Bird Ecology Lab
Bird Ecology Lab (BEL). Cutting-edge research in the Southern Hemisphere, focused on diverse methodological approaches ranging from phylogenetic comparative analyses and experimental studies to applied research and long-term monitoring programs.
What We Do
At BEL, our research focuses on understanding bird responses to natural and anthropogenic challenges. Our main research lines include:
Ecophysiology and Migration
We investigate the physiological and behavioral adaptations of birds during the preparation and execution of their migrations, with a special emphasis on shorebirds and their flight strategies within the Eastern Pacific.
Evolutionary Ecology and Health
We study sexual selection, dimorphisms, and parasitic ecology using molecular tools and body condition.
Conservation Biology and Anthropogenic
We evaluate the impact of human activities (aquaculture, tourism) on birds for better territorial planning.
Long-Term Monitoring
We maintain capture and banding programs to generate robust databases that allow us to understand the population dynamics and natural history of resident and migratory birds in Chile.
Team
Our team consists of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as associate researchers, all united by the motivation to contribute to the knowledge of the ecology, evolution, and natural history of Neotropical and Nearctic birds.
Publications
Our scientific contribution (2015 – present)
2026
10 PapersBasso E., Ruiz J., Bedriñana-Romano L., Valenzuela J. & Navedo J.G. (2026). Spatial networks reveal a highly centralized functional connectivity in non-breeding areas for a long-distance migratory shorebird. Landscape Ecology, 41:120.DOI
Clements S.J., Loghry J.P., Linscott,J.A., Ruiz J., Navedo J.G., Senner N.R., Ballard B.M. and Weegman M.D. (2026). Less-frequent location information restricts inference about stopover behaviour but not migration phenology in shorebirds. IbisDOI
Fernández K., Senner N.R., Johnson J.A., Navedo J.G. & Verdugo C. (2026). Allelic diversity and selection at the MHC class I and class II in a long-distance migratory shorebird, the Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica). Immunogenetics, 4690.DOI
Navedo J.G., Benítez, H.A., Dorador C., Vargas-Chacoff L. (2026). Chile’s regulatory rollback harms biosphere. Science, 392:816–816.DOI
Vergara-Amado J., Alarcón P., Burgos R.A., Navedo J.G., Gutiérrez J., Verdugo C. (2026). Metabolomic Profiles Reveal Physiological Transitions Required for Long-Distance Avian Migration. Scientific Reports, 16: 16344.DOI
Gutiérrez J., Vergara-Amado J., Martorell C., Navedo J.G., Wille M., Guajardo-Leiva S., Castro-Nallar E., Verdugo C. (2026). Functional shifts in the gut DNA virome in a long-distance migratory shorebird during the pre-migratory fattening. Molecular Ecology, 35:e70315.DOI
Maldonado S., Sánchez-Méndez M.F., Oyarzun-Ruiz P., Vargas-Chacoff L., Navedo J.G., Valdebenito J.O. (2026). Parasite egg shedding rhythms are independent of feeding habits in a small shorebird host. ParasitologyDOI
Gherardi-Fuentes C., Ruiz J., Senner N.R., Johnson J.A., Masero J.A., Gutiérrez J., Verdugo C., Navedo J.G. (2026). Lack of population structure of an extreme migratory shorebird: evidence of gene flow between seemingly segregated populations. Ecology and Evolution, 16:e72771.DOI
Cosentino J.M., McKellar A.E., Hobson K.A., Navedo J.G., Newstead D., Morrissey C.A. (2026). Discriminating overwintering origins of a long-distance migratory shorebird staging in the Midcontinent flyway. Avian Conservation and Ecology, 21(1):6.DOI
Harrison A.-L., ... Navedo G.J. ... Wunder M.B. (2026). The collective application of shorebird tracking data to conservation. Conservation Biology, 2025:e70194..DOI
Our Services
The Bird Ecology Lab (BEL) features highly trained staff and infrastructure for the applied study of avifauna. Collectively, we have over 50 years of experience in wild bird capture, sampling, and monitoring techniques, working with diverse groups including waterbirds, raptors, passerines, and shorebirds.
Molecular Bird Sexing
Sex determination using non-invasive DNA techniques.
Molecular Diagnosis of Parasites
Detection of hemoparasites (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon) using molecular methods.
Specialized Fieldwork
Capture, banding, and biological sampling of wild birds adhering to ethical and scientific standards.
AustralAVEX
Rental of specialized aviaries for scientific research, unique in South America, designed for experimental studies.
Environmental Consulting
Expert advice in ornithology and conservation for public and private projects.
Deployment of geolocation devices and biologgers
State-of-the-art attachment techniques for collecting geospatial and physiological data in birds.