Mammal Evolution, Biogeography, Taxonomy and Systematics
About Me
I am a Colombian mammalogist, interested in mammal evolution in the Neotropics. My research has focused in Andean bat clades, studying their morphological variation and phylogenetic relationships. However, I am interested in the diversification patterns of mammals in general, with a particular interest in the cryptic diversity present in Marsupials, Bats and Rodents.
Currently, I am appointed as Post-Doctoral Associate at Rutgers University Newark in the Soto Lab of Bat Biology, where I am developing Landscape Connectivity models for Caribbean mammal species, as well as investigating the Biogeography and Phylogeography of Caribbean bats.
You can find my C.V. here.
For a sample of my research here is my ORCID iD, Google Scholar and Researchgate profiles.
My Research Interests
Taxonomy
Mammal taxonomy has always been one of my passions, I believe that in order to conserve nature, we must first understand the evolutionary units we will try to protect. I work mainly on Andean mammal taxonomy, particularly bats. I am interested in poorly studied groups of Andean mammals that show cryptic diversity. I use morphology and molecular phylogenetic methods to approach mammal taxonomy and provide supported meaning to nomenclature.
Morphology
My research has focused in understanding morphological and acoustic variation in Andean bats. I use a wide array of techniques to understand morphology such as Gaussian Mixture Models, Shape analyses using Elliptical Fourier Transformations and Geometric Morphometrics to understand morphological and acoustic variation across phylogeny and geography.
Phylogenetics
I am also interested in Phylogenetics, based both on molecular and morphological sources of evidence. I have conducted molecular phylogenetic studies in the genus Anoura Gray 1838, investigating the relationships between most of the species currently recognized as valid. Currently, I am using molecular phylogenetics to understand diversification processes of different mammal clades in the Andes and the Caribbean.
Landscape Connectivity
Recently, I have been developing connectivity models of bat communities in Puerto Rico alongside Dr. J. A. Soto-Centeno. We investigate how land use, protected areas, vegetation cover , and habitat suitability affect connectivity of bat communities across the island.
Publications
Calderón-Acevedo, C. A., Rodriguez-Posada, M. E., & Muchhala, N. (2018). Large Anoura(Chiroptera:Glossophaginae) taxonomy, taxonomic status of Anoura carishina, and implications for the distribution of Anoura latidens in Colombia. bioRxiv, 462051. doi:10.1101/462051
Calderón-Acevedo, C. A., & Muchhala, N. C. (2018). Identification and diagnosis of Anoura fistulata with remarks on its presumed presence in Bolivia. Journal of Mammalogy, 99(1), 131-137. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyx159
Diana Gamba, N. Rossana Maguiña, Camilo A. Calderón-Acevedo, Karina Torres & Nathan C. Muchhala (2017) Seed dispersal for the unusual inflated berries of Burmeistera (Campanulaceae), Neotropical Biodiversity, 3(1), 10-17, DOI:10.1080/23766808.2016.1258868
Díaz-Pulido, A., Benítez, A., Gómez-Ruiz, D., Calderón-Acevedo, C.A., Link, A., Pardo, A., Forero, F., De Luna, G., Payán, E., Solari, S., 2014. Mamíferos del bosque seco: una mirada al caribe colombiano, in: Pizano, C., García, H. (Eds.), El Bosque Seco Tropical en Colombia. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH), Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, pp. 128-165.
Martínez-Arias, V., & Calderón-Acevedo, C. A. (2014). Platyrrhinus vittatus In J. D. Sánchez-Londoño, D. Marin-C, S. Botero-Cañola, & S. Solari (Eds.), Mamíferos Silvestres del Valle de Aburrá. Medellín: Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, Corantioquia, Universidad de Antioquia.
Martínez-Arias, V., & Calderón-Acevedo, C. A. (2014). Platyrrhinus dorsalis. In J. D. Sánchez-Londoño, D. Marin-C, S. Botero-Cañola, & S. Solari (Eds.), Mamíferos Silvestres del Valle de Aburrá. Medellín, Colombia: Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, Corantioquia, Universidad de Antioquia.
