Smithsonian, National Museum of Natural History Research and Collections

Genetics Program

Bats

Jorge Ortega, Ph.D.

Post-Doctoral Researcher

My research interests are focused on the behavior, evolutionary biology and population genetics of mammals.  Particularly I am using molecular techniques to evaluate the behavioral interactions among individuals and their genetic impact to the subsequent generations.  At present, I am studying the relationships between the different members of Artibeus jamaicensis harem groups, a common bat in the Neotropics.  Females tend to roost in groups than range between 5 to 14 females and one or two associated males.  A kin selection prediction could explain the female association because they nurse together and raise their cubs at the same time.  In each group, one male is associated and allows entrance to other potential competitors.  My motivation is to assess how the relationship of the dominant male to the cubs effects his defense effort.  The biggest groups (> 14 females) are more complicated because they contain two associated males.  In these cases, I want to assess the shared paternity of the males and the potential relationship between them (e.g. father-son, half brothers, etc.), and their implications in the genetic structure of the population.  Another study involves the genetic variability of the Mexican Fisher Bat (Myotis vivesi), an endemic and endangered species of the California Sea, in coordination with Bat Conservation Societ and the Instituto de Biologia, UNAM, under the leadership of Dr. Gerardo Herrera.

In addition, I am the current secretary of the AMMAC (The Mexican Mammalogists Society) that involves the coordination of the periodical Journal and the organization of the biannual meetings. Furthermore, as part of the growing plan of the society, I am working to improve professional opportunities and advice to bachelor students that want to participate in the study of mammals at the population, genetic and conservation levels.

Recent Publications

  1. Ortega, J., and H. T. Arita. 1997. Mimon benettii. Mammalian Species (American Society of Mammalogists), 549:1-4.
  2. Fenton, M. B., I. L. Rautenbach, J. Rydell, H. T. Arita, J. Ortega, S. Bouchard, M. D. Hovorka, B. Lim, E. Odren, C. V. Portfors, W. M. Scully, D. M. Syme, and M. J. Vonhof. 1997. Emergence, echolocation, diet and foranging behavior of Molossus ater (Chiroptera: Molossidae). Biotropica, 30:314-320.
  3. Arita, H. T., and J. Ortega. 1998. The Middle American bat fauna: Conservation in the Neotropical-Nearctic border. Pp. 295-308. In: Bats: Biology and Conservation (T. H. Kunz and P. Racey, eds.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London, 365 pp.
  4. Ortega, J., and H. T. Arita. 1998. The Neotropical-Nearctic limits in Middle America as determined by the distribution of bats. Journal of Mammalogy, 79:772-783.
  5. Tellez, G., and J. Ortega. 1999. Musonycteris harrisoni. Mammalian Species (American Society of Mammalogist), 622:1-3.
  6. Ortega, J., and H. T. Arita. 1999. Structure and social dynamics of harem groups of Artibeus jamaicensis (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Journal of Mammalogy, 80:1173-1185.
  7. Ortega, J., and H. T. Arita. 2000. Defensive behavior of females by dominant males of Artibeus jamaicensis (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Ethology,106:395-407.
  8. Flores-Martínez, J. J., J. Ortega, and G. Ibarra-Manríquez. 1999/2000. Los hábitos alimentarios del murciélago zapotero (Artibeus jamaicensis) en Yucatán. Revista Mexicana de Mastozoología, 4:12-25.
  9. Ortega, J., and I. Castro-Arellano. 2001. Artibeus jamaicensis. Mammalian Species (American Society of Mammalogists), 662:1-12.
  10. Avila, R., J. J. Flores-Martínez, and J. Ortega. 2002. Nyctinomops laticaudatus. Mammalian Species (American Society of Mammalogist), 697:1-6.
  11. Ortega, J., and H. T. Arita. 2002. Subordinate males in the harem groups of Artibeus jamaicensis: satellites or sneaks? Ethology, 108:1077-1091.
  12. Ortega, J., J. E. Maldonado, H. T. Arita, G. S. Wilkinson, and R. S. Fleischer. 2002. Characterization of microsatellite loci for the Jamaican fruit-eating bat Artibeus jamaicensis and cross-species amplification. Molecular Ecology Notes 2:462-464.
  13. Santos, M., J. Ortega, L. F. Aguirre, and L. B. Vázquez-H. In Press. Phyllostomus hastatus. Mammalian Species (American Society of Mammalogist).
  14. Domínguez, Y., and J. Ortega. In Press. Liomys spectabilis. Mammalian Species (American Society of Mammalogist).
  15. J. Ortega and H. T. Arita. In Press. Estructura social y movimientos de los murciélagos zapoteros (Artibeus jamaicensis) en un ambiente poliginico. In: Book honoring Dr. Bernardo Villa-Ramírez (Medellín, R. A., and V. Sánchez-Cordero, eds.). Instituto de Biología, UNAM.

Revision: March 2003

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