Rodolfo Dirzo
Academic Appointments
- Professor, Biology (School of Humanities and Sciences)
Key Documents
Contact Information
- Academic Offices
Personal Information Email Tel (650) 736-7643Alternate Contact Pamela Hung Administrative Assistant Email Tel Work 650 736-8005
Professional Overview
Honors and Awards
- Pew Scholar in Conservation, The Pew Charitable Trust (1992)
- Outstanding Service Award: Teaching, Organization for Tropical Studies (2002)
- Outstanding Researcher, Biology, National University of Mexico (2003)
- Foreign Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2004)
- Foreign Associate, US National Academy of Science (2004)
- Presidential Award in Ecology, Secretary of Environment, Mexico (2003)
Professional Education
| B.Sc.: | University of Morelos, Mexico, Biology (1972) |
| M.Sc.: | University of Wales, Ecology (1977) |
| Ph.D.: | University of Wales, Ecology (1980) |
Community and International Work
- Plant-animal interactions, Mexico, Costa Rica, Amazonia
Scientific Focus
Current Research Interests
My interests are centered on the study of plant-animal interactions, trying to understand how the ecology and evolution of plants is affected by their biotic environment, particularly animals. My work is focused on tropical forest ecosystems, particulalry in Mexico and Amazonia, but I am also interested in developing similar studies in other ecosystems as well.
In the field of conservation biology, I am interested in studying the consequences of anthropogenic impact on the disruption of ecological processes, particularly biotic interactions.
Finally, I have a major interest in environmental education and sharing of my experiences in ecology and conservation, with the general public and students of all levels.
Publications
- Diversification and phylogeographic structure in widespread Azteca plant-ants from the northern Neotropics. Mol Ecol. 2012; (14): 3576-92
- Effects of spatial subsidies and habitat structure on the foraging ecology and size of geckos. PLoS One. 2012; (8): e41364
- Plant defense, herbivory, and the growth of Cordia alliodora trees and their symbiotic Azteca ant colonies. Oecologia. 2012; (3): 677-85
- Analysis of a hyper-diverse seed dispersal network: modularity and underlying mechanisms. Ecol Lett. 2011; (8): 773-81
- Differential responses to guano fertilization among tropical tree species with varying functional traits. Am J Bot. 2011; (2): 207-14
- Hybridization among dominant tree species correlates positively with understory plant diversity. Am J Bot. 2011; (10): 1623-32
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