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PhD supervisors: Prof L Beheregaray & Dr L Moller
My interests are in the areas of ecology, population genetics and wildlife conservation. I am interested in research that can be successfully incorporated into conservation practices of endangered species.
I am currently interested in the integration of biological, ecological and genetic data to understand genetic connectivity and how oceanographic features influence the genetic structuring of marine turtle populations. My research is focused on olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in the Easter Pacific. I am also concerned with evaluating conservation practices in the region by integrating genetic data in order to provide a basis for accurate management of the species in the Eastern Pacific.
My research experience is based on my particular passion for marine turtles that has given me ten years of professional and personal experience across several countries in Latin America. The opportunity to interact with diverse cultures have allowed me to understand the relevance of communities on conservation processes and the different kinds of possibilities and dimensions to be explored.
Research Project
Seascape genetics and conservation management of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in the Eastern Pacific.
Research Experience
– University of Sydney (Australia, 2008). Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. Research Assistant on genetics, evolution and virology of Suiform mammals and Crocodilians.
– Association for Natural Protected Areas in Costa Rica (ASVO) (Costa Rica, 2004-2005). Biologist & Field Station Supervisor. Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) monitoring program in Playa Hermosa-Punta Mala wildlife Refuge.
– Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) (Costa Rica, 2004). Research Assistant. Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) research and monitoring program in Tortuguero National Park.
-Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (INVEMAR). (Caribbean, Colombia, 2002). Research Assistant. Marine turtles of the Caribbean Colombian Coast.
-Fundacion Omacha (Colombia, 2001). Research Assistant. Ecology, abundance and behaviour of the river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) in Orinoco river basin.
For futher information
Molecular Ecology LabFlinders UniversityAdelaide 5001, SA, AustraliaE-mail: jimena.rodriguez@flinders.edu.au
– Carvalho DC, Rodríguez-Zárate CJ, Hammer MP, Beheregaray LB (2011) Development of 21 microsatellite markers for the threatened Yarra pygmy perch (Nannoperca obscura) through 454 shot-gun pyrosequencing. Conservation Genetics Resources doi: 101007/s12686-011-9413-8
– Jaratlerdsiri W, Rodríguez-Zárate CJ, Isberg SI, Damayanti CS, Miles LG, Chansue N, Moran C, Melville L, Gongora J (2009) Distribution of Endogenous Retroviruses in Crocodilians. Journal of Virology 83, 10305-10308
– Rincón-Díaz, MP, Rodríguez-Zárate CJ (2004) Characterization of Nesting and Feeding Areas of Sea Turtles in San Bernardo Archipelago, Colombian Caribbean. Bulletin of Marine and Coastal Research 33, pp 137-158
– Rodríguez-Zárate, CJ Use of marine Turtles and Trade in the Area of Cartagena´s District of Culture and Tourism, Colombian Caribbean. Pp 55 In: Mast RB, Hutchinson, BJ and A H, Hutchinson, Compilers Proceedings of the twenty-fourth Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation 2007 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMF-SEFSC-567, 205 p Costa Rica, 22-29 February 2004
