercus 278: 49-53. <PDF>
  • Merino, S., J. Moreno, R.A. Vásquez, J. Martínez, I. Sanchez-Monsalvez, C.F. Estades, S. Ippi, P. Sabat, R. Rozzi & S. Mcgehee (2008) Haematozoa in forest birds from southern Chile: Latitudinal gradients in prevalence and parasite lineage richness. Austral Ecology 33: 329-340. <PDF>
  • Merino, S., R.A. Vásquez, J. Martínez, J.L. Celis-Diez, J. Martínez-de la Puente, P. Marín-Vial, I. Sánchez-Monsalvez & M.A. Peirce (2008) A Sarcocystid misidentified as Hepatozoon didelphydis: molecular data from a parasitic infection in the blood of the southern mouse opossum (Thylamys elegans) from Chile.Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 55: 536-540. <PDF>
  • Villagra, C.A., R.A. Vásquez & H.M. Niemeyer (2008) Olfactory conditioning in mate searching by the parasitold Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 98: 371-377. <PDF>
  • Wingfield, J.C., I.T. Moore, R.A. Vásquez, P. Sabat, S. Busch, A. Clark, E. Addis, F. Prado & H. Wada (2008) Modulation of the adrenocortical responses to acute stress in northern and southern populations of Zonotrichia. Ornitologia Neotropical 19: 241-251. <PDF>
  • Moreno, J., S. Merino, E. Lobato, M. A. Rodríguez-Gironés & R. A. Vásquez (2007) Sexual dimorphism and parental roles in the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Furnariidae). The Condor 109: 312-320. <PDF>
  • Torres-Contreras, H. & R. A. Vásquez (2007) Spatial heterogeneity and nestmate encounters affect locomotion and foraging success in the ant Dorymyrmex goetschi. Ethology 113: 76-86. <PDF>
  • Wingfield, J.C., S.L. Meddle, I. Moore, S. Busch, D. Wacker, S. Lynn, A. Clark, R.A. Vásquez & E. Addis (2007) Endocrine responsiveness to social challenges in northern and southern hemisphere populations of Zonotrichia. Journal of Ornithology 148:S435–S441. <PDF>
  • Gatica, C.D.L., S.P. González, R.A. Vásquez & P. Sabat (2006) On the relationship between sugar digestion and diet preference in two Chilean avian species belonging to the Muscicapoidea superfamily. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 79: 287-294. <PDF>
  • González-Gómez, P.L. & R.A. Vásquez (2006) A field study of spatial memory in green-backed firecrown hummingbirds (Sephanoides sephaniodes). Ethology 112: 790-795. <PDF>
  • Iriarte-Díaz, J., F. Bozinovic & R.A. Vásquez (2006) What explains the trot-gallop transition in small mammals? Journal of Experimental Biology 209: 4061-4066. <PDF>
  • Osorno, J.L., J. Morales, J. Moreno, S. Merino, G. Tomás & R.A. Vásquez (2006) Evidence for differential maternal allocation to eggs in relation to manipulated male attractiveness in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca). Journal of Ornithology 147: 605-611. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A., B. Grossi & I.N. Márquez (2006) On the value of information: studying changes in patch assessment abilities through learning. Oikos 112: 298-310. <PDF>
  • Velásquez, N., M.D. Gómez, J. González & R.A. Vásquez (2006) Nest-mate recognition and the effect of distance from the nest on the aggressive behaviour of Camponotus chilensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Behaviour 143: 811-824. <PDF>
  • Gallardo-Santis, A., J.A. Simonetti & R.A. Vásquez (2005) Influence of tree diameter on climbing ability of small mammals. Journal of Mammalogy 86: 969-973. <PDF>
  • Moreno, J., S. Merino, R.A. Vásquez & J.J. Armesto (2005) Breeding biology of the thorn-tailed rayadito (Furnariidae) in south-temperate rainforests of Chile. The Condor 107: 69-77. <PDF>
  • Villagra, C.A., R.A. Vásquez & H.M. Niemeyer (2005) Associative odour learning affects mating behaviour in Aphidius ervi males (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). European Journal of Entomology 102: 557-559. <PDF>
  • Bozinovic, F., L.D. Bacigalupe, R.A. Vásquez, G.H. Visser, C. Veloso & G.J. Kenagy (2004) Cost of living in free-ranging degus (Octodon degus): seasonal dynamics of energy expenditure. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A - Molecular & Integrative Physiology 137: 597-604. <PDF>
  • Celis-Diez, J.L., R.O. Bustamante & R.A. Vásquez (2004) Assessing frequency-dependent seed size selection: a field experiment. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 81: 307-312. <PDF>
  • Kenagy, G.J., R.A. Vásquez, B.M. Barnes & F. Bozinovic (2004) Microstructure of summer activity bouts of degus in a thermally heterogeneous habitat. Journal of Mammalogy 85: 260-267. <PDF>
  • McGehee, S.M., R. Rozzi, C. Anderson, S. Ippi, R.A. Vásquez & S. Woodland (2004) Late-summer presence of the Patagonian tyrant, Colorhamphus parvirostris (Darwin) on Navarino island, Cape Horn county, Chile. Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia, Serie Ciencias Naturales 32: 25-33. <PDF>
  • Torres-Contreras, H. & R.A. Vásquez (2004) A field experiment on the influence of load transportation and patch distance on the locomotion velocity of Dorymyrmex goetschi (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insectes Sociaux 51: 265-270. <PDF>
  • Veloso, C., R.A. Vásquez & L.A. Ebensperger (2004) Antecedentes sobre biología reproductiva de los roedores silvestres chilenos. In (A. Iriarte, S. Tala, B. González, B. Zapata, G. González & M. Maino, eds), "Cría en Cautividad de Fauna Chilena", pp. 375-383. Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero; Parque Metropolitano, Zoológico Nacional; Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias  y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. <PDF>
  • Kenagy, G.J., R.A. Vásquez, R.F. Nespolo & F. Bozinovic (2002) A time-energy analysis of daytime surface activity in degus, Octodon degus. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 75: 149-156. <PDF>
  • Kenagy, G.J., R.F. Nespolo, R.A. Vásquez & F. Bozinovic (2002) Daily and seasonal limits of time and temperature to activity of degus. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 75: 567-581. <PDF>
  • Rodríguez-Gironés, M.A. & R.A. Vásquez (2002) Evolutionary stability of vigilance coordination among social foragers. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biological Series 269: 1803-1810. <PDF>
  • Rodríguez-Gironés, M.A. & R.A. Vásquez (2002) Selección dependiente de la frecuencia. In (M. Soler, ed), "Evolución: la Base de la Biología", pp. 283-292. Proyecto Sur de Ediciones S. L., Granada. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A., L.A. Ebensperger & F. Bozinovic (2002) The influence of habitat on travel speed, intermittent locomotion, and vigilance in a diurnal rodent. Behavioral Ecology 13: 182-187. <PDF>
  • Bozinovic, F., J.A. Lagos, R.A. Vásquez & G.J. Kenagy (2000) Time and energy use under thermoregulatory constraints in a diurnal rodent. Journal of Thermal Biology 25: 251-256. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. & A. Kacelnik (2000) Foraging rate versus sociality in the starling Sturnus vulgaris. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biological Series 267: 157-164. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. & J.A. Simonetti (2000) Ecología experimental de mamíferos chilenos. In (A. Muñoz-Pedreros & J.L. Yáñez, eds), "Mamíferos de Chile", pp. 287-297. CEA Editorial, Valdivia. <PDF>
  • Bozinovic, F. & R.A. Vásquez (1999) Patch use in a diurnal rodent: handling and searching under thermoregulatory costs. Functional Ecology 13: 602-610. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. & J.A. Simonetti (1999) Life history traits and sensitivity to landscape change: the case of birds and mammals of mediterranean Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 72: 517-525. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. & A. Kacelnik (1998) Animal foraging: more than met the eye. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 13: 110-111. <PDF>
  • Rodríguez-Gironés, M.A. & R.A. Vásquez (1997) Density-dependent patch exploitation and acquisition of environmental information. Theoretical Population Biology 52: 32-42. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. (1997) Vigilance and social foraging in Octodon degus (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in central Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 70: 557-563. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. (1996) Patch utilization by three species of Chilean rodents differing in body size and mode of locomotion. Ecology 77: 2343-2351. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. (1996) Decision making in variable environments: individuals, groups, and populations. Ibis 138: 598. <PDF>
  • Bustamante, R.O. & R.A. Vásquez (1995) Granivoría en Cryptocarya alba (Mol.) Looser (Lauraceae): los efectos del tipo de hábitat y la densidad de semillas. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 68: 117-122. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A., R.O. Bustamante & J.A. Simonetti (1995) Granivory in the Chilean matorral: extending the information on arid zones of South America. Ecography 18: 403-409. <PDF>
  • Medel, R.G. & R.A. Vásquez (1994) Comparative analysis of harvester ant assemblages of Argentinian and Chilean arid zones. Journal of Arid Environments 26: 363-371. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. (1994) Assessment of predation risk via illumination level: facultative central place foraging in the cricetid rodent Phyllotis darwini. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 34: 375-381. <PDF>
  • Vásquez, R.A. (1994) Bipedalismo de escape en Oryzomys longicaudatus (Rodentia: Cricetidae). Medio Ambiente (Chile) 12: 22-26. <PDF>
  • Bustamante, R.O., A.A. Grez, J.A. Simonetti, R.A. Vásquez & A.M. Walkowiak (1993) Antagonistic effects of frugivores on seeds of Cryptocarya alba (Mol.) Looser (Lauraceae): consequences on seedling recruitment. Acta Oecologica 14: 739-745. <PDF>

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