Sara Varela - Research

I devoted the last years (2008-2010) to analyze the impact that past climatic changes had on the distribution of European mammalian species across time. I specialized in the analysis of palaeontological data from a macroecological perspective with Jorge Lobo (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain) and I focused my investigations in studying the relationship between the past climatic (glaciation-interglaciation cycles) and biotic changes and Pleistocene mammal species distribution, using the European spotted hyena extinction event as my case study (Varela et al., 2009, Varela et al., 2010 a, Varela et al, 2010 b, Varela et al. 2010 c, Varela et al., submitted (see CV). Besides my paleontological background, I have also started a personal conservation project in Lanquin, Guatemala (www.alouatta.org).

I am familiar with Idrisi, Arc-GIS and Diva-GIS. I work with Statistica to build the species distribution models (climatic envelopes, Generalized Linear Models and Boosted Classification and Regression Trees) and I also employ specific distribution model software, such as Maxent and GARP. I worked for the GBIF-project (Global Biodiversity Information Facility: www.gbif.org) with the database of the Collection of Ictiology of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Madrid-Spain).

I want to continue my research career analyzing the evolution of life systems from a theoretical point of view and I am deeply interested in the impact that climate changes had on ecosystems. Current climatic warming could cause similar effects on life systems than other interglacial cycles did in the past. Therefore, studying the evolution and distribution of Pleistocene species could help us to understand the mechanisms and process that may operate in the near future.