Research Interests

• Community ecology
• Experimental designs
• Benthic diversity
• Ecosystem services

Education

2022 - present
PhD in Oceanography
Université Laval, Canada
Titre

2021 - 2022
MSc in Biology with accelerated passage to PhD
Université Laval, Canada

2021 - 2022
Comparative Biology
Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil
Oceanographic drivers of the biogeographic patterns of ascidians species (Tunicata: Ascidiacea) along the Western Atlantic coast

2006 - 2012
B.S in Marine Biology
Universidad de Oriente, Núcleo Nueva Esparta (UDONE), Venezuela
Embryonic and larval development of Bankia martensi (Stempell, 1899) (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) from Puerto Montt, Chile.

Research Experience

Scientific diver and research assistant (2018 - 2020)
Lab de Ecosistemas Marinos Antárticos y Subantárticos
Magallanes University (UMAG)

Research assistant (2014 - 2016)
Department of Marine Biology
Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN), Chile

Scientific diver and research assistant (2004 - 2012)
La Salle Foundation of Natural Sciences (FLASA), Margarita Marine Research Station
Margarita Island (EDIMAR), Venezuela

Laboratory and field technician (2009 - 2012)
Escuela de Ciencias Aplicadas del Mar (ECAM)
Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela

Awards

2022
Travel award - Arctic Data Center at National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.

2021
Luigi Provasoli Award
Outstanding paper published in the Journal of Phycology
Phycological Society of America. Fraser, C., Velásquez, M.…. (2020) The biogeographic importance of buoyancy in macroalgae: a case study of the southern bull-kelp genus Durvillaea (Phaeophyceae), including descriptions of two new species. Journal of Phycology, online early, https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12939

2018
Travel award - AntECO and Scientific Committee Antarctic Research
Leuven, Belgium

2011
Award “Stimulus to Research” Universidad de Oriente
Venezuela

Publications

2022

Layton, C., Vermont, H., Beggs, H., Brassington, G. B., Burke, A. D., Hepburn, L., ... & Velásquez, M. (2022). Giant kelp rafts wash ashore 450 km from the nearest populations and against the dominant ocean current. Ecology, 103(10). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3795

Jayachandran, P. R., Velásquez, M., & Jima, M. (2022). A new species of wood-boring bivalve (Mollusca: Xylophagaidae) from the Eastern Arabian Sea. Marine Biodiversity, 52(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-021-01245-1

2020

Fraser, C., Velásquez, M., Nelson, W., Macaya, E. & Hay, C. (2020). The biogeographic importance of buoyancy in macroalgae: a case study of the southern bull-kelp genus Durvillaea (Phaeophyceae), including descriptions of two new species. Journal of Phycology, online early https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12939

2019

Tala, F., López, B., Velásquez, M., Mansilla, A., Macaya, E. & Thiel, M. (2019). Long-term persistence of the floating bull kelp Durvillaea antarctica from the South-East Pacific: potential contribution to local and transoceanic connectivity. Marine Environmental Research. 149: 67-79 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.05.013

2018

Robin, N., Velásquez, M., Boura, A., Garcia, G., Jauvion, C., Boiteau, J., Gomez, B., Daviero-Gomez, V. & Valentin, X. (2018). The oldest shipworms (bivalvia, pholadoidea, teredinidae) preserved with soft parts (Western France): insights into the fossil record and evolution of pholadoidea. Paleontology. doi: 10.1111/pala.12376.

Velásquez, M. & Shipway, JR. (2018). A new species & genus of deep-sea wood-boring shipworm (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) Nivanteredo coronata n. sp. from the Southwest Pacific. Marine Biology Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2018.1544421

Shipway, RJ., Altamia, MA., Haga, T., Velásquez, M., Albano, J., Dechavez, R., Concepcion, GP., Margo G. Haygood, MG. & Distel, L. (2018). Observations on the life history and geographic range of the giant chemosymbiotic shipworm, Kuphus polythalamius (Bivalvia: Teredinidae). Biological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1086/700278

2017

Velásquez, M., Valentich-Scott, P. & Capelo, J. (2017). Marine boring mollusks from Margarita Island, Venezuela. The Festivus 49(3):247-269.

Velásquez, M., Vera-Caripe, J. & Lira, C. (2017). Decapod crustaceans associated with Phagmatopoma sp. (Polichaeta: Sabellariidae) in Horcón beach, Margarita Island, Venezuela. Revista Saber 29:249-266.

Velásquez, M., Shipway, JR., Capelo,JC., Lira, C. & Narciso, S. (2017). Shipworms from Venezuela (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Teredinidae): an update survey. The Festivus 49(4):302-316.

2016

Velásquez, M. & Lopéz, I. (2016). The presence of Teredo clappi (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) in Venezuelan coastal waters. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 87(2):516-518.

Tala, F., Velásquez, M., Mansilla, A., Macaya, E. & Thiel, M. (2016). Latitudinal and seasonal effects on short-term acclimation of floating kelp species from the South-East Pacific. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 483: 31-41.

2015

Velásquez, M. & Lopéz, I. (2015). First record of Spathoteredo spatha (Mollusca: Teredinide) in Venezuela. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 86:1-3.

2014

Velásquez, M., Gallardo, C.S. y Lira, C. (2014). Algunos aspectos de la biología reproductiva de Bankia martensi (Stempell, 1899) (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) de Puerto Montt, Chile, observados en condiciones de laboratorio. Boletín del Instituto Oceanográfico de Venezuela. 53 (2): 19-28.

Grune, S., Crescini, R., De Sisto, M., Velásquez, M. y Villalba, W. (2014). Los opistobranquios del parque nacional laguna La Restinga, isla de Margarita Venezuela. Amici Molluscarum. 22(2): 25-15.

Grune, S., Crescini, R., Velásquez, M. & Capelo, J . (2014). A checklist of the Opisthobranch mollusks (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Venezuela. Amici Molluscarum 23(1-2): 31-38.

2013

Velásquez, M., Escalona, J. y Lira, C. (2013). Epibiontes de la tortuga “cardón” Dermochelys coriacea (vandelli, 1761) (Reptilia: Dermochelyidae) que anidan en las costas de la isla de margarita, Venezuela. Boletín del Instituto Oceanográfico de Venezuela. 52(2):3-5.

2011

Velásquez, M., Gallardo, C.S. y Lira, C . (2011). Fecundación interna en Bankia martensi (Stempell, 1830) (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) del Sur de Chile. Amici Molluscarum.19:33-36.

Book chapters:

Velásquez, M. (2020). Family Teredinidae. In: Marine Bivalves Mollusks of Western South America. Bivalve Seashell of Western South America. Marine Bivalve Mollusks from Punta Aguja, Perú to Isla Chiloé, Chile. (Eds). Valentich-Scott, P., Coan, E. and Zelaya, D. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Santa Barbara, California.

Velásquez, M. (2020). Family Xylophagaidae. In: Marine Bivalves Mollusks of Western South America. Bivalve Seashell of Western South America. Marine Bivalve Mollusks from Punta Aguja, Perú to Isla Chiloé, Chile. (Eds). Valentich-Scott, P., Coan, E. and Zelaya, D. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Santa Barbara, California.

Velásquez, M., Fraser, C., Nelson, W., Tala, F & Macaya, E (2020). Concise review of the genus Durvillaea Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1825. Concise reviews: seaweeds of commercial interest (Ed) Critchley A. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-019-01875-w