Johnattan Hernandez

• research interests

  A major challenge for ecologists is to understand the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that create differences between and within species in naturally complex environments. Individuals of different species interact in local communities and can influence each other’s fitness both directly or indirectly through intermediaries.

  Plant traits, such a chemical defenses not only strongly affect the performance of the herbivores, but also the performance of the natural enemies that feed on these herbivores. Because insect communities that feed on a particular plant species can vary among different localities there will also be considerable variability in the induced plant responses that sequential herbivores are exposed to.

  The aim of my phd thesis is to test whether in each specific community herbivores and their natural enemies will have adapted to the plant defenses induced by earlier herbivores. We will test the above hypothesis by determining the extent to which damage on bean leaves and seeds (Phaseolus lunatus) by the leaf beetle (Epilachna verivestis) and the weevil (Apion godmani) affects the performance and behavior of the bruchid (Zabrotes subfasciatus). More importantly, we will study how such effects may cascade upwards to the next trophic level (parasitoids).

  Paralelly to my phd studies I have an alternative project, in where I am evaluating the role of extrafloral nectaries (EFN) in the interaction between Phaseolus lunatus (lima bean) with mutualistic ants and with the potential pollinators and testing if this interaction can promote a conflict for the plant in the allocation of resources (defense/reproduction).

   

• publications

  Publications:

  Hernández-Cumplido, J., Castellanos, I., Márquez, J., Moreno, C. E., Pavón, N. P., Sánchez-Rojas, G. y Zuria, I. 2005. Influence of forest management practices on the relative abundance of Nicrophorus mexicanus Matthews (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in temperate forests of Hidalgo, Mexico. 246-249 pp. In: Entomología Mexicana Vol. 4. Morales-Moreno, A., Mendoza-Estrada, A., Ibarra-González, M.P. y Stanford-Camargo, S. (eds.). Sociedad Mexicana de Entomología, Colegio de Posgraduados. Mexico. ISSBN: 968-839-453-X.

  Hernandez-Cumplido J., 2009. Sexual Canibalism magazine of popular science: Herreriana, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH). Vol. 5 no. 1. Abril 2009.

  Zamora-Gutiérrez V. & Hernández-Cumplido J., 2009. Global warming in the tropical rainforest. Magazine of popular science: Herreriana, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH).

  Hernandez-Cumplido J., Benrey B. & Heil M. 2010. Attraction of flower visitors to plants that express indirect defense can minimize ecological costs of ant-pollinator conflicts. Journal of Tropical Ecology 26: 1-3

  Poster and presentations:

  Oral presentation in the: XL Mexican Annual meeting of Entomology with the lecture: "Influence of forest management practices on the relative abundance of Nicrophorus mexicanus Matthews (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in temperate forests of Hidalgo, Mexico"

  Hernández-Cumplido, J., Castellanos, I. y Fornoni A. 2006. Natural history fom the tritrophic interaction between Datura stramonium, two herbivores, one seed predator and the associated parasitoids. Mexican Ecological Society Meeting. Sociedad Científica Mexicana de Ecología, A. C. Morelia, Michoacán, México.

  Hernández-Cumplido J. & Fornoni Agnelli Juan. 2008. Positive correlation between victim abundance and intensity of exploiter consumption in a tritrophic system: plant-seed predator-parasitoids. 94th. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America (ESA). Alburquerque, New Mexico.

  Hernandez-Cumplido J. Benrey B & Heil M. (2010) Attraction of flower visitors to plants that express indirect defence can minimize ecological costs of ant-pollinator conflicts. 26 Annual Meeting of the International Society of Chemical Ecology, Tours, France.