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I have high interest in the designing and performance of research projects and teaching in phylogeny, phylogeography and population genetics in reptiles aiming at: (i) reconstructing and revealing inter- and intra-specific evolutionary relationships, (ii) Increasing the knowledge and understanding of past events that have shaped current diversity and (iii) Assessing conservation state and provide information that could be directly use for concrete conservation actions and management. I also have high interest in taxonomy and systematics of herpetofauna, community-based conservation initiatives and environmental education.

Mario is involved in the following Foundation’s projects:

Academic background and experience

  • Academic background

    Biologist from the National University of Colombia. MSc. in Biological Sciences, evolutionary biology at the University of Amterdam, The Netherlands and PhD in biological sciences, molecular systematics from the University of Braunchwiegh in Germany

  • Professional experience

    Currently, postdoc researcher in the Seckenberg Zoology Museum in Dresden, Germany. Experienced in research and teaching related to phylogeny, phylogeography and population genetics in reptiles.

Publications

  • Peer review journals
    • Vargas-Ramírez M, Moreno R. 2014. Unknown Evolutionary Lineages and Population Differentiation in Anolis heterodermus from Middle-Eastern Cordillera of Colombia (Squamata: Dactyloidae) revealed by DNA Sequence Data. The South American Journal of Herpetology, 9: 131-141.
    • González-Zárate A, Montenegro O, Castaño-Mora OV, Vargas-Ramírez M,. 2014. Abundancia, Estructura poblacional y Conservación de Podocnemis lewyana (podocnemididae) en el Rio Prado, Colombia. Acta Biólogica Colombiana, 19: 351-361.
    • Petzold A, Vargas-Ramírez M, Kehlmaier C, Vamberger M, Branch WR, Du Preez L, Hofmeyr MD, Meyer L, Schleicher A, Široký P, Fritz U. 2014. A revision of African helmeted terrapins (Testudines: Pelomedusidae: Pelomedusa), with descriptions of six new species. Zootaxa, 3795: 523–548.
    • Vargas-Ramírez M , Carr J, Fritz U. 2013. Complex phylogeography in Rhinoclemmys melanosterna: conflicting mitochondrial and nuclear evidence suggests past hybridization (Testudines: Geoemydidae). Zootaxa, 3670: 238–254.
    • Vargas-Ramírez M, Michels J, Castaño-Mora OV, Cárdenas-Arevalo G, Gallego-García N, Fritz U. 2012. Weak genetic divergence between the two South American toad-headed turtles Mesoclemmys dahli and M. zuliae (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae). Amphibia-Reptilia, 33: 373-385.
    • Vargas-Ramírez M, Castaño-Mora OV, Stuckas H, Fritz U. 2012. Extremely low genetic diversity and weak population differentiation in the critically-endangered Colombian endemic river turtle Podocnemis lewyana (Testudines, Podocnemididae). Conservation Genetics, 13: 65-77.
    • Vargas-Ramírez M, Vences M, Branch WR, Daniels SR, Glaw F, Hofmeyr MD, Kuchling G, Maran J, Papenfuss TJ, Široký P, Vieites DR, Fritz U. 2010. Deep genealogical lineages in the widely distributed African helmeted terrapin: Evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA (Testudines: Pelomedusidae: Pelomedusa subrufa). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 56: 428–440.
    • Vargas-Ramírez M, Maran J, Fritz U. 2010. Red- and yellow-footed tortoises, Chelonoidis carbonaria and C. denticulata (Reptilia: Testudines: Testudinidae), in South American savannahs and forests: do their phylogeographies reflect distinct habitats? Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 10: 161–172.
    • Vargas-Ramírez M, Castaño-Mora OV, Fritz U. 2008. Molecular phylogeny and divergence times of ancient South American and Malagasy river turtles (Testudines: Pleurodira: Podocnemididae). Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 8: 388-398.
    • Vargas-Ramírez M, Chiari Y, Castaño-Mora OV, Menken SBJ. 2007. Low genetic variability in the endangered Colombian endemic freshwater turtle Podocnemis lewyana (Testudines, Podocnemididae). Contributions to Zoology, 76: 1-7.
    • Fritz U, Vargas-Ramírez M, Široký P. 2012. Phylogenetic position of Pelusios williamsi and a critique of current GenBank procedures (Reptilia: Testudines: Pelomedusidae). Amphibia-Reptilia, 33: 150-154.
    • Fritz U, Alcalde L, Vargas-Ramírez M, Goode E.V., Fabius-Turoblin D.U., Praschag P. 2012. Northern genetic richness and southern purity, but just one species in the Chelonoidis chilensis complex. Zoologica Scripta, 41: 211–325.
    • Fritz U, Packert M, Vargas-Ramírez M, Maran J, Stuckas H, Hundsdörfer AK. 2011.
      Molecular phylogeny of Central and South American slider turtles: implications for biogeography and systematics (Testudines: Emydidae: Trachemys). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 50: 89–173.
    • Fritz U, Branch WR, Hofmeyr M, Maran J, Prokop H, Schleicher A, Široký P, Stuckas H, Vargas-Ramírez M, Vences M, Hundsdörfer A.K. 2010. Molecular phylogeny of African hinged and helmeted terrapins (Testudines: Pelomedusidae: Pelusios and Pelomedusa). Zoologica Scripta, 40: 115–125.
    • Gong S, Shi H, Mo Y, Auer M, Vargas-Ramírez M, Hundsdörfer AK, Fritz U. 2009. Phylogeography of the endangered black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda spengleri) and conservation implications for other chelonians. Amphibia-Reptilia, 30: 57-62.
    • Paez VP, Restrepo A, Vargas-Ramírez M, Bock BC. 2009. Podocnemis lewyana (Duméril 1852) – Magdalena River turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., Iverson, J.B., and Mittermeier, R.A. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5, pp. 024.1-024.6.
    • Lynch JD, Vargas-Ramírez M, 2000. Lista preliminar de especies de ranas del departamento de Guainía, Colombia. Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Ex-. Fis. Nat 23 (93): 2000. SIN 0370-3908.
  • Book chapters
    • Vargas-Ramírez M. 2012. Filogenia y Filogeografía de las Tortugas Continentales Colombianas. Chapter 6. Pp.91-101. In: Páez, V. P., M. A. Morales-Betancourt, C. A. Lasso, O. V. Castaño-Mora y B. Bock. (Editors). 2012. V. Biología y conservación de las tortugas continentales de Colombia. Serie Editorial Recursos Hidrobiológicos y Pesqueros Continentales de Colombia. Instituto de Investigación de los Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH). Bogotá, D. C., Colombia.
    • Morales-Betancourt M.A, Lasso C.A., Páez V., Trujillo F., Vargas-Ramírez M., Forero-Medina G., Hernández O., Trujillo G. 2012. Estrategias para la conservación de las tortugas continentales de Colombia. Chapter 20. Pp.495-522. In: Páez, V. P., M. A. Morales-Betancourt, C. A. Lasso, O. V. Castaño-Mora y B. Bock. (Editors). 2012. V. Biología y conservación de lastortugas continentales de Colombia. Serie Editorial Recursos Hidrobiológicos y Pesqueros Continentales de Colombia. Instituto de Investigación de los Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH). Bogotá, D. C., Colombia.
    • Páez V.P., Restrepo-Isaza A., Vargas-Ramírez M., Bock, B.C., Gallego-García, N. Podocnemis lewyana. Pp.379-385. In: Páez, V. P., M. A. Morales-Betancourt, C. A. Lasso, O. V. Castaño-Mora y B. Bock. (Editors). 2012. V. Biología y conservación de lastortugas continentales de Colombia. Serie Editorial Recursos Hidrobiológicos y Pesqueros Continentales de Colombia. Instituto de Investigación de los Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH). Bogotá, D. C., Colombia.
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