INVESTIGACIÓN/RESEARCH
Investigador asociado a la Universidad Autónoma "Benito Juárez" de Oaxaca, México.
Mis intereses de investigación se enfocan en entender los procesos ecológicos y evolutivos que conforman la estructura y dinámica de poblaciones y comunidades de plantas, principalmente en ambientes extremos. En mi investigación integro múltiples disciplinas como Sistemática filogenética, genética de poblaciones y ecología de comunidades.
Associated researcher at the Autonomous University of Oaxaca, Mexico.
I focused on understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping the structure and dynamics of plant populations and communities, primarily in harsh environments. In my research, I have integrated multiple disciplines, such as phylogenetic systematics, population genetics, and community ecology.
PROYECTOS DE INVESTIGACIÓN/RESEARCH PROJECTS
The classification and study of flowering plants in arid and semiarid regions enhance scientific understanding and support local biodiversity conservation. Our research specifically focuses on the taxonomy of angiosperms in the northern region of the Yucatán Peninsula. Using a systematic approach, we aim to identify and document the most significant species, taking into account their adaptations to the extreme climatic conditions of the region.
Plant systematics and floristics of the northern Yucatan peninsula
Ecological patterns in plant communities
A central question in Ecology is to understand the forces shaping the organization of plant communities. We are evaluating the relative contribution of deterministic and stochastic factors in driving phylogenetic community structure. Also, we are evaluating the evolutionary and ecological consequences of plant traits influencing plant interactions.
Our study areas are the coastal plant communities of the Yucatan Peninsula, in which harsh environmental conditions prevail.
Phylogeography and evolution of desert plants
The Chihuahuan Desert has been considered an area rich in endemic species and the center of origin of modern desert biota. Historical events in the Chihuahuan desert as the uplift of mountain chains and climate fluctuations have created physical and ecological barriers to gene flow in plants and animals living in this desert. We are interested in understanding the processes that have influenced the geographical patterns of genetic variation and how the current global climate change will impact the plant distribution within Chihuahuan desert habitats. We have used some plants species (Berberis trifoliolata, Ephedra aspera, Leucophyllum laevigatum and Setchellanthus caeruleus) as study models.
Evolution of ecological niche in tropical orchids
The orchid family is one of the largest families of the flowering plant, which is characterized by a high diversity of life forms and colorful flowers. We are interested in investigating how the climatic conditions changes have influenced the niche evolution of tropical orchids of the tribe Epidendreae, mainly those distributed in the dry forests as Barkeria and Bletiinae members.