About Veronica's Work
Areas of interest: biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, complex adaptive systems, socio-ecological
systems, community and ecosystem ecology, ecosystem dynamics under anthropic disturbances.
I center my research on local production activities, mainly extensive grazing in native ecosystems, but I
also work in afforestations and in local farming systems (small scale horti- and fruitculture). I am
interested in understanding how management practices modify biodiversity and ecosystem
functioning, and the ecosystem services derived from them and identified as important by local people.
I base biodiversity studies on a functional diversity approach, and work on the assumption that
synergies and trade-offs can be managed to achieve sustainable development.
I got my Dr. in Biology (ecology) degree in 2013 studying ecology and dynamics of
desert systems under different grazing intensities, under Dr. Ricardo Ojeda
supervision at the Argentine Institute of Arid Land Research (IADIZA, Mendoza).
During my graduate studies I did three international research stays to deepen my
knowledge and network working on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and
complex systems: 1) Three weeks with Dr. Valerio del Pata Pillar at URGDS, Porto
Alegre, Brasil; 2) Six months with Dr. Madhur Anand at University of Guelph, Ontario,
Canada (Emerging Leaders of the Americas Program scholarship); 3) Four months
with Dr. James Reynolds at Duke University, North Carolina, USA (Fulbright
scholarship). I co-edited a book on conservation categories of mammals of Argentina
and leaded a book chapter on management strategies for arid rangeland restoration
(both of local editions). Twelve scientific publications came out of this period of my
career, related to research areas of my graduate studies and of collaborative work
with colleagues.
After my graduate studies I started to work at National University of Rio Negro, Sede
Andina el Bolsón, as Teaching Assistant. Since then I assist the teaching of two
courses: Plant physiology and Statistics (also two years of Ecology); and I am in
charge of one course: Science Philosophy; all belonging to an undergraduate degree
of Agroecology. I also taught four graduate courses in different National Universities,
related to Biodiversity and conservation, and Socio-ecological complex systems,
together with colleagues. I had a Fundación Bunge and Born postdoctoral fellowship
(2013-2015) and a CONICET postdoctoral fellowship (2015-2017) to study the
relationship between biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services in
northwest Patagonian evergreen mixed forests under different silvopastoral use
intensities. I won a position as Research Assistant of CONICET by the end of 2017.
During this part of my career I started to apply and manage research grants (7
granted in total, three of with as Director); worked with undergraduate students
(Director of 3 thesis) and formed a local research group with colleagues. I installed
permanent research plots in the forest and build up working network with colleagues
of different Institutions.