INDEPENDENT
RESEARCH
(2002)
Foraging ecology of Blue-footed boobies in Isla Lobos de Tierra,
Peru
Study
of feeding areas, diving behavior and diet of Blue-footed boobies.These
variables are compared with data on food availability determined by hydroacustic
surveys and satellite images of clorophyl-a.
(2002) Location of Markham and Hornby storm-petrels colonies in Marcona, Peru
Identification
of continental colonies of both species of storm petrels. Capture of adults in
mist nests.
(1992-1999)
Conservation of the Humboldt Penguin in Peru (Co-P.I. with R. Paredes)
Co-initiated
and designed a long-term study of the breeding ecology of this endangered
seabird. Main research on behavior, breeding biology, foraging ecology and
population trends. Fieldwork included monthly census, behavioral observations,
weekly check of nests for handling and banding of breeders and their chicks.
(1999-2000)
Census of the Red-legged cormorant in Peru
Counting
of Red-legged cormorants Phalacrocorax gaimardi to investigate its status
of threat and identify breeding habitats. This
study is a cooperative work with biologists from other countries to estimate the
population in Peru, Chile and Argentina.
(2000) Census of the Humboldt Penguin population in Peru
Counting
of Humboldt penguins during the annual molt in the central and southern coast of
Peru. This study is a cooperative work with Chilean biologists in order to
determine the whole penguin population both in Peru and Chile.
(1999-00)
Diet of Kelp gull chicks at La Vieja island
Determination of food habits to investigate whether Kelp gulls Larus dominicanus are important predators of guano birds.
(1997)
Water vapor conductance of seabird eggshells
Comparative
studies on how seabird eggs avoid desiccation. This work is focused on the
Peruvian tern, Sterna lorata, which nest on ground temperature above 40oC.
(1995-99)
Breeding biology of the Peruvian tern
Evaluating
some aspects of the breeding biology and nesting ecology of the Peruvian Tern, Sterna
lorata, in the southern coast of Peru.
(1993-96)
Growth of chicks and foraging ecology of the Guanay cormorant
Evaluating
the diet, growth rate of chicks, maximum diving depth and breeding success of
the guanay cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii in Punta San Juan-Peru.
(1992-96)
Breeding ecology and molting of the Inca tern
Investigating
the breeding ecology and diet of the Inca tern, Larosterna
inca, in Punta San Juan-Peru and some islands of the southern Peruvian
coast.
(1994-96)
Growth rate and diet of the Peruvian Pelican
Measuring
and weighing free-living pelican chicks in order to determine their growth
pattern at Punta San, Peru. At the same time we collected regurgitation to
evaluate their food habits.
(1995)
Diving capabilities of the Peruvian Diving-petrel
Determining
the maximum dive depths attained by the Peruvian Diving-petrel, Pelecanoides
garnotii, in Peru.
RELATED
EXPERIENCE:
(1997-01)
Research investigator of the Peruvian Marine Research Institute
Department
of Marine Mammals (PI. Milena
Arias-Schreiber)
Co-investigator
of the population trends and determination of the spatial and temporal variation
of the diet of the South American fur seal (Arctocephalus
australis) and the South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) off the coast of Peru.
(1999)
Field assistant. Bransfield
Strait, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
Study
of the abundance and distribution of seabirds and marine mammals in the
Bransfield Strait, Antarctica and its relationship to the krill abundance.
(1998)
Field assistant. SANCOOB, Cape Town, South
Africa
Rehabilitating
(cleaning and feeding) oiled African penguins and Cape gannets
(1992-97)
Co-researcher 1992 -1997.
Punta San Juan, Peru (P.I. BSc. R. Paredes)
Breeding
biology of the Band-tailed gull (Larus
belcheri), at Punta San Juan-Peru.
(1996) Field assistant. Punta San Juan, Peru (P.I. Dr. P. Majluf)
Nest
attendance and foraging range of Humboldt penguins by telemetry. Designing
behavioral observations, handling of
adults and attaching of radio-transmitters.
(1992-96)
Field
assistant.
Punta
San Juan, Peru. (P.I.
DVM W. Karesh)
Capturing
adult penguins for blood collection in the: "Peruvian Humboldt penguin
health survey".
(1996)
Co-researcher.
Punta
San Juan, Peru (P.I. BSc R. Paredes)
Co-directing
the project: “Is the breeding success of Humboldt penguins affected by using
exposed nests? Artificial nests as alternative to increase breeding habitat”
(1991-96)
Field assistant.
Punta San Juan, Peru (P.I. Dr P. Majluf)
Marine
Conservation Project at Punta San Juan. This work is concerned on the
reproductive ecology of female South American fur seals. Collecting behavioral
data of females, capturing males, females, pups and sighting marked seals.
(1995)
Field assistant. WCS, Peru (P.I. Dr P. Majluf)
Survey
of the guano islands in the southern coast of Peru. Counting of seabirds and
pinnipeds.
(1995)
Field assistant. National Zoological Park
(P.I.M. Shcwartz and Dr D. Boness).
Assisting
in the project “Extra-pair fertilizations of the Humboldt penguin. Handling
and collecting blood samples of adults and chicks.
(1993)
Field assistant. Punta
Tombo, Argentina (P.I. Dee Boersma, WCS)
Capturing,
measuring and banding Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus
magellanicus) fledglings.
CONGRESSES
ASSISTED
Zavalaga,
C.B., E. Frere and P. Gandini. 2002 (Poster). The status of the Red-legged
Cormorant in Peru: What factors affect distribution and numbers? 29th
Pacific Seabird Group Meeting, Santa Barbara, California.
Zavalaga,
C.B., A. Bertolero and M. Plenge. 2001 (Poster). The nesting ecology of the
Peruvian Tern: how to avoid terrestrial predators? 28th Pacific
Seabird Group Meeting, Lihue, Hawaii.
Zavalaga,
C.B. and R. Paredes. 2000. (Oral). The breeding biology of Humboldt penguins at
Punta San Juan. IV International Penguin Conference, La Serena, Chile.
Zavalaga,
C.B. 1998. (Oral).
Distribution and abundance of the Humboldt penguin in Peru. Population and
Habitat Viability Analysis of Humboldt penguins. IUCN SSC, Olmue-Chile.
Zavalaga,
C.B. and Paredes R. 1998. (Poster). Why do Humboldt penguins feed on seashells?
22nd International Ornithological Congress. Durban-South Africa.
Zavalaga
C. B. 1995 (Oral). Seasonal
variation on the growth rate of Humboldt penguin chicks at Punta San Juan, Peru
(1993-1995). V Neotropical Ornithological Congress. Asunción,
Paraguay.
Zavalaga
C. B. 1993.
(Poster). " Maximum dive depth and diet of the Humboldt penguin in Punta
San Juan". V Congress of Marine Science realized in Puerto Madryn-Argentina.
Zavalaga,
C.B., R. Paredes and P. Yorio. 1993.- (Poster): " The breeding biology of
the Inca tern. V congress of Marine Sciences realized in Puerto Madryn-
Argentina.
Paredes,
R., and C.B. Zavalaga. 1992 (Oral presentation)- The Breeding Biology of the
Band Tailed Gull. X National Congress of Biology, Lima-Peru.
(1989-1991)
Research
assistant. Univ. Peruana Cayetano Heredia
(P.I. A. Vaisberg)
Investigating
the effects of Plant extracts on the growth of tumoral cells in the Laboratory
of Cellular Biology of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima
(1999)
Smithsonian Institution, Department of Zoological Research
Short-term
visitor program. Fellowship to write an article on the breeding biology of
Humboldt penguins in Peru. This work was under the supervision of Dr. Daryl
Boness from the DZR of the Smithsonian Institution.
(1992-97)
Wildlife Conservation Society, The New York Zoological Society
Research
Fellow on the long-term study of the breeding biology and conservation of
Humboldt penguins in Peru.
Grants
in research on Humboldt penguins and other seabirds:
Penguin
Fund – Japan. 1993. US $ 600
Idea
Wild - USA 1996-97-2000. US $ 2200
Metro
Washington Park Zoo – USA. 1996. US $ 500
Columbus
Zoo – USA. 1998. US $ 2200
Pittsburg
Zoo - USA (1999). US $ 1500
Idea
Wild – USA (2000). US $ 1,100