Lic. Charo López Lorences

Teaching Assistant BBE, FCEN-UBA | PhD Candidate CONICET | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I have always been a curious person who loves being in contact with nature, so since I was 12 years old I knew I wanted to become a field biologist. During my degree, my academic interests leaned towards the world of botany, leading me to choose "Plant Ecology" as my orientation. However, my love and fascination for birds has always been present, thanks to my grandfather. That is why I am currently pursuing a PhD focused on studying the behavior of birds. Specifically, my research revolves around two avian brood parasites: the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) and the Screaming Cowbird (M. rufoaxillaris). My work involves examining the social behavior and personality traits of these species. I will investigate how information is transmitted between individuals in host nests and experimental feeders, explore the social mating systems of both species, examine the reasons behind social monogamy in the Screaming Cowbird, and explore the relationship between female personality and brood parasitism. The findings from this research will provide valuable insights into these topics within a unique system consisting of two sympatric avian brood parasites and their hosts.