Our research uses integrative systematics approaches, including genetic, genomic, phylogenetic, ecological and morphological evaluations, to uncover evolutionary processes that drive diversity, adaptations and biogeographic distributions of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine invertebrate species found in biodiversity hotspots around the world.

Lab News

February 2023

Second expedition with research team to Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula & Conzumel Island, Mexico: Borda (PI), Dr. Calderon-Gutierrez, Shari Rohret (PhD Candidate, WHOI/MIT), Dr. David Brankovits (coPI, NRCI, Italy), Dr. John Pohlman (USGS), Jake Emmert (Moody Gardens) and Olinka Cores Gardana (Universidad Autónoma Del Estado De Quintana Roo)

January 2023

Members of the Borda Lab attend and present at the 2023 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Austin, Texas: Dr. Fernando Calderon-Gutierrez (postdoc), Gabrielle Vaughn (MS Biology), Grace Tindall (MS Biology), Gabrielle Silvs (BS Biology) and Danielle Bragg (BS Biology)

November 2022

Members of the Borda Lab attend and present at the 5th International Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems, Hilo, Hawaii: Dr. Fernando Calderon-Gutierrez (postdoc), Gabrielle Vaughn (MS Biology), Danielle Bragg (BS Biology) and Borda (PI)

September 2022

Dr. Fernando Calderon-Gutierrez joins the Borda Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, funded by NSF Bio-OCE # 2136322)

First expedition with research team to Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula & Conzumel Island, Mexico: Borda (PI), Dr. Calderon-Gutierrez, Shari Rohret (PhD Candidate, WHOI/MIT), Dr. David Brankovits (coPI, NRCI, Italy), Dr. Alejandro Martinez (NRCI, Italy), Dr. Efrain Chavez-Solis, and Olinka Cores Gardana (Universidad Autónoma Del Estado De Quintana Roo)

August 2022

Borda awarded the College of Arts and Sciences 2021 Excellence in Service Award ($1,000)

May 2022

Fernando Calderon-Gutierrez defends his thesis, Characterizing the ecosystem function and biodiversity in the anchialine caves of the Caribbean Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and marine caves of Belize, at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Congratulations Dr. Calderon-Gutierrez!

April 2022

New Funding! Borda receives funding from the National Science Foundation, Biological Oceanography Program (NSF Bio-OCE, # 2136322), Collaborative Research: Illuminating Cave Benthos in Subterranean Estuaries- Biodiversity, Ecology, and Role in Coastal Ecosystem Functioning [Lead Institution/Collaboration: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Dr. Joan Bernhard & Dr. David Brankovits, coPI]

March 2022

New Paper out! Ballou L, Brankovits D, Chavez-Solis E, Chavez-Diaz J., Gonzalez B, Rohret Salinas A, Liu A, Simoes N, Alvarez F, Miglietta MP, Iliffe T, and Borda E. An integrative re-evaluation of Typhlatya shrimp within the karst aquifer of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Scientific Reports 12(1): 1-17

November 2021

New Paper out! Müller J, Schumacher A, Borda E, Rouse GW, Bartolomaeus T and Tilic E. “Brittleworms”: Ultra-structure and arrangement of the calcified chaetae of Euphrosine (Amphinomida, Annelida). Invertebrate Biology 140(4): e12353.

July 2021

Lauren Ballou defends her PhD Thesis, Phylogeny and Evolution of Anchialine Species, at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Congratulations Dr. Ballou!

May 2021

Grace Tindall, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Master of Science in Biology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Fall 2021

Undergraduate, Omar Carrillo, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Suma Cum Laude. Master of Science in Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Fall 2021

February 2021

New research note out! Stegenga BS, Jarboe A, Stevenson DJ and Borda E. Parasitism of the Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means Garden) by the macrobdellid leech Macrobdella ditetra Moore. Southeastern Naturalist 20 (1), N1. 

Borda awarded  TAMUSA College of Arts and Sciences Summer Research Fellowship: NSF Career Grant Proposal Submission – Evolution in the Mayan Underworld: diversity, evolution, and conservation of anchialine cave fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

December 2020

Undergraduate, Nancy Benavidez-Ortega, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Suma Cum Laude

November 2020

Undergraduate, Nancy Benavidez-Ortega, is selected is recognized for her presentation with a 2020 SACNAS Student Presenation Award. 

Undergraduate, Nancy Benavidez-Ortega, presents collaborative (Cody Campbell and Omar Carillo) poster at ABRCMS

October 2020

Undergraduate, Nancy Benavidez-Ortega, presents collaborative (Cody Campbell and Omar Carillo) poster at SACNAS

September 2020

Undergraduates, Cody Campbell, Omar Carrillo and Grace Tindall,  present at the University of Texas San Antonio Earth Symposium

June 2020

New paper out! Ávila-García et al. From five to one: Sandyella species (Palaemonidae) are distinct ontogenetic stages of a single species. Zoologica Scripta 49(4): 488-498 

May 2020

Borda awarded  TAMUSA College of Arts and Sciences Summer Research Fellowship and Grant: Continuing Research - Evolution in the Mayan Underworld: diversity, adaptation, and gene expression in Typhlatya cave shrimp of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico 

September 2019

Visiting Researcher, Dr. Jerry Kudenov visits the Borda Lab to collaborate on the morphological evaluation of Amphinomida

May 2019

Visiting Researcher, Efrain Chavez-Solis (UNAM, Sisal), visits the Borda Lab to initiate research on the gene expression and evolution of Typhlatya

March 2019

Fieldwork in Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico and collaboration with Researchers of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal; Presentation at the 1st International Anchialine Ecosystems Workshop Merida, Mexico

February 2019

New paper out! Siddall et al. Ideating iDNA: Lessons and limitations from leeches in legacy collections. PLOS ONE.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212226

December 2018

Borda awarded Texas A&M University San Antonio Research Council Grant: Evolution in the Mayan Underworld: diversity, adaptation, and gene expression in Typhlatya cave shrimp of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico