In my group we study the ecology, evolution and systematics of antagonistic interactions, with a main focus on malaria and related parasites (Haemosporida) in birds and other vertebrates. We aim to know three things:
1) The diversity of the Haemosporida parasite group and their vectors (Diptera).
2) The spatial and temporal dynamics of the Haemosporida-Diptera-Vertebrate ecological interaction networks.
3) As an applied research, we study the ecological responses that these parasite systems have to forest fragmentation and land use changes.
In parallel, we study evolutionary biology from a broad perspective, currently we are applying quantum computation methods in order to better understand mutations across genotype networks. This line of research may sound detached from our parasite-disease ecology main research, but before being biologists we all are scientists and above all we are curious on how nature works. So, we keep a broad scientific perspective and delve into whatever catches our curiosity!
Below, there is a brief description of some of the projects that we have done or are currently doing in the research group
I. Diversity of Haemosporida parasites infecting understory birds in an urban forest of southern Germany and forestry practices within the Biodiversity Exploratories (Funding from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation).
With this project we aim to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of haemosporidian parasite populations infecting blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) in a migratory divide. We also want to understand the structure of the interaction networks of these parasite systems by sampling other understory birds and the Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) vectors transmitting them within the same forest.
Publications from this research so far:
1. Santiago-Alarcon, D., Bloch, R., Rolshausen, G., Schaefer, H. M., and Segelbacher, G. 2011. Prevalence, diversity, and interaction patterns of avian haemosporidians in a four-year study of blackcaps in a migratory divide. Parasitology 138: 824–835. doi:10.1017/S0031182011000515.
2. Santiago-Alarcon, D., Havelka, P., Schaefer H.M., and Segelbacher, G. 2012. Blood meal analysis reveals avian Plasmodium infections and broad host preferences of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) vectors. PLoS ONE 7(2): e31098. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031098.
3. Santiago-Alarcon, D., Palinauskas, V, and Schaefer, H. M. 2012. Diptera vectors of avian haemosporidian parasites: untangling parasite life cycles and their taxonomy. Biological Reviews 87: 928–964 doi: 10.1111/j.1469-185X.2012.00234.x
4. Santiago-Alarcon, D., Mettler, R.,
Segelbacher, G., and Schaefer, H. M. 2013. Haemosporidian parasitism in the
blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) in
relation to spring arrival and body condition. Journal of Avian Biology 44: 521–
530 (Editor´s Choice).
5.
Santiago-Alarcon, D., Havelka, P.,
Pineda, E., Schaefer, H. M., and Segelbacher, G. 2013. Urban forests
as hubs for novel zoonosis: blood meal analysis, seasonal variation in Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
vectors, and avian haemosporidians. Parasitology
140: 1799–1810.
6. Lüdtke, B., Moser, I., Santiago-Alarcon, D., Fischer, M., Kalko, E.K.V., Schaefer, H.M., Suarez-Rubio, M., Tschapka, M., and Renner, S.C. 2013. Associations of forest type, parasitism and body condition of two European passerines, Fringilla coelebs and Sylvia atricapilla PLoS ONE 8: e81395.
7. Hermes, C., Mettler, R., Santiago-Alarcon, D., Segelbacher, G., and Schaefer, H.M. 2015. Spatial isolation and temporal variation in fitness and condition facilitate divergence in a migratory divide PLoS ONE 10(12): e0144264.
8. Santiago-Alarcon, D., MacGregor-Fors,
I., Kühnert,
K.,
Segelbacher, G., and Schaefer, H. M. 2016. Avian haemosporidian parasites in an
urban forest and their relationship to bird size and abundance. Urban Ecosystems 19: 331-346.
9. Renner, S.C., Lüdtke, B., Kaiser, S., Kiesel, J., Schaefer, H.M., Segelbacher, G., Tschapka, M., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2016. Forests of opportunities and mischief: disentangling the interactions between forests, parasites, and immune responses. International Journal for Parasitology 46: 571-579.
10. Santiago-Alarcon D, MacGregor-Fors I, Falfán I, Lüdtke B, Segelbacher G, Schaefer HM, Renner S. 2019 Parasites in space and time: a case study of haemosporidian spatiotemporal prevalence in urban birds. International Journal for Parasitology 49: 235-246.
9. Renner, S.C., Lüdtke, B., Kaiser, S., Kiesel, J., Schaefer, H.M., Segelbacher, G., Tschapka, M., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2016. Forests of opportunities and mischief: disentangling the interactions between forests, parasites, and immune responses. International Journal for Parasitology 46: 571-579.
10. Santiago-Alarcon D, MacGregor-Fors I, Falfán I, Lüdtke B, Segelbacher G, Schaefer HM, Renner S. 2019 Parasites in space and time: a case study of haemosporidian spatiotemporal prevalence in urban birds. International Journal for Parasitology 49: 235-246.
11. van Hoesel W, Marzal A, Magallanes S, Santiago-Alarcon D, Ibáñez-Bernal S, Renner SC. 2019. Management of ecosystems alters vector dynamics and haemosporidian infections. Scientific Reports 9:8779. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45068-4.
12. van Hoesel W, Santiago-Alarcon D, Marzal A, Renner SC. 2020. Effects of forest structure on the interaction between avian hosts, dipteran vectors and haemosporidian parasites. BMC Ecology 20:47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-020-00315-5
II. ECOLOGICAL NETWORKS OF AVIAN PARASITES ACROSS ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENTS IN MEXICO
We were funded by the basic science program SEP-CONACYT and by the national problems program of CONACYT to study haemosporidian parasite ecological networks and diversity from birds in environmental gradients (i.e., land use change and elevation). The aim of the project is to understand how anthropogenic factors such as land use changes, as well as vegetation from different altitudes, affect the spatial and temporal dynamics of haemosporidian ecological networks. Furthermore, we aim to understand the functional role of migratory birds on the structure and dynamics of these parasite networks. In this project we will integrate the three players involved in these parasitic interactions: vectors (Diptera) that are usually absent from studies, vertebrates (birds), and parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon).
Publications from this research so far:
1. Santiago-Alarcon,
D.,
and Carbó-Ramírez, P. 2015. Parásitos sanguíneos de malaria y géneros
relacionados (Orden: Haemosporida) en aves de México: recomendaciones
metodológicas para campo y laboratorio. Ornitología
Neotropcial 26: 59-77.
2. Abella-Medrano, A.,
Ibáñez-Bernal, S., MacGregor-Fors, I., and Santiago-Alarcon,
D. 2015. Spatiotemporal variation of mosquito diversity (Diptera:
Culicidae) at places with different land-use types within a neotropical montane
cloud forest matrix. Parasites & Vectors 8:487
3. Ibáñez-Bernal,
S., González-García, F., and Santiago-Alarcon,
D. 2016. New bird host records for Ornithoctona
fusciventris (diptera: hippoboscidae) in Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 60: 377-381
4. González-García, F., Straub, R., Lobato-García, J.A., MacGregor-Fors, I., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2016. Notas y registros adicionales comentados sobre la avifauna de Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Acta Zoológica Mexicana, (n.s.) 32: 253-269.
5. Hernández-Lara, C., González-García, F., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2017. Spatial and seasonal variation of avian malaria infections at places with different land uses within a Neotropical montane forest matrix. Landscape and Urban Planing 157: 151-160.
6. Carbó-Ramírez, P., Zuria, I., Schaefer, H.M., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2017. Avian haemosporidians at three environmentally contrasting urban greenspaces. Journal of Urban Ecology 3: doi: 10.1093/jue/juw011.
7. Santiago-Alarcon, D., and Delgado-V, C. 2017. Warning! Urban threats for birds in Latin America. In: Avian Ecology in Latin American Cityscapes (MacGregor-Fors, I., and Escobar-Ibáñez, J.F., Eds.). Springer.
8. Abella-Medrano, C.A., Ibáñez-Bernal, S., Carbó-Ramírez, P., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2018. Blood-meal preferences and avian malaria detection in mosquitoes (Dipetera: Culicidae) captured at different land use types within a neotropical montane cloud forest matrix. Parasitology International 67: 313-320.
9. MacGregor-Fors, I., González-García, F., Hernández-Lara, C., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2018. Where are the birds in the matrix: avian diversity in a neotropical landscape mosaic. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130: 81-93.
10. Santiago-Alarcon D, Carbó-Ramírez P, MacGregor-Fors I., Chávez-Zichinelli C.A., Yeh P.J. 2020. Avian malaria prevalence of an invasive urban bird is lower in urban than non-urban environments. Ibis 162: 201-214. doi:10.1111/ibi.12699.
11. Tinajero R, Chapa-Vargas L, Ham-Dueñas JG, Santiago-Alarcon D. 2019. Haemosporidian infection of the American kestrel in the southern Chihuahuan desert, Mexico: relationship with land use. Journal of Ornithology 160: 699-710.
4. González-García, F., Straub, R., Lobato-García, J.A., MacGregor-Fors, I., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2016. Notas y registros adicionales comentados sobre la avifauna de Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Acta Zoológica Mexicana, (n.s.) 32: 253-269.
5. Hernández-Lara, C., González-García, F., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2017. Spatial and seasonal variation of avian malaria infections at places with different land uses within a Neotropical montane forest matrix. Landscape and Urban Planing 157: 151-160.
6. Carbó-Ramírez, P., Zuria, I., Schaefer, H.M., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2017. Avian haemosporidians at three environmentally contrasting urban greenspaces. Journal of Urban Ecology 3: doi: 10.1093/jue/juw011.
7. Santiago-Alarcon, D., and Delgado-V, C. 2017. Warning! Urban threats for birds in Latin America. In: Avian Ecology in Latin American Cityscapes (MacGregor-Fors, I., and Escobar-Ibáñez, J.F., Eds.). Springer.
8. Abella-Medrano, C.A., Ibáñez-Bernal, S., Carbó-Ramírez, P., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2018. Blood-meal preferences and avian malaria detection in mosquitoes (Dipetera: Culicidae) captured at different land use types within a neotropical montane cloud forest matrix. Parasitology International 67: 313-320.
9. MacGregor-Fors, I., González-García, F., Hernández-Lara, C., and Santiago-Alarcon, D. 2018. Where are the birds in the matrix: avian diversity in a neotropical landscape mosaic. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130: 81-93.
10. Santiago-Alarcon D, Carbó-Ramírez P, MacGregor-Fors I., Chávez-Zichinelli C.A., Yeh P.J. 2020. Avian malaria prevalence of an invasive urban bird is lower in urban than non-urban environments. Ibis 162: 201-214. doi:10.1111/ibi.12699.
11. Tinajero R, Chapa-Vargas L, Ham-Dueñas JG, Santiago-Alarcon D. 2019. Haemosporidian infection of the American kestrel in the southern Chihuahuan desert, Mexico: relationship with land use. Journal of Ornithology 160: 699-710.
12. Hernández Soto SR, Santiago-Alarcon D, Matta NE. 2019. El uso del hemoglobinómetro como una alternativa a los métodos clásicos para la medición de hemoglobina y hematocrito en muestras de aves. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 90 (2019): e902848. https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2019.90.2848
13. Santiago-Alarcon D, MacGregor-Fors I. 2020. Cities and pandemics: Urban areas are ground zero for the transmission of emerging human infectious diseases Journal of Urban Ecology 6: juaa012. doi: 10.1093/jue/juaa012.
14. Hernández-Lara C, Carbó-Ramírez P, Santiago-Alarcon D. 2020. Effects of land use change (rural-urban) on the diversity and epizootiological parameters of avian Haemosporida in a widespread neotropical bird. Acta Tropica 209: 105542 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105542.
15. Martínez-de la Puente J, Santiago-Alarcon D, Palinauskas V, Bensch S. 2020. Plasmodium relictum. Trends in Parasitology 37: 355-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2020.06.004.
16. Rodríguez-Hernández KM, Álvarez-Mendizábal P, Chapa-Vargas L, Escobar-Sarria F, Santiago-Alarcon D. Haemosporidian prevalence, parasitaemia and aggregation in relation to life-history traits of avian assemblages distributed at different elevations. International Journal for Parasitology 51: 365-378.
17. Ferraguti M, Hernández-Lara C, Sehgal RNM, and Santiago-Alarcon D. 2020. Anthropogenic effects on avian haemosporidians and their vectors. In: Avian malaria and related parasites in the tropics – ecology, evolution and systematics (Santiago-Alarcon D, Marzal A, Eds.). Springer. ISBN: 978-3-030-51632-1.
18. Santiago-Alarcon D, Rojas-Soto OR. 2021. Discovering parasite biodiversity in the tropics: a framework based on multi-host-species ecological niche models. Ecotrópicos 33e0016. https://doi.org/10.53157/ecotropicos.33e0016.
III. QUANTUM BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION: The application of quantum mechanisms to understand evolutionary adaptations.
In this project we use quantum walks exploiting the superposition mechanism to explore n-dimensional genotype networks (sensu Wagner 2011). The first objective is to show that quantum walks are more efficient than classical processes at explaining evolutionary adaptations, as well as other non-Darwininan evolutionary processes such as epigenetics (see publication below). The second objective is to demonstrate that our theoretical framework applies broadly to genotypes of different sizes and organisms (we are currently working with an undergraduate student to complete this). For this second objective we have received computation support and resources from IBM (amounting to a cost of ~65,000 US). The final objective is to develop the same theoretical framework, but in an open system so we are able to simulate selection processes on the genotype networks (for this objective we have started working with a Ph.D. student). All this work is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Salvador E. Venegas-Andraca from the ITESM in Mexico: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rQ2szRwAAAAJ&hl=es
1. Santiago-Alarcon D, Tapia McClung H, Lerma-Hernández S, Venegas-Andraca SE. 2020. Quantum aspects of evolution: a contribution toward evolutionary explorations on genotype networks via quantum walks. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 20200567. https://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2020.0567.
