Ph.D., Anticipated 2009. Biological Sciences. Universidad of Illinois at Chicago. Chicago, IL.
Advisors: Mary V. Ashley (UIC) and John M. Bates (FMNH)
B. A., 2002. Biology Education, Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Supervisors:

John Bates (Birds)

Research Interests:

Population genetics, conservation biology, systematics and biogeography of birds.

Current Research:

DNA analysis of population structure and subspecies composition of reestablished Peregrine Falcon (Aves, Falconidae) populations in the Midwest: Ecosystem-wide chlorinated hydrocarbon poisoning, which began in the 1940s, nearly caused the extirpation of Peregrine Falcon populations in North America. The genetic analysis of these populations before and after the 1950s from museum specimens will provide valuable information regarding the demographic and genetic shifts accompanying the extirpation and reintroduction of Peregrine Falcons in the Midwestern United States. I am planning to evaluate genetic variability in prebotteneck and postbottlenek populations using microsatellite genotyping and sequencing. The research will clarify whether genetic differentiation existed among founding stock, and whether that structure corresponded to subspecific designations, and assess the current genetic status of the Midwestern Peregrine Falcons.

Molecular phylogenetics of the genus Tolmomyias (Aves, Tyrannidae) (with J. Tello, R. Bowie, T. Schulenberg, and J. Bates). This project involve the study of phylogenetic relationships in three genera of Neotropical birds (Tolmomyias, Onychorhynchus and Hylopezus) using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. In the case of Tolmomyias Flycatchers (Aves: Tyrannidae; five species and 34 recognized subspecies), the molecular data will help to solve species limits and evolutionary relationships in this wide-spread Neotropical genus. Tolmomyias is one of the most problematic to differentiate within genera, since most species have similar plumage coloration and patterns. Results of the analyses of the molecular dataset will be compared with morphological, behavioral, ecological and distributional datasets in order to better understand the evolutionary processes underlying the diversification of this Neotropical taxon.

Publications and Presentations:

Caballero, I. C., Ashley, M. V and Bates, J. M. “Return of the Peregrine: What microsatellites can tell us about population genetics dynamics in Reintroduced Peregrine Falcons.” Fourth North American Ornithological Conference, 2006. Veracruz, Mexico.

Caballero, I. C., Bates, J. M., and Ashley, M. V., “Genetic analysis of reestablished urban Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in the Midwestern United States.” Center for Biodiversity and Conservation’s 11th Annual Spring Symposium, 2006. American Museum of Natural History, New York.

Fitzpatrick, J., Bates, J. M., Bostwick, K., Caballero, I. C., Clock, B., Farnsworth, A., Hosner, P., Joseph, L., Langham, G., Lebbin, D., Mobley, J., Robbins, M., Scholes, E., Tello, J. G., Walther, B. & Zimmer, K. (2004). Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers), pp. 338-340. In del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds., Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 9. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
Tello, J. G., Caballero, I. C., Bowie, R. C. K., Schulenberg. T. S. & Bates, J. M., “Preliminary assessment of phylogenetic relationships in Tolmomyias flycatchers.” American Ornithologists’ Union. 121st Stated Meeting, 2003. Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.

Tello. J. G., Caballero, I. C., and J. M. Bates. In prep. “Molecular data support for the specific status of the Atlantic Royal-Flycatcher, Onychorhynchus coronatus swainsoni (Aves, Tyrannidae), a Southeastern Brazilian endemic.

Awards and Grants

2006 WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Travel Award.

2006 University of Illinois at Chicago Travel Award for travel to Fourth North American Ornithological Conference, Mexico.

2006 Donald L. Bleitz Fund, American Ornithologists’ Union.

2006 University of Illinois at Chicago Travel Award for travel to Annual Spring Symposium, American Museum of Natural History, New York.

2005 Dean Amadon Grant, Raptor Research Foundation.

2005 University of Illinois at Chicago, International Student Service Award.

2005 University of Illinois at Chicago, Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching.