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  • Dissertation Proposal Defense

    Spatio-temporal dynamics of tropical mammalian carnivores: functional traits, niche conservatism and human impacts

    Major Advisor:  Dr. Iván Castro-Arellano

    Committee Members:

    • Dr. Leila Siciliano-Martina
    • Dr. Michael Clay Green
    • Dr. Juliana Bedoya-Durán
    • Dr. José F. González-Maya

    Zoom: https://txstate.zoom.us/j/85151169049pwd=eK2TaYbopMOGsAwyYdgM6gBBm35Bca.1

    Meeting ID: 851 5116 9049; Passcode: 843133 

    Abstract: The mechanisms structuring mammalian carnivore assemblages (order Carnivora) remain incompletely understood, limiting biodiversity conservation efforts. Resource utilization, constrained by biomechanical and physiological factors, is central to these dynamics and linked to niche dimensions such as microhabitat, diet, and time. Among these, time represents a critical axis that can be partitioned to reduce resource overlap and competition. Functional traits, including body size and dental morphology, influence energetic requirements, prey size limits, and degrees of carnivory specialization, thereby facilitating trophic niche differentiation. Coexistence is further promoted through variation in hunting strategies, activity patterns, and habitat use. Analytical tools such as the Rosario algorithm enhance assessments of temporal overlap, yet applications remain limited. Comparative evidence indicates that activity patterns differ between island and continental species, reflecting adaptive responses to distinct ecological pressures. Anthropogenic disturbances, including fragmentation, urbanization, and apex predator loss disrupt temporal partitioning, intensify competition, and destabilize communities. My dissertation addresses critical gaps in understanding how mammalian carnivores use time as a niche axis across continental and island ecosystems under natural and human-modified conditions. Specifically, it aims to: (1) test whether diel activity patterns exhibit temporal niche conservatism between islands and continents; (2) examine interactions between spatio-temporal overlap and functional traits such as body size and dentition; and (3) evaluate how habitat fragmentation reshapes temporal partitioning and coexistence strategies. Chapter 1 updates the Rosario algorithm for cyclical pattern analysis using R. Chapter 2 investigates spatio-temporal partitioning among carnivore species, the influence of functional traits on activity patterns, and the role of temporal niche conservatism across continental and island ecosystems. Chapter 3 evaluates the effects of habitat fragmentation on carnivore activity patterns in Colombia, comparing large-scale patterns (continent vs. island) with local-scale dynamics (forest remnants functioning as islands within a transformed matrix). By integrating ecological theory, functional morphology, landscape ecology, and advanced analytical tools, my research aims to elucidate mechanisms driving mammalian carnivore assemblages’ structure and providing insights for biodiversity conservation in increasingly human-modified landscapes.

    Bio: Tatiana is a wildlife biologist from Colombia. Growing up in a charming small town in the middle of the Colombian Andean mountains has fueled her interest in wildlife studies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Universidad del Quindío (2016) and a master's degree from Universidad del Valle (2024). Her research focuses on the ecology, taxonomy and conservation of tropical mammals. After completing her degree, she wants to remain in academia and will encourage collaboration between NGOs, local communities, and universities in Colombia with the goal of developing targeted conservation strategies for tropical ecosystems.