History

The Ecology Group was formed in 1995 with the aim of understanding the structure and functioning of the estuarine ecosystems of the Southwestern Atlantic, adopting a strong experimental approach from the very beginning. During our early years, research focused on local-scale studies, addressing fundamental processes such as predation, competition, ecosystem engineering, herbivory, and their effects on vegetation and sediment dynamics. As the group consolidated, our research projects evolved toward a more integrated approach. Today, we study the processes that regulate food webs and nutrient dynamics in interface systems (such as land-water transition zones or large water bodies with contrasting characteristics), spanning multiple spatial and temporal scales. Currently, our multidisciplinary team is composed of 12 researchers and 7 doctoral and postdoctoral fellows. Throughout our trajectory, our projects have been supported by major national scientific agencies (CONICET, ANPCyT, UNMdP), as well as prestigious private and international institutions (International Foundation for Science, National Geographic Society, European Commission, The Nature Conservancy, among others). This ongoing support allows us to design and carry out research aimed at achieving high-impact results in leading scientific journals worldwide. In addition to generating knowledge, we remain deeply committed to human resource training. Within UNMdP, the group is strongly linked to the General Ecology course of the Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences—a key space where our members pass on their experience and knowledge to future generations of professionals.