Rafael Robles Reyes

bachelor's degree in Biology from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (1997), master's in Biology of aquatic systems (Biologia de sitemas y recursos acuáticos) from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (2000) and doctorate in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology from University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2005). Depending on how one looks at it, my research deals with molecular phylogenetics, evolution, environmental adaptation, or biogeography of marine invertebrates, especially benthic crustaceans distributed in coastal and intertidal areas. I am also interested on conservation, biodiversity, parasite-host interactions and other symbiotic interactions, physiological adaptations to marine and freshwater habitats, and the effects of larval dispersion on biodiversity. My most recent studies have dealt with molecular systematics of different taxocenes within the crustacean order Decapoda, such as swimming crabs, nephropid lobsters, mud shrimps, and carideans. I have also studied the physiological effects of crustacean parasites on crustacean hosts, performed studies on larval development of decapod crustaceans, and participated in environmental studies to determine the effect of natural and human-induced perturbations to the crustacean community. I have also been involved in conservation studies of the crustacean fauna in the vicinity of Belize, where we called attention to the importance of the commonly ignored burrowing crustaceans, and to the presence of introduced species of brachyuran crabs affecting the native ones. In addition, I am performing studies on stomatopod crustaceans, parasitic isopods, hemichordates, and bivalves. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)