History

Although there has been an important progress in the basic knowledge of the vertebrate ecology of pampean region and its maritime coast, further investigations on a number of new aspects are needed, including applied research and the development of advice aimed to decision makers dealing with the conservation of biodiversity. Considering the magnitude of human development on ecosystems, we emphasize the need of developing new analyses under a regional perspective in environments with different level of impact. The results obtained by the Vertebrate Group (UNMdP-IIMyC) will provide inputs to Governmental and environmental NGOs involved in the elaboration of conservation program and/or the management of natural resources. The general objective of this project is: Understand the ecological role of reptiles and birds in the central region of Argentina, based on the analysis of their interactions with human activities. Through this knowledge, management strategies will be proposed that promote the conservation of biodiversity and the maintenance of the ecosystem services that these taxonomic groups provide.

The particular objectives are:

1) Evaluate at different spatial scales (regional, landscape, habitat) the structure and functioning of vertebrate populations and assemblages in environments with different degrees of anthropic impact,

2) Address the human dimension of the human-vertebrates relationship, through the valuation of ecosystem services and social perceptions of these relationships.