Marcela Aldana Pereira

Currículum

Licenciada y doctora en Ciencias Biológicas, mención Ecología, por la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Es Profesora Titular e Investigadora Asociada al Centro de Investigación e Innovación para el Cambio Climático (CiiCC). Su línea de investigación se centra en la ecología de poblaciones y comunidades intermareales, con especial énfasis en los sistemas hospedador-parásito. Ha liderado proyectos sobre el impacto ecológico del parasitismo en ecosistemas costeros intervenidos, cuyos resultados han sido publicados en revistas de prestigio. Actualmente dirige el proyecto Fondecyt Regular sobre variabilidad geográfica en la interacción hospedador-parásito inducida por surgencia. Además, forma parte del Laboratorio de Ecología de Parásitos Marinos, donde junto a su equipo busca comprender el rol del parasitismo en la estabilidad de ecosistemas costeros. Participa activamente en actividades de divulgación científica junto al grupo Bajamar.

Proyectos de investigación 

2022-2026. Upwelling-induced geographic variability in performance of host- parasite systems: patterns and mechanisms of species-interactions in a changing ocean. Investigadora Responsable FONDECYT Regular 1220866.

2020-2023. Algae-herbivore interactions modulated by upwelling in the context of global warming. Fondo De Investigación Pesquera y de Acuicultura. Co-Investigadora FONDECYT Regular 1200813.

2024. FONDECYT Regular. The influence of upwelling on tissue biomolecules and thermal performance of coastal species, as modulators of trophic interactions in a warming ocean. 

2018-2021. Integrating structure and function of ecological, mechanical and mineralogical properties of marine calcifiers: shell carbonates as source of bio-inspiration (Carbo-Nat-Lab). Coordinadora administrativa proyecto PIA-CONICYT Anillos ACT172037.

Publicaciones

García-Huidobro, M. R., Zuloaga, R., Llanos-Azócar, K., Dettleff, P., Aldana, M., Urzúa, A., Duarte, C., Molina, A., Varas, O., Pulgar, V. M., Valdés, J. A., & Pulgar, J. (2025). Upwelling effects across different levels of biological organization: Integrating biochemical constituents, physiological performance and muscle transcriptomic response in the intertidal fish Girella laevifrons (Kyphosidae). Marine Environmental Research, 205, 107023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107023

Fernández, M., Aldana, M., Duarte, C., García-Huidobro, M. R., Varas, O., Estévez, R. A., Pulgar, J., Quijón, P. A., & Pulgar, J. (2025). Exploring the relationship between upwelling intensity and socio-ecological attributes of marine exploitation areas for benthic resources (MEABRs), along the southern Humboldt Current system. Journal of Environmental Management, 374, 124102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124102

Fernández, M., Duarte, C., Aldana, M., Delgado-Rioseco, J., Blanco-Herrera, F., Varas, O., Quijón, P. A., Quintanilla-Ahumada, D., García-Huidobro, M. R., & Pulgar, J. (2025). The importance of upwelling conditions as drivers of feeding behavior and thermal tolerance in a prominent intertidal fish. Marine Environmental Research, 204, 106896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106896

Varas, O., Molina, A. N., García-Huidobro, M. R., Aldana, M., Rezende, E. L., Carter, M. J., Galbán-Malagón, C., & Pulgar, J. M. (2024). Individual variation in heat tolerance and metabolism in marine Antarctic organisms. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 73, 103467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103467

García-Huidobro, M. R., Reyes, M., Caro Fuentes, N., Bruna, T., Guzmán-Rivas, F., Urzúa, A., Pulgar, J., & Aldana, M. (2024). Host-parasite dialogue: Fecundity compensation mechanisms of Fissurella crassa. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 1266405. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1266405

Sepúlveda, F., Quijón, P. A., Quintanilla-Ahumada, D., Vargas, J., Aldana, M., Fernández, M., Varas, O., Zapata, J., Pulgar, J., & Duarte, C. (2024). Cross-examining the influence of upwelling and seaweed quality on herbivores’ feeding behavior and growth. Marine Environmental Research, 193, 106288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106288

Pulgar, J., Manríquez, P. H., Widdicombe, S., García-Huidobro, R., Quijón, P. A., Carter, M., Aldana, M., Quintanilla-Ahumada, D., & Duarte, C. (2023). Artificial light at night (ALAN) causes size-dependent effects on intertidal fish decision-making. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 193, 115190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115190

García-Huidobro, M. R., Aldana, M., Varela, P., García-Herrera, C., Monteiro, J. N., Leitão, F., Teodósio, M. A., Quijón, P. A., Varas, O., Fernández, M., Duarte, C., & Pulgar, J. (2023). The influence of upwelling on key bivalves from the Humboldt and Iberian current systems. Marine Environmental Research, 189, 106031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106031

Carter, M. J., García-Huidobro, M. R., Aldana, M., Rezende, E. L., Bozinovic, B., Galbán-Malagón, C., & Pulgar, J. M. (2023). Upper thermal limits and risk of mortality of coastal Antarctic ectotherms. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1108330. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1108330

Zuloaga, R., Varas, O., Ahrendt, C., Pulgar, V. M., Valdés, J. A., Duarte, C., Urzúa, A., Guzmán-Rivas, F., Aldana, M., & Pulgar, J. (2022). Revealing coastal upwelling impact on the muscle growth of an intertidal fish. Science of the Total Environment, 858, 159810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159810
Impact Factor: 9.8 | Cuartil: Q1

Pulgar, J., Moya, A., Fernández, M., Varas, O., Guzmán-Rivas, F., Urzúa, A., Quijón, P. A., García-Huidobro, M. R., Aldana, M., & Duarte, C. (2022). Upwelling enhances seaweed nutrient quality, altering feeding behavior and growth rates in an intertidal sea urchin, Loxechinus albus. Science of the Total Environment, 851, 158307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158307
Impact Factor: 9.8 | Cuartil: Q1

Varas, O., Pulgar, J., Duarte, C., García-Herrera, C., Abarca-Ortega, A., Grenier, C., Rodríguez-Navarro, A. B., Zapata, J., Lagos, N. A., García-Huidobro, M. R., & Aldana, M. (2022). Parasitism by metacercariae modulates the morphological, organic and mechanical responses of the shell of an intertidal bivalve to environmental drivers. Science of the Total Environment, 830, 154747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154747
Impact Factor: 9.8 | Cuartil: Q1

Lazo-Andrade, J., Guzmán-Rivas, F., Espinoza, P., García-Huidobro, M. R., Aldana, M., Pulgar, J., & Urzúa, A. (2021). Spatio-temporal changes in the biochemical parameters of the fishery resource Concholepas concholepas (Gastropoda: Muricidae) in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 44, 101735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101735
Impact Factor: 2.1 | Cuartil: Q2

Lazo-Andrade, J., Guzmán-Rivas, F. A., Espinoza, P., García-Huidobro, M. R., Aldana, M., Pulgar, J., & Urzúa, A. (2021). Temporal variations in the bioenergetic reserves of Concholepas concholepas (Gastropoda: Muricidae) in contrasting coastal environments from the Humboldt current system. Journal of Sea Research, 167, 101970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2020.101970
Impact Factor: 2.0 | Cuartil: Q2