My research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of plant-animal interactions. More specifically, I study the phenotypic interface of mutualistic and antagonistic interactions in an attempt to understand the way interactions arise, maintain themselves, and coevolve. I use diverse model systems and methodologies to understand the way historical and ecological processes have influenced the phenotypic evolution and diversification of plant-animal interactions in Mediterranean Chile.
Rodrigo Medel
Full Professor
Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas
Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile
Email: rmedel@uchile.cl
Phone: (562)978-7355
Fax: (562)272-7363
Research interests
People at the laboratory
Carmen Gloria Ossa Maureen Murúa Roxana Cares Francisco Fonturbel
(PhD) (PhD) (MSc) (PhD)
Catalina Gonzalez Alina Candia Marcela Espinoza Carlos Pino
(MSc) (BSc) (Assistant) (Assistant)
Most representative publications
Cuartas-Domínguez, M. & R. Medel. 2010. Pollinator-mediated selection and experimental manipulation of the flower phenotype in Chloraea bletioides (Orchidaceae). Functional Ecology 24:1219-1227. (MSc thesis M. Cuartas). 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
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
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
Medel, R., M.A. Aizen, R. Zamora (Eds.). 2009. Ecología y Evolución de Interacciones Planta-Animal. Editorial Universitaria, 399 pp. 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
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
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., E. Vergara, A. Silva & M. K. Arroyo. 2004. Effects of vector behavior and host resistance on mistletoe aggregation. Ecology 85: 120-126. 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. F. Bozinovic & F. Novoa. 1995. The mass exponent in population energy use: the fallacy of averages reconsidered. American Naturalist 145: 155-162. PDF
Paulina Salas Francisca Flores Gabriel Esterio Rocío Cares
(PhD) (MSc) (MSc) (MSc)
