M.Sc. Sandra Liliana Rojas Botero
Chair of Restoration Ecology
TUM School of Life Sciences
Technische Universität München
Emil-Ramann-Str. 6
85354 Freising
Phone: +49 8161 71 4141
Fax: +49 8161 71 4143
E-mail: sandra.rojas-botero[at]tum.de
Curriculum vitae
| From 01/2019 | PhD student, Chair of Restoration Ecology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany |
| 04/2018 – 12/2018 | Visiting Master Student, Chair of Restoration Ecology, TUM, Germany |
| 10/2016 – 12/2018 | MSc Environmental Sciences, Elective Track “Wildlife, Vegetation and Biodiversity”. Freiburg University, Germany Thesis: Effect of extreme weather events, propagule pressure and competitive hierarchy on the invasion success of Solidago gigantea in an experimentally restored grassland community |
| 09/2012 – 02/2016 | Scientific Staff, Bogota Botanical Garden, Restoration Ecology Research Group, Bogotá, Colombia |
| 02/2011 – 07/2012 | Junior Researcher, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ecological Restoration Group, Biology Department, Bogotá, Colombia |
| 07/2009 – 07/2010 | Research Assistant, Bogota Botanical Garden, Colombia |
| 05/2008 – 12/2008 | Research Assistant, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia |
| 01/2003 – 03/2008 | BSc Biology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia Thesis: Characterization of a wetland soil seed bank and its potential for the regeneration of the vegetation |
| 12/2001 | Academic High School Diploma, Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Bogotá, Colombia |
Restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban landscapes to improve climatic resilience and invasion resistance
Subproject within the framing project: Effect of climate change in the biodiversity and ecosystem services in near-natural, agricultural and urban landscapes, and strategies for the management of climate change (LandKlif)
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. J. Kollmann & PD Dr. H. Albrecht
Urban green infrastructure is relevant for the mitigation of climate change in cities because vegetation reduces temperatures and increases humidity. Further ecosystem services include stormwater retention, reduction of erosion, carbon sequestration, maintenance of nutrient cycles and furtherance of urban biodiversity. Moreover, urban vegetation is crucial for human recreation. Notwithstanding, green infrastructure is challenged by extreme weather, invasive alien species and economic constraints of management.
Given that ecological aspects are insufficiently considered in the planning of green infrastructure at present, this project aims at studying the effects of natural and designed plant communities on ecosystem functions under different climatic scenarios and in interaction with invasive alien plants.
The experimental plant communities are recruited from the native species pool of the region. The variables of interest are investigated in the field along a climatic gradient in 20 urban landscapes in Bavaria, and also through greenhouse, garden and climate chamber experiments under different temperature and soil moisture regimes, with and without invasive alien species typically found in the region.
The results of the project contribute to an improved knowledge and more effective application of ecological theory on grassland resilience and invasion resistance in urban green infrastructure. Additionally, the project will shed light on the necessary planning and measures to reduce costs for maintenance of urban vegetation and will promote an improved adaptation of Bavarian cities to climate change.
The framing project is part of the Bavarian Research Network for Climate Research (BayKlif) funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Arts.
PUBLICATIONS
Rojas-B., S.L. (2017). Structure and floristic composition of the vegetation undergoing ecological restoration in the eastern hills of Bogotá (Colombia). Caldasia 39(1) 124-139. DOI: doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v39n1.60084
Rojas-B., S.L. (2017). The seed bank of Tibanica wetland and its potential for restoring its aquatic vegteation. In: Guillot-Monroy, G.H. & Pinilla-Agudelo, G.A. (Eds.). Estudios ecológicos en humedales de Bogotá: aplicaciones para su evaluación, seguimiento y manejo. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Facultad de Ciencias. Departamento de Biología. Editorial Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá. ISBN: 9789587830156