Gabriela I. Pirk

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests are focused on Community Ecology, in particular, on animal-plant interactions and the effects, either direct or indirect, animals and plants have on each other (reciprocal effects). My doctoral studies were on the reciprocal effects of harvester ants and seeds in the Monte desert. I’m currently carrying out my postdoctoral studies on the indirect effects leaf-cutting ants may have on plants’ tolerance to herbivory in NW Patagonia.

My PhD thesis comprised several aspects of Pogonomyrmex rastratus, P. pronotalis and P. inermis trophic ecology in the Biosphere Reserve of Ñacuñán, located in the central portion of the Monte desert (Argentina). I studied these species’ diet and the influence of seed abundance on diet composition (bottom-up effects). I studied seed preferences of these ants by performing seed offer experiments in the field and evaluated the relationship between seed size and preferences. Finally, I investigated the effects of seed consumption on seed abundance close to the nests (top-down effects).

I’m currently studying the effects of Acromyrmex lobicornis’ refuse dumps on tolerance to herbivory of native and exotic species in the NW Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche (Argentina). This species’ refuse dumps have a higher concentration of N, P, K, organic matter and higher humidity levels than that of adjacent soil. Thus, plants growing in such a favorable environment may tolerate herbivory better that plants growing on adjacent soil. I will carry our laboratory and field experiments where exotic and native plants growing on refuse dumps or soils will be experimentally damaged. I will then compare compensation between both substrates.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

Degree in Biological Sciences (2002) Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires

PhD in Biological Sciences (2007) Universidad de Buenos Aires

GRANTS

CONICET Doctoral Grant (2002–2007) ECODES, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Director: L Marone. Co-director: J Lopez de Casenave

CONICET Postdoctoral Grant (2007–2009) Laboratorio Ecotono, Departamento de Ecología, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad del Comahue. Director: A Farji-Brener

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Undergraduate teaching assistant (2001–2002) Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Courses: General Ecology and Biometry

Graduate teaching assistant (2003–2007) Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Courses: Biometry and Community Ecology

PUBLICATIONS

Pirk GI, di Pasquo F and Lopez de Casenave J (In press) Diet of two sympatric Pheidole spp. ants in the central Monte desert: implications for seed-granivore interactions. Insectes Sociaux.

Pirk GI, Lopez de Casenave J, Pol R, Marone L and Milesi F (In press) Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the diet of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Austral Ecology.

Pirk GI, Lopez de Casenave J and Marone L (2007) Evaluation of different techniques for the study of harvester ants’ (Pogonomyrmex spp.) diet. Environmental Entomology 36:1092–1099.

Pirk GI and Lopez de Casenave J (2006) Diet and seed removal rates by the harvester ants Pogonomyrmex rastratus and Pogonomyrmex pronotalis in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Insectes Sociaux 53:119–125.

Pirk GI, Lopez de Casenave J and Pol RG (2004) Association between granivorous ants Pogonomyrmex pronotalis, P. rastratus and P. inermis, and roads in the central Monte desert [in Spanish]. Ecología Austral 14:65–76.

Pirk GI and Lopez de Casenave (Under revision) Seed preferences of harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex spp., in the central Monte desert.

Pirk GI and Lopez de Casenave (Under revision) Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte desert.

THESES

Undergraduate Thesis (February 2002). Diet of harvester ants Pogonomyrmex rastratus and Pogonomyrmex pronotalis in the central Monte desert. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Supervisor: J Lopez de Casenave. Mark: Excellent (10)

Doctoral Thesis (March 2007). Seed harvesting by ants of the genus Pogonomyrmex in the central Monte desert: seed consumption and impact on the soil seed bank. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Supervisor: J Lopez de Casenave. Mark: Excellent, with committee’s congratulations

PAPERS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS *

* only studies carried out in the Monte desert

di Pasquo F, Pirk GI and Lopez de Casenave J. Diet of two sympatric species of the genus Pheidole in the Monte desert. XXII Reunión Argentina de Ecología. Córdoba, August 2006.

Pirk GI, Lopez de Casenave J. and Pol R. Influence of temporal fluctuations in resources on Pogonomyrmex ants’ diet in the central Monte desert. XXII Reunión Argentina de Ecología. Córdoba, August 2006.

Pol RG, Pirk GI and Marone L. Seed production of C3 and C4 grasses during wet and dry years in the Monte desert. XXII Reunión Argentina de Ecología. Córdoba, August 2006.

Pirk GI and Lopez de Casenave J. Evaluation of different techniques for the study of granivorous ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) diet. VI Congreso Argentino de Entomología. San Miguel de Tucumán, September 2005.

Pirk GI and Lopez de Casenave J. Do granivorous ants of the genus Pogonomyrmex prefer large seeds of one of the most consumed species? VI Congreso Argentino de Entomología. San Miguel de Tucumán, September 2005.

Pirk GI and Lopez de Casenave J. Feeding preferences of Pogonomyrmex ants in the Monte desert. II Reunión Binacional de Ecología, XXI Reunión Argentina de Ecología y XI Reunión de la Sociedad de Ecología de Chile. Mendoza, November 2004.

Pol RG, Pirk GI and Marone L. Grass seed production under different rainfall levels. XXIX Jornadas Argentinas de Botánica y XV Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Botánica de Chile, San Luis, Argentina, October 2003.

Pirk GI, Lopez de Casenave J and Pol R. Pogonomyrmex pronotalis and Pogonomyrmex rastratus’ association to roads in the central Monte desert. V Congreso Argentino de Entomología, Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 2002.

Pirk GI and Lopez de Casenave J. Diet of the harvester ants Pogonomyrmex pronotalis and Pogonomyrmex rastratus in the central Monte desert. I Reunión Binacional Argentino-Chilena de Ecología, XX Reunión Argentina de Ecología y X Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Ecología de Chile, San Carlos de Bariloche, April 2001.