My research is primarily focused on the evaluation of human impacts on headwater streams, as I believe this is the only way to develop sustainable alternatives to protect these ecosystems. For my PhD I want to use experimental stream mesocosms to study individual and combined effects of multiple agricultural stressors on stream community structure and function.
I’ve conducted most of my research in the tropical Andean region, where I have investigated the effects of local agricultural practices on aquatic macroinvertebrates and trophic ecology of aquatic insects. I have also participated in global efforts to explore latitudinal diversity gradients of detritivores and determine their role in leaf litter decomposition in tropical streams.
Background
I come to UBC after completing a Master’s degree in Aquatic Sciences at the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan. Before pursuing graduate studies, I spent two years working as a researcher in the Center for Research in Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems (CIPAV) and received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia.
Publications
Giraldo L.P., Chará J., Zúñiga M.C., Chará-Serna A.M., Pedraza G.X. (2014) Agricultural land use impacts on aquatic macroinvertebrates in small streams from La Vieja River (Valle del Cauca, Colombia). International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation, 62(2): 203-219
Zúñiga M.C., Chará J., Giraldo L.P., Chará-Serna A.M., Pedraza G.X. (2013) Composición de la comunidad de macroinvertebrados acuáticos en pequeñas quebradas de la región andina colombiana, con énfasis en la entomofauna. Dugesiana, 20(2): 263-277
Chará-Serna A.M., Chará J., Zúñiga M.C., Pearson R.G and Boyero L. (2012). Diets of leaf litter-associated invertebrates in three tropical streams. Annales de Limnologie – International Journal of Limnology, 48: 139-144.
Camargo J.C., Chará J., Giraldo L.P., Chará-Serna A.M., Pedraza G.X. (2012). Beneficios de los corredores ribereños de Guadua angustifolia en la protección de ambientes acuáticos en la Ecorregión Cafetera de Colombia: 1. Efectos sobre las propiedades del suelo. Recursos Naturales y Ambiente-CATIE. 61: 47-53.
Chará J., Giraldo L.P., Chará-Serna A.M., Pedraza G.X. (2012). Beneficios de los corredores ribereños de Guadua angustifolia en la protección de ambientes acuáticos en la Ecorregión Cafetera de Colombia: 2. Efecto sobre la escorrentía y captura de nutrientes. Recursos Naturales y Ambiente-CATIE. 61: 54-60.
Boyero L., Pearson R.G., Dudgeon D., Graça M.A.S., Gessner M.O., Albariño R.J., Ferreira V., Yule C.M., Boulton A.J., Arunachalam M., Callisto M., Chauvet E., Ramírez A., Chará J., Moretti M.S., Gonçalves J.F. JR., Helson J.E., Chará-Serna A.M., Encalada A.C., Davies J.N., Lamothe S., Cornejo A., Castela J., Li A.O.Y., Buria L.M., Villanueva V.D., Zúñiga M.C. and Pringle C.M. (2011). Global distribution of a key trophic guild contrasts with common latitudinal diversity patterns. Ecology, 92 (9): 1839-1848.
Boyero L., Pearson R.G., Dudgeon D., Ferreira V., Graça M.A.S., Gessner M.O., Boulton A.J., Chauvet E., Yule C.M., Albariño R.J., Ramírez A., Helson J.E., Callisto M., Arunachalam M., Chará J., Figueroa R., Mathooko J.M., Gonçalves J.F. JR., Moretti M.S., Chará-Serna A.M., Davies J.N., Encalada A.C., Lamothe S., Buria L.M., Castela J., Cornejo A., Li A. O. Y., M’Erimba C., Villanueva V.D., Zúñiga M.C., Swan C.M. and Barmuta L.A. (2011). Global patterns of stream detritivore distribution: implications for biodiversity loss in changing climates. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 21: 134–141.
Chará-Serna A.M., Chará J., Zúñiga M.C., Pedraza G.X., Giraldo L.P. (2010). Clasificación trófica de insectos acuáticos en ocho quebradas protegidas de la ecorregión cafetera colombiana. Universitas Scientiarum, 15 (1): 27-36.