My broad research interests focus on the evolutionary ecology of plant-animal relationships. More specifically, I study mutualistic and antagonistic plant-animal interactions to understand the way ecological associations arise, organize, and coevolve. In addition to basic research, I am also interested in the application of evolutionary ecology to improve our understanding of the factors involved in the loss of biological diversity. Additionally, I am interested in the transference of scientific knowledge to children and teachers through educational grants for scientists. In the next page you can find a more detailed description of my research.
Rodrigo Medel
Full Professor
Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas
Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile
Email: rmedel@uchile.cl
Phone: (562)978-7355
Fax: (562)272-7363
RECENT PUBLICATIONS (2006-2010)
In Press
Medel, R. 2010. El escenario ecológico en biología evolutiva. En: Veloso, A. & A. Spotorno (eds.), Darwin: homenaje a 200 años de su natalicio. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago de Chile. Under review.
Cuartas-Domínguez, M. & R. Medel. 2010. Pollinator-mediated selection and experimental manipulation of the flower phenotype in Chloraea bletioides (Orchidaceae). Functional Ecology: In press. (MSc thesis M. Cuartas). PDF
2010
Nattero, J., A.A. Cocucci & R. Medel. 2010. Pollinator-mediated selection in a specialized pollination system: matches and mismatches across populations. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 23: 1957-1968. (PhD thesis J. Nattero). PDF
Murúa, M., C. Espinoza, R.O. Bustamante, V.H. Marín & R. Medel. 2010. Does human-induced habitat transformation modify pollinator-mediated selection? a case study in Viola portalesia (Violaceae). Oecologia 163: 153-162. (MSc thesis M. Murúa). PDF
Medel, R., M.A. Mendez, C.G. Ossa & C. Botto-Mahan. 2010. Arms-race coevolution: the local and geographic structure of a host-parasite interaction. Evolution: Education and Outreach 3: 26-31. PDF
Thompson, J.N. & R. Medel. 2010. Coevolution and the web of life. Evolution: Education and Outreach 3: 6. PDF
Ramos-Jiliberto, R., D. Domínguez, C. Espinoza, G. López, F.S. Valdovinos, R.O. Bustamante & R. Medel. 2010. Topological change of Andean plant-pollinator networks along an altitudinal gradient. Ecological Complexity 7: 86-90. PDF
Carvallo, G. & R. Medel. 2010. Effects of herkogamy and inbreeding on the mating system of Mimulus luteus in the absence of pollinators. Evolutionary Ecology 24: 509-522. (Msc thesis G. Carvallo). PDF
2009
Navarro, L. & R. Medel. 2009. Relationship between floral tube length and nectar robbing in Duranta erecta L. (Verbenaceae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 96: 392-398. PDF
Medel, R. & A. Veloso. 2009. Establecimiento y propagación del Darwinismo en Chile: recepción y elaboración de las ideas. Gayana 73: 7-18. PDF
Medel R & Nattero J. 2009. Selección mediada por polinizadores sobre el fenotipo floral: examinando causas y blancos de selección natural. En: R Medel, MA Aizen & R Zamora (Eds), Ecología y evolución de interacciones planta-animal. Editorial Universitaria, Chile. PDF
2008
Botto-Mahan, C., C.G. Ossa & R. Medel. 2008. Direct and indirect pathways of fitness-impact in a protozoan-infected kissingbug. Physiological Entomology 33: 25-30. PDF
Medel, R. 2008. The evolution of evolutionary thinking in Chile. Evolution: Education & Outreach 1: 318-322. PDF
2007
Gonzáles, W.L., L.H. Suárez & R. Medel. 2007. Outcrossing increases infection success in the holoparasitic mistletoe Tristerix aphyllus (Loranthaceae). Evolutionary Ecology 21: 173-183. (PhD thesis W. Gonzáles) PDF
Botto-Mahan C. & R. Medel. 2007. What does determine gonad weight in the wild kissingbug Mepraia spinolai ? Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 102: 232-235. PDF
Gonzáles, W.L., L.H. Suárez, R. Guiñez & R. Medel. 2007. Phenotypic plasticity in the holoparasitic mistletoe Tristerix aphyllus (Loranthaceae): consequences of trait variation for successful establishment. Evolutionary Ecology 21: 431-444. (PhD thesis W. Gonzáles) PDF
Pérez, F., M.T. Kalin-Arroyo & R. Medel. 2007. Phylogenetic analysis of floral integration in Schizanthus (solanaceae): do pollinators truly increase the integration of corolla traits? Journal of Evolutionary Biology 20: 1730-1738. (PhD thesis F. Perez) PDF
Medel. R., A. Valiente, C. Botto-Mahan, G. Carvallo, F. Pérez, N. Pohl & L. Navarro. 2007. The influence of insects and hummingbirds on the geographical variation of the flower phenotype in Mimulus luteus. Ecography 30: 812-818. PDF
2006
Pérez, F., M.T. Kalin-Arroyo, R. Medel & M.A. Hershkovitz. 2006. Ancestral reconstruction of flower morphology and pollination systems in Schizanthus (Solanaceae). American Journal of Botany 93: 1029-1038. (PhD thesis F. Perez) PDF
Botto-Mahan, C., P. Cattan & R. Medel. 2006. Chagas disease parasites induce behavioural changes in triatomine vectors. Acta Tropica 98: 219-223. PDF
Pohl, N., G. Carvallo, C. Botto-Mahan & R. Medel. 2006. Non-additive effects of flower damage and hummingbird pollination on the fecundity of Mimulus luteus. Oecologia 149: 648-655. (MSc thesis N. Pohl) PDF
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS BEFORE 2006
Medel, R., E. Vergara, A. Silva & M. K. Arroyo. 2004. Effects of vector behavior and host resistance on mistletoe aggregation. Ecology 85: 120-126. PDF
Botto-Mahan, C., N. Pohl & R. Medel. 2004. Nectar guide fluctuating asymmetry does not relate to female fitness in Mimulus luteus. Plant Ecology 174: 347-352. PDF
Medel, R., C. Botto-Mahan & M. K. Arroyo. 2003. Pollinator-mediated selection on the nectar guide phenotype in the Andean monkey flower, Mimulus luteus. Ecology 84: 1721-1732. PDF
Medel, R. 2001. Assessment of correlational selection in tolerance and resistance traits in a host plant-parasitic plant interaction. Evolutionary Ecology 15: 37-52. PDF
Medel, R. 2000. Assessment of parasite-mediated selection in a host-parasite system in plants. Ecology 81: 1554-1564. PDF
Martinez del Río, C., A. Silva, R. Medel & M. Hourdequin. 1996. Seed dispersers as disease vectors: bird transmission of mistletoe seeds to plant hosts. Ecology 77: 912-921. PDF
Medel, R. 1995. Convergence and historical effects in harvester ant assemblages of Australia, North America, and South America. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 55: 251- 272. PDF
Medel, R., F. Bozinovic & F.F. Novoa. 1995. The mass exponent in population energy use: the fallacy of averages reconsidered. American Naturalist 145: 155-162. PDF
RESEARCH INTERESTS