Rackham Graduate School

Linda is from Mexico where she did her undergraduate studies in Biology and also earned a Master's degree in Natural Resources and Rural Development. Her major research interests lie in the intersection of Agroecology and Biodiversity Conservation. Her Ph.D. topic involves ecological interactions in agroecosystems because ensuring biodiversity conservation and ecosystems services in the long term requires an understanding of the ecological mechanisms that allow the control of potential pest populations. Her research focuses on the role that a top predator taxon, such as spiders, has in coffee agroecosystems. The aim of her research is to elucidate the interactions that occur among spiders, ants, herbivores and coffee plants. Linda plans on graduating in 2012.