Currently I am studying the host-parasite relationships of Neotropical birds and three models of symbionts (protozoan blood parasites, feather mites and viruses causing skin lesions). My main interest focuses on the environmental factors and host characteristics which limit or promote coexistence and diversification of functionally equivalent symbionts. By exploring parasite exploitation strategies I try to unravel the processes of diversification of these symbionts in megadiverse bird faunas (mainly in the Podocarpus National Park in South Ecuador).

|Ongoing projects|

Ongoing projects:

2011-2013: Ecology and evolutionary implications of within-host symbiont coexistence (CGL2010-15734/BOS, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, PI: Javier Pérez-Tris).