Ongoing projects

Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Annelida: Serpulidae) from Galveston Bay, Texas, USA

Ficopomatus enigmaticus found in Galveston Bay, TX

Currently, as part of my Ph.D. dissertation, I am developing four sub-projects using the non-native tube worm Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Annelida: Serpulidae) as my model of study. These sub-projects include:

I. Phylogeography of F. enigmaticus

II. Ecology of F. enigmaticus

III. Morphological study of F.enigmaticus

IV. Lab controlled experiments with F. enigmaticus

Opercular variation of the non-native tubeworm Ficopomatus enigmaticus.

This collaboration project aims to examine the opercular variation in the non-native tubeworm Ficopomatus enigmaticus and its potential implications in its invasiveness. Lead researchers include the Pernet Lab (Larval Biology Lab, California State University Long Beach) and Dr. Elena Kupriyanova (The Australian Museum).

Specimen of Alitta succinea from TAMUG

Integrating Experimental Design into Marine Invertebrate Zoology Labs: A Focus on Annelid worms

This belongs to the Teaching-As Research Fellowship program in which I am being mentored by Dr. Sheila Kitchen (MARB TAMUG). This project focuses on the “Phylum Annelida” lab in week 10, and introduces a hands-on experiment where students design a 5-day study using the marine worm Alitta succinea. This experience aims to improve students' scientific reasoning and experimental design skills. The project will involve two of the six lab sections (20 students), while the other four sections (40 students) will serve as control groups. Students in the experimental group will develop research questions, hypotheses, and methodologies, deepening their understanding of the scientific method. More information can be found here: TAR Fellows - Graduate & Professional School | Texas A&M University (tamu.edu)

Mentoring projects

Effect of Salinity on Fertilization and Larval Survival in Serpulid Worms: Ficopomatus enigmaticus and Hydroides dianthus.

Along with Dr. Anja Schulze (MARB TAMUG), I am mentoring an undergraduate student majoring in Marine Biology (TAMUG) who aims to assess the fertilization success and 24-hour post-fertilization survival of two invasive serpulid worms (Ficopomatus enigmaticus and Hyodroides dianthus), under salinity conditions that differ from the reported ideal conditions for both species collected in GB (5, 20, 35 ppt). This study will provide insight into their potential presence and impacts in Galveston Bay. The student was awarded by Aggies Commit to Excellence Scholar (ACES) fellowship and will develop this project until Fall 2025.

Ficopomatus enigmaticus from Galveston Bay, TX

Most recent concluded projects

Effects of nourishment on sandy shore beaches: A comparative snapshot of Galveston (Texas, USA) intertidal infaunal communities (mentorship participation)

Mentorship of one undergraduate student who is currently participating in The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) Flood Resilience Program (FRP) between the U.S. and the Netherlands. In this mentorship, I guide the student in designing and executing his research project. I focus on providing all the taxonomic skills necessary to identify infaunal communities from sandy beaches. Program duration May-August of 2024.

Hydroides dianthus (Annelida: Serpulidae) from TAMUG campus: Larval survivorship, gamete production and morphometrics.

I mentored an undergraduate scholar who is currently part of the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP). As a mentor, I was involved in the design and development of a research undergraduate thesis. The objectives of this project were:

i) Carry out a brief taxonomy diagnosis.

ii) Determine and compare the early larvae survivorship at 20 psu in two different seasons.

iii) Perform a morphometric analysis.

iv) Compare the gamete production in females in two different seasons.

Current mentee's position: Graduate student at University of West Florida (2024-2026).

Settlement panels covered by Hydroides diathus tubes

Peer-review publications

Fernández-Rodríguez, V.; Jurgens L, Schulze A. (2023). Is Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Annelida: Serpulidae) Becoming a Nuisance in Galveston Bay, Texas? Diversity. 2023; 15(7):852. doi.org/10.3390/d15070852

Medeiros-Aguiar, Fernández-Rodríguez, V.; Santos, CSG. (2023). Dirty workers: What do we know about the ecotoxicological studies in polychaetes?. Aquatic Ecology (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-023-10049-3

Molina-Acevedo, IC.; Fernández-Rodríguez, V.; Idris I. (2022). Morphometric approach to support distinction among three species of Paucibranchia Molina-Acevedo, 2018 (Annelida: Eunicidae). In: Zootaxa, vol 5155, no 3:22, pp. 347-370DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5155.3.3

Fernández-Rodríguez, V.; Santos, CSG; Pires APF. (2019). Meta-analysis of the eﬀect of organic matter on polychaetes on the South American East Coast. In: Marine Environmental Research, vol 149: 148-156. DOI:10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.06.001

Fernández-Rodríguez, V.; Londoño-Mesa, MH; Ramírez-Restrepo JJ. (2016). Polychaetes from red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and their relationship with the water conditions in the Gulf of Urabá. In: Acta Biológica Colombiana, 21(3): 611-618. DOI:10.15446/abc.v21n3.50796

Fernández-Rodríguez, V.; Pareja-Ortega, S; Londoño-Mesa, MH. (2016). Insectos dulceacuícolas depositados en la Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035. In: Biota Colombiana, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 160-167. See paper.

Fernández-Rodríguez, V.; Londoño-Mesa, MH. (2015). Poliquetos como indicadores de contaminación marina: casos en Colombia. In: Gestión y Ambiente, vol. 18, pp. 189-204. See paper.

Arteaga-Flórez C; Fernández-Rodríguez, V; Londoño-Mesa, MH. (2014). First record of the polychaete Ficopomatus uschakovi (Pillai, 1960) (Annelida, Serpulidae) in the Colombia Caribbean, South America. In: Zookeys, vol. 371, pp. 1-11. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.371.5588

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