BEHIND OF THE INSECTS​

 

My name is Vanessa and I was born in Torre Pacheco (Murcia) on 17 November 1987. I studied environmental sciences at the University of Murcia, with specialization in Biodiversity management in 2012. My master proyect focused on the study of the ecophysiology in saline aquatic beetles, specifically on the study of the tolerance temperature, salinity and anionic composition (Murcia, Spain). This research gave rise to articles "Lethal and sublethal behavioural responses of saline water beetles to acute heat and osmotic stress (co-author)" and "Water beetle tolerance to salinity and anionic composition and its relationship to habitat occupancy (author)". For more details see the section "Publications". Due to this studies, I receive a prize called "Premio a los jovenes investigadores. Certamen Arquímedes in 2012".

My research interests are focused on the study of the impact of the invasive species Trichocorixa verticalis (water boatmen, Corixidae, Hemiptera) over the ecosystems. 

Besides, I love all related with the aquatic ecosystems, insect aquatic, macroinvertebrates, host-parasite interactions (water mite with hemiptera). I improve my experience on the use of design experimental, work in the field, to identify both parasites and hosts, contamination by heavy metals, stables isotopes (deuterium) to study dispersion.

I am currently at the beginning of my PhD project on the "Ecology of the invasive species Trichocorixa verticalis and their effects on the ecosystem" with a Severo Ochoa grant with Andy J. Green and Marta I. Sánchez who are my directors.