The Cacho Lab

We infer phylogenies and use them as a framework to study processes that drive plant diversity using comparative methods, genomics, field and greenhouse experiments. Read more.

Current lab members

N. Ivalú Cacho
(Principal Investigator)

I am a plant evolutionary biologist interested in the biogeography of lineage divergence and the evolution of adaptations promoting ecological specialization.

Itzel Piña de la Rosa
(Masters student)

Itzel is examining potential of evolutionary divergence in Ipomoea microsepala, a species with a peculiarly "U-shaped" geographic distribution.

Nehomy Itzel Rojas
(Undergraduate student)

Itzel is documenting floral visitor communities in two close relatives of Penstemon.

Erick C. Deloya Brito
(Prospective student, Masters)

Erick is collaborating on different projects on Ipomoea. He also graduated with a thesis on climatic correlates of geographic range in Mexican Ipomoea.

Alumni

Clara López Marmolejo
(Undergraduate student)

Clara graduated with honors in 2022 with a thesis on hummingbird traits in relation to floral morphology in E. tithymaloides.

Max Demián Medina
(Masters student)

Max graduated with honors in 2022 with a thesis where he evaluated the phylogenomics of the Euphorbia tithymaloides ring-species, in collaboration with Dr. Carlos Maya-Lastra.

Brenda Hernández
(Masters student)

Brenda graduated with honors in 2022, with a masters thesis exploring the diversity of leaf shape in morning glories (Ipomoea, Convolvulaceae).

Itzel Piña de la Rosa
(Undergraduate, senior thesis)

Itzel graduated in 2022 with a thesis exploring phenology and reward E. tithymaloides.

Fernanda Rosales Ramos
(Undergraduate, honors thesis)

Fer is interested in all things pollination. For her thesis, Fer studied pollination in Mexican mistletoes (Loranthaceae) that occur on our campus biological reserve of unique volcanic vegetation (REPSA).

Daniel José Zacatula
(Undergraduate, senior thesis)

Daniel is studied patterns of pollen production in Caribbean Euphorbia tithymaloides. Daniel also has a passion for Oaxacan food (how could he not?!)

Marlene Vázquez Ibarra
(Undergraduate, senior thesis)

Marlene worked on deciphering floral visitators of E. tithymaloides.

Veronica Alavez Salgado
(Undergraduate, honors thesis)

Vero graduated with honors in 2019, with a thesis on herbivory and arthropods associated with morphologically divergent sister species of Viburnum in Chiapas.

Ana Celeste Martínez
(Applied statistics at IIMAS)

Celeste is a bee systematist. For her applied statistics graduate program thesis, she analyzed ecological data during an intership in the lab. She graduated in December 2019. Congrats Celeste!

María Monteverde
(Masters student)

For her masters, María studied geographical patterns in morphology
in Euphorbia tithymaloides.

Grizel Mota
(Undergraduate)

Griz is broadly interested in phylogenetic systematics, and will be working in expanding our sampling in Thelypodieae, one of the most diverse clades of mustards (Brassicaceae).

Ana Luz Mendoza
(Visiting undergraduate student)

Ana Luz visitued us from BUAP (in Puebla) in the summer of 2018. During her tenure in the lab, Ana Luz helped estimate damage levels in the field experienced by morphologically diverent sister species of Viburnum in Chiapas, Mexico.

Ana Gabriela Martínez
Ana helped with lab logistics during 2017.

María Monteverde
(Undergraduate, honors thesis)

María defended and graduated with honors in December 2016, with a thesis on systematics of Streptanthus.

Arturo Cañongo
(Visiting undergraduate, 2016)

Arturo (from BUAP) is interested in plant anatomy and morphology. He is compiling databases on morphology of various plant groups we study in the lab, and collaborating with Dr. Laura Calvillo on leaf venation patterns across angiosperms.

   Come visit!

    We are located in gorgeous Mexico City

     Instituto de Biología, UNAM
   Departamento de Botánica A-204
   3er Circuito de Ciudad Universitaria
   Delegación Coyoacán, MEXICO, D.F. 04510

   Phone: + 52 (55) 5622 9125