My biological interests are natural history, ecological interactions and conservation. Biodiversity in tropical regions has not been completely described; we continue to ignore the life histories of many plant and animal species in this region. I enjoy observing nature and discovering its history, particularly those linked with the interactions between plants and frugivorous animals, especially birds. I am interested in factors that influence fruit consumption and the consequences of frugivorous diets in the dispersion and recruitment within plant communities. Understanding these interactions and the factors involved are of particular relevance if we are interested in creating new areas for conservation, restoration strategies and management.

I have spent the last few years working with birds.  Initially, I began with a project involving urban birds. Then I worked with frugivorous birds, such as Guans which belong to the family Cracidae, in the cloud forest of the Colombian Andes. I studied several of their ecological aspects, such as density populations, alimentary resource use and natural history. I also collaborated in the conception of the Conservation Plan for one of the most endangered bird species in Colombia, the Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax).

During my master's studies I plan to investigate how animals facilitate the colonization and dispersion of the exotic shrub, Ardisia solanacea (Myrcinacea).

PUBLICATIONS

Ríos, M. M., G. A. Londoño & M. C. Muñoz. Densidad poblacional e historia natural de la pava negra (Aburria aburri) en los andes centrales de Colombia. Ornitología Neotropical 16: 205–217, 2005. PDF

Ríos, M. M., M. C. Muñoz & G. A. Londoño. Historia natural de la pava caucana (Penelope perspicax). Ornitología Colombiana No 4 (2006): 16-27. PDF

Londoño, G. & Marcia C. Muñoz. Primera descripción del nido del atrapamoscas variegado (Tyrannidae: Pogonotriccus poecilotis). Ornitología Colombiana No 4 (2006): 66-69. PDF

Muñoz, M. C. & G. H. Kattan. Diets of Cracids: how much do we know? Ornitologia Neotropical 18: 21–36, 2007. PDF

Londoño, G. A., M. C. Munoz & M. M. Rios. Density and natural history of the sickle-winged guan (Chamaepetes goudotii) in the Central Andes, Colombia. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119(2):228–238, 2007. PDF

Muñoz, M. C., K. Fierro-Calderón & H. Rivera. Las aves del campus de la Universidad del Valle, una isla verde urbana en Cali, Colombia. Ornitología Colombiana No 5 (2007). PDF

Muñoz, M. C., G. A. Londoño, M. M. Rios & G. H. Kattan. Diet of the cauca guan: exploitation of a novel food source in times of scarcity. The Condor 109:841–851, (2007). PDF