Ana María Ortega

Ana María Ortega is an Ecuadorian scientist and guest lecturer specializing in biology, ecology, and conservation. She holds an MS in Ecosystem Management from the Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico, and a BS in Biology and Chemistry from the Central University of Ecuador. Her work focuses on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, particularly using macro-invertebrates as biological indicators for water quality analysis—a methodology frequently utilized by students in their Independent Study Projects (ISPs).

She has contributed to conservation projects in the Ecuadorian Amazon and Galápagos Islands, and co-authored Beetles of Ecuador, a seminal work on Coleoptera taxonomy in the country. Ana María also serves as an academic assistant for SIT Study Abroad’s Ecuador program in Comparative Ecology and Conservation, advising students and guiding fieldwork.

Her expertise spans ecosystem management, having participated in natural resources planning projects in Ecuador and Mexico. While no specific grants or labs are detailed, her research emphasizes applied ecological solutions and biodiversity documentation.