About Me & About Research

About Me & My Bio-Dreams

My name is Tatiana Rodriguez Ruiz, student of the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. I am currently attending my Bachelors Degree in the area of the Biological Sciences with concentration in Microbiology. I am in my third year of university and I love the environment and the study of Genetics, Evolution and Developmental Biology, so when I complete my bachelor’s degree I will continue my further studies in these areas. I’m learning and I wish to learn more from the experiences that I will get along the way, so with what I learned I will be able to contribute with the technology, medical and environmental advances that we need in our lives and I know that in the future I could be one of those people who could save the life of someone with a discovery made of knowledge gained, or perhaps discover something beneficial. For this reason I wish to continue my doctoral studies in the area of Developmental Biology. Biology is my passion overall.

About the Research for this Semester August-December 2009:

COLLECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF UNREPORTED MITE GENERA IN PUERTO RICO

Our selection on this project is the collection and identification of mite genera in Puerto Rico that have not yet been identified.  Mites (Arachnida: Acari) are among the most abundant and diverse of terrestrial arthropods.  Approximately 350 species of mites have been reported for Puerto Rico.  Preliminary work (A. Díaz, unpublished data) indicates that many more species remain to be collected and described.  Most notable among these are bird associates, reptile associates, insect parasites and commensals, and soil mites. I’m currently working with the Dr. Ariel Díaz and this area interest me because mites are so small and have a very important interest in our daily life. Mites are very different in their morphological way so they are different in shapes according to each genre. So the world of mites is wonderful and interesting, is one of the areas that needs to be investigated, so therefore is my motivation to be part of my mentor researching. In the summer we were working on the preparation of samples with specimens of the following genera Ewingia, Askinasia, Ovanoetus (Family Acaridae) and Ereynetes (Family Ereynetidae), all collected from hermit crabs (Coenobita clypeatus) and now we were basically continue working on the preparation of samples with specimens of different genres that also had not yet been identified. I specifically develop the skills on specimen collection and preparation, preparation of mite permanent slides, and use of phase contrast microscopy and microphotography.  In addition, a new mounting media for permanent mounts is tested. So I am very enthusiastic with the research and I already learn a lot in the technical and theoretical way with the revision of some mites literature like the book “A Manual of Acarology”, Third Edition by Gerald W. Krantz. Our goals along the way are the preparing of labeled slides to place in the Acarology Collection at UPRH. Already voucher specimens will be deposited at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Insect Collection.

For more information about mites visit: http://www.tolweb.org/Acari