Staff - Rodrigo Martinez

RODRIGO MARTÍNEZ is a Marine Biology and he
defended his undergraduate Thesis: "Feeding and growth
rates in copepodites of the dominant species Acartia
tonsa and Paracalanus parvus in the coastal upwelling
site of Central Chile: Seasonal changes, feeding
behaviour, and the effect of food quality". His thesis was
focused on the ecology and trophodynamic of larval stage
of copepods in a coastal upwelling area off Central Chile.
His dissertation research dealt with the effect of food
quality on larval growth rates. During his research he was
involved in several experiments of copepodite ingestion
rate on natural food assemblages, fatty acid analysis, and
analysis of phytoplankton and protozooplankton (i.e.
ciliates and dinoflagellates). Currently, he is the research
assistant of the FONDECYT PROJECT 1060709 related to
the effect of omnivory and mixotrophy in the dynamic and
stability of coastal food webs off Dichato Bay and the Itata
River Plume. In addition, Rodrigo is involved in some
experimental activities of the CIMAR-FJORD PROJECT
related to the ecosystem functioning of Chilean fjords at
Northern Patagonia.

Laboratory Skills

- Phytoplankton and microbial analysis under inverted
and epifluorescence microscopy.
- Size-fractionated photosynthethic pigments by
fluorometry.
- Bacterial production estimations by 14CLeucine method.
- Experience with live animals plankton experiments
- Mesozooplankton grazing experiments by bottle
incubations with dominant grazers.
- Protozoan grazing experiments by using the
size-fractionantion method.

Publications
Vargas, C.A.; Martínez, R.; Cuevas, L.A.; Pavéz, M.;
Cartes, C.; González, H.E.; Escribano, R. & Daneri, G.
(2006) The relative importance of microbial and classical
food webs in a highly productive coastal upwelling area.
Limnology & Oceanography 52(4): 1495-1510

Martínez, R.; Vargas, C.A.; Escribano, R. & Lagos, N.
Selection and food quality regulation of zooplankton
growth in coastal food webs. In preparation.