Magdalena Ruiz Rodríguez

 Post-doc researcher (JAE program, CSIC)

Postal Adress:

Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Carretera de Sacramento, s/n

E- 04120 - La Cañada de San Urbano (Almeria), Spain 

Tel. +34 950281045 ext. 776
Fax +34 950277100

E-mail: magda@eeza.csic.es

Academic achievements

• Doctor in Biology Sciences (September 2007), University of Granada (Spain). Thesis title: “Symbiosis between birds and bacteria. Properties and acquisition of the intestinal microbiota in Great spotted cuckoos and Magpies, and of that in the Hoopoes uropygial gland”. Supervisors: Prof. Juan J. Soler and Dr. Manuel Martín-Vivaldi.
• Degree in Biological Sciences (specialized in Zoology) (September 2000), University of Granada (Spain).

Research interests:

I work on Evolutionary Ecology, and I participated in some research lines:

• Interactions between birds and bacteria. On the one hand, environmental and genetic factors that could shape bacterial communities of individual hosts. On the other hand, the influence of bacterial-birds interactions on the hosts fitness.
• The significance of the bright colour in some monomorphic bird species, exploring the aposematism hypothesis to explain it, i.e., that color could be a signal reflecting their toxicity to their potential predators.
• I also collaborated in the study of the reproductive biology of troglophile caddisflies, whose larval period develop in temporary waters, and adults spend the draught period in the “Cueva del Agua” (Iznalloz, Granada).

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Tomás, G.,Martín-Gálvez, D.,Ruiz, C.,Soler, J.J. 2015. Bacteria and the evolution of honest signals. The case of ornamental throat feathers in spotless starlings. Functional Ecology, 29, 701-709.

Soler, J.J.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Peralta Sanchez, J.M.,Ruiz, C.,Tomás, G. 2015. Laying date, incubation and egg breakage as determinants of bacterial load on bird eggshells: experimental evidence.

Soler, J.J.,de Neve, L.,Martín-Gálvez, D.,Molina-Morales, M.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M. 2014. Do climatic conditions affect host and parasite phenotypes differentially? A case study of magpies and great spotted cuckoos. Oecologia, DOI 10.1007/s00442-013-2772-y.

Ibáñez-Álamo, J.D.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Soler, J.J. 2014. The mucous covering of fecal sacs prevents birds from infection with enteric bacteria. Journal of Avian Biology, 45, 354-358.

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Soler, J.J.,Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Martín-Platero, A.M.,Méndez, M.,Peralta-Sánchez, J.M.,Ananou, S.,Valdivia, E.,Martínez-Bueno, M. 2014. Environmental factors shape the community of symbionts in the hoopoe uropygial gland more tan genetic factors. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 80, 6714.

Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Soler, J.J.,Peralta-Sánchez, J.M.,Arco, L.,Martín-Platero, A.M.,Martínez-Bueno, M.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Valdivia, E. 2014. Special structures of hoopoe eggshells enhance the adhesion of symbiont-carrying uropygial secretion that increase hatching success. Journal of Animal Ecology, 83, 1289-1301.

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Avilés, J.M.,Cuervo, J.J.,Parejo, D.,Ruano, F.,Zamora-Muñoz, C.,Sergio, F.,López-Jiménez, L.,Tanferna, A.,Martín-Vivaldi, M. 2013. Does avian conspicuous colouration increase or reduce predation risk?. Oecologia, 173, 83-93.

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Martínez-Bueno, M.,Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Valdivia, E.,Soler, J.J. 2013. Bacteriocins with a broader antimicrobial spectrum prevail in enterococcal symbionts isolated from the hoopoe’s uropygial gland. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 85, 495-502.

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Valdivia, E.,Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Martín-Platero, A.M.,Martínez-Bueno, M.,Méndez, M.,Peralta Sanchez, J.M.,Soler, J.J. 2012. Antimicrobial activity and genetic profile of Enteroccoci isolated from hoopoes uropygial gland. PLoS ONE, 7: e41843.

Peralta-Sánchez, J.M.,Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Martín-Platero, A.M.,Martínez-Bueno, M.,Oñate, M.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Soler, J.J. 2012. Avian life history traits influence eggshell bacterial loads: a comparative analysis. Ibis, 154:725-737.

Salavert,V.,Zamora-Muñoz,C.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Soler, J.J. 2011. Female-biased size dimorphism in a diapausing caddisfly, Mesophylax aspersus. Effect of fecundity, natural and sexual selection. Ecological Entomology, 36:389-395.

Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Peña, A.,Peralta-Sánchez, J.M.,Sánchez, L.,Ananou, S.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Soler, J.J. 2010. Antimicrobial chemicals in hoopoe preen secretions are produced by symbiotic bacteria. Proceedings of the Royal Society B- Biological Sciences, 277: 123-130.

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M. 2010. El color de las mariposas. Danaus, 1: 2-5.

Soler, J.J.,Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Peralta Sanchez, J.M.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M. 2010. Antibiotic-producing bacteria as a possible defence of birds against pathogenic microorganisms. Open Ornithology, 2: 29-36, 3:93-100.

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Soler, J.J.,Lucas, F.S.,Heeb, F.,Palacios, P.,Martin Galvez, D.,de Neve, L.,Perez Contreras, T.,Martinez, J.G.,Soler, M. 2009. Bacterial diversity at the cloaca predicts immunocompetence and physical condition of magpies and great spotted cuckoo nestlings. Journal of Avian Biology, 40:42-48.

Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Soler, J.J.,Peralta Sanchez, J.M.,Mendez, M.,Valdivia, E.,Martin Platero, A.M.,Martinez Bueno, M. 2009. Seasonal, sexual and developmental differences in hoopoe Upupa epops preen gland morphology and secretions: evidence for a role of bacteria. Journal of Avian Biology, 40: 42-48.

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Lucas, F. S.,Heeb, P.,Soler, J.J. 2009. Differences in intestinal microbiota between avian brood parasites and their hosts. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 22: 376-386.

Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Valdivia, E.,Soler, J.J.,Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Martín-Platero, A.M.,Martínez-Bueno, M. 2009. Symbiotic bacteria living in hoopoes uropygial gland prevent feather degradation. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212: 3621-3626.

Salavert, V.,Zamora Muñoz, C.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Fernandez Cortes, A.,Soler, J.J. 2008. Climatic conditions, diapause and migration in a troglophile caddisfly. Freshwater Biology, 53:1606-1617.

Soler, J.J.,Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Valdivia, E,Martin Platero, A.M.,Martinez Bueno, M.,Peralta Sanchez, J.M.,Mendez, M, 2008. Symbiotic association between hoopoes and antibiotic-producing bacteria that live in their uropigial gland. Functional Ecology, 22: 864-871.

De Neve L.,Soler, J.J.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Martín-Gálvez, D.,Pérez-Contreras, T.,Soler M. 2007. Habitat-specific effects of a food supplementation experiment on immunocompetence in magpie nestlings. Ibis, 149: 763-773.

Martin Platero A.M.,Valdivia E.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Soler, J.J.,Martín Vivaldi M.,Maqueda M.,Martínez Bueno M. 2006. Characterization of antimicrobial substances produced by Enterococcus faecalis MRR 10-3, Isolated from the uropygial gland of the hoopoe Upupa epops. Applied Environmental Microbiology, 72(6): 4245–4249.

Martín-Vivaldi, M.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Mendez, M.,Soler, J.J. 2006. Relative importance of factors affecting nestling immune response differs between junior and senior nestlings within broods of hoopoes Upupa epops. Journal of Avian Biology, 37: 467-476.

Jáímez-Cuéllar, P.,Luzón-Ortega, J.,Ruiz-Rodríguez, M.,Palomino-Morales, J.A.,Tierno de Figueroa, J.M.,Alba-Tercerdor, J. 2002. Biological quality of the water from “Sierra de Huétor Natural Park” (Granada, España) rivers. Acta granatense, 1: 3-9.