Principal investigator | Lab leader | Professor of Ecology at UFPEL.

Jef is a Brazilian ecologist interested in the ecology, evolution and conservation of animal-plant interactions. He often uses network analyses and null models to investigate how interactions are organized and how they define community structure and functioning. Pollination and seed dispersal interactions are his main study systems.

In his free time, Jef practices yoga, plays soccer and spends time in nature.

Google Scholar | Lattes | ORCID | Research Gate

Andrés is investigating patterns and processes underlying intraspecific interactions among antswarm follower birds and on seed dispersal networks. In his free time, he will likely be found biking, reading or enjoying 'asado' and dark beer with friends and family (including Ziggy, at the right)

Juliana is exploring spatiotemporal variation in traits associatedwith  seed dispersal interactions across population and community scales. Her thesis is co-supervised by Jef and Prof. Milton Mendonça (UFRGS).

Bruna is investigating how fruit and seed traits related to frugivory and seed dispersal vary across large scales. She is also helping to create a fruit and seed collection form South Brazil.

Fernanda is studying the similarity in seed dispersal networks at the Southern range of the Atlantic Forest, where it meets with Pampas' grasslands. Her thesis is co-supervised by Jef and Prof. Milton Mendonça (UFRGS).

Marcos studies how climate change may impact the co-occurrence of key frugivores and plants in Southern Brazil. During his undergrad, he studied interactions among plants and flower-dwelling mites that use hummingbirds to move from flower to flower. 

Alan is investigating how fruit and seed traits related to frugivory seed dispersal and helping our with the creation of a seed and fruit collection

Arthur is beginning to investigate frugivory interactions on a keystone plant species in Southern Brazil

Victor is helping to create a regional seed collection and is investigating seed dispersal by non-flying mammals.

BSc in Biology - Andreza studied the structure of mutualistic hawkmoth-plant interactions and its drivers. Her results are published in Ecological Entomology