ROLDAN VALVERDE 

ROLDAN VALVERDE

Director and Professor, SEEMS

(956) 882-4077
roldan.valverde@utrgv.edu

Department: SEEMS
Office: BLHSB 2.816A
Location: Brownsville

UTRGV Faculty Profile

Curriculum Vitae

 


 

Areas of Interest

  • Sea Turtle Nesting Ecology
  • Sea Turtle stress and reproductive physiology
  • Sea Turtle Biology

Higher-Education

  • 1996 PhD Zoology, Texas A&M University
  • 1985 BS Biology, emphasis in Marine Biology, Universidad Nacional of Costa Rica

Research Overview

 

Research in the Valverde lab focuses on the nesting ecology of sea turtles with an emphasis on Olive Ridley mass nesting ecology. Additionally, research includes the stress and reproductive as well as foraging physiology of sea turtles. For this work we measure biomarkers of stress (e.g., corticosterone), reproduction (e.g., vitellogenin, testosterone) and foraging (e.g., beta hydroxybutyrate). Sampling for this work is conducted in many geographic areas, national and international.

Publications

 

Usategui-Martín, A., Liria-Loza, A., Valverde, R. A., Tort, L., Tuya, F., & Montero, D. (2024). Husbandry Protocols for Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) Based on Stress Response to Stocking Density and Dry-Dock Time. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1-13

 

Fuentes, M.M.B.P, Abreu-Grobois, A., Al-Khayat, Anderson, Bentley, B.P., Beton, D., Booth, D.T.B., Brisen-Duenas, R., Broderick, A.C., Calderon-Campuzano, M.F., Chatting, M., Colman, L.P., Cuevas, E., Flores-Aguirre, C.D., Fossette,S., Gammon, M., Gatto, C.R., Girondot, M., Godfrey, M., Guzman-Hernandez, V., Hamza,.S., Hart, C.E., Kaska, Y., Lara, P.H., LeBlanc, A.M., Liles, M.J., Lolavar, A., Lopez-Castro, C. M., Manoharakrishnan, M., Mendez de La Cruz, F., Mitchell, N.J., Mohd Salleh, S., Patricio, A.R., Pusapati, C., Regalla, A., Reina, R.D., Retrepo, J., Rostal, D., Ruiz-Garcia, A., Rusenko, K.W., Saliba, S., Santidrian Tomillo, P., Segura-Garcia, Y., Sezgin, C., Shanker, K., Snape, R.T.E., Sozbilen, D., Tapilatu, F., Turkozan, O., Valverde, R.A., Williams, K., Williamson, S.A., Wyneken, J., Yilmaz, C., Monsinjon, J. 2023. Adaptation of sea turtles to climate warming: will phenological responses be sufficient to counteract changes in reproductive output? Global Change Biology, 1-18

 

Usategui-Martín, A., Valverde, R.A., Osteategui-Francia, P., Liria-Loza, A. 2023. First skeletochronology analysis on known-age loggerhead yearlings (Caretta caretta). Marine Biology, 170:95

 

Fonseca, L.G., Villachica, W.N., Rangel, E., Palola, E., Gilbert M. and Valverde, R.A. 2023. Reassessment of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea (Testudines: Cheloniidae) Nesting Population at Nancite Beach, Costa Rica. Marine Ecology, 00:e12761. doi.org/10.1111/maec.12761

 

Restrepo J., Webster, E., Ramos, I., Valverde, R.A. 2023. Recent decline of green turtle Chelonia mydas nesting trend at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Endangered Species Research, 51: 59–72

 

Corniuk, R.; Lynch, J.; Arendt, M.; Braun McNeill, J.; Owens, D.; Valverde, R.A.; Kucklick, J.; McClellan-Green, P. 2023. Using plasma vitellogenin in loggerhead sea turtles to assess reproductive maturation and estrogen-like contaminant exposure. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1-17

 

Wolfe, S., Donini, J. and Valverde, R.A. 2023. Plasma Vitellogenin and Testosterone in Diamond-backed Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) During the Nesting Season in Coastal New Jersey. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 111: 119-127

 

Restrepo J., Gutierrez-Lince, J., Valverde R.A. 2022 Evaluation of Putative Hybrid Hatchlings Between Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Journal of Herpetology, 56(4): 514-520

 

Rojas-Cañizales, D., Restrepo J., Mejías-Balsalobre, C., Barrios-Garrido, H., Valverde R.A. 2022. Illegal Take of Nesting Sea Turtles in Tortuguero, Costa Rica: Conservation, Trade, or Tradition? Journal of Environmental Management, 324:1-11

 

Restrepo J., Rojas-Cañizales, D., Valverde R.A. 2022. Historical Records of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Journal of Herpetology, 56: 336-‌340

 

Donini, J., Selman, W., Pearson, S., Valverde RA. 2021. Trends in ovarian development, plasma vitellogenin, and steroid hormones in female Malaclemys terrapin (Schoepff, 1793) from coastal Louisiana. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 15(2): 40–49 (e282)

 

Rojas-Cañizales, D., Mejías-Balsalobre, C., Espinoza-Rodríguez N., Bézy V., Naranjo, I., Arauz, R., Valverde, R.A. 2022. Corozalito: A Nascent Arribada Nesting Beach In Costa Rica. Marine Biology, 169(5): 1-12.

 

Pheasey H., Glen G., Allison N.L., Fonseca L.G., Chacón D., Restrepo J., Valverde R.A. 2021 Quantifying Illegal Extraction of Sea Turtles in Costa Rica. Frontiers in Conservation Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.705556

 

Bruno R.S., Machado J.A.R., Guzman G.R.B., Loria J.I.R., Valverde, R.A. 2021. Biomarkers of reproduction in endangered green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Conservation Physiology 9(1): coab072; doi:10.1093/conphys/coab072

 

Arendt, M.D., Schwenter, J., Byrd, J., Owens, D. and Valverde, R.A. 2021. Multi-decadal monitoring of neritic loggerhead (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus) sea turtle sex ratio in the southeast U.S. does not substantiate fear of a male-limited population. Global Change Biology. 2021;00: 1–11

 

Evans, D., Valverde, R.A., Ordoñez, C., Carthy, R. 2021. Identification of the Gulf of Mexico as an important high-use habitat for leatherback turtles from Central America. Ecosphere 12(8):e03722

 

Usategui-Martín, A., Liria-Loza, A., Valverde, R.A. Pinós-Crosas, J., Tuya, F., Carbajal, A., López-Bejar, M., Montero, D. 2021. Assessment of captive rearing conditions on Loggerhead hatchlings: effect of handling frequency and stocking density. J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol.1–10. DOI: 10.1002/jez.2469

 

Mejías-Balsalobre, C., Restrepo, J., Borges, G., García, R., Rojas-Cañizales, D., Barrios-Garrido, H. and Valverde, R.A. 2021. Local community perceptions of sea turtle egg use in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Ocean & Coastal Management, 201, p.105423

 

Fonseca, L.G., Arroyo-Arce, S., Thomson, I., Villachica, W.N., Rangel, E., Valverde, R.A., Plotkin, P.T. and Quirós-Pereira, W. 2020. Impacts of Jaguar Predation on Nesting Sea Turtles at Nancite Beach, Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 15(3):547–557

 

Bruno, R.S., Restrepo, J.A. and Valverde, R.A., 2020. Effects of El Niño Southern Oscillation and local ocean temperature on the reproductive output of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Marine Biology, 167(9): 1-11

 

Bézy, V., Putman, N.F., Umbanhowar, J.A., Orrego, C.M., Fonseca, L.G., Quiros-Pereira, W., Valverde, R.A., and Lohmann, K.J. 2020. Mass-nesting events in olive ridley sea turtles: environmental predictors of timing and size. Animal Behaviour. 163: 85-94

 

Page-Karjian, A., Chabot, R., Stacy, N.I., Schenk, A., Valverde, R.A., Stewart, S., Coppenrath, C.M., Manire, C.A., Herbst, L.H., Gregory, C.R., Ritchie, B.W., and Perrault, J.R. 2020. Comprehensive health assessment of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting in southeastern Florida demonstrates chelonid herpesvirus endemicity. Endangered Species Research. 42: 21–35

 

Putman, N.F., Seney, E.E., Verley, P., Shaver, D.J., López‐Castro, M.C., Cook, M., Guzmán, V., Brost, B., Ceriani, S.A.., Mirón, R.J.G.D., Peña, L.J., Tzeek, M., Valverde, R.A., et al., 2019. Predicted distributions and abundances of the sea turtle ‘lost years’ in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Ecography: 1-12

 

Donini, J., Lechowicz, C. and Valverde, R. 2018. Comparisons of Summer and Winter Patterns in Ovarian Development, Plasma Vitellogenin, and Sex Steroids in Female Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Southern Florida. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 17(2): 227-235

 

Fonseca, L.G., Tomillo, P.S., Villachica, W.N., Quirós, W.M., Pesquero, M., Heidemeyer, M., Joyce, F., Plotkin, P.T., Seminoff, J.A., Matarrita, E.R. and Valverde, R.A. 2018. Discovery of a Major East Pacific Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Nesting Population in Northwest Costa Rica. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 17(2):169-176

 

Donini, J. Selman, W. Valverde, R.A. 2017. A Comparison of Reproductive Assessment Techniques to Determine the Reproductive Status of Female Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin). Herpetological Review 48: 763-766

 

Valverde, R.A. and Holzwart, K.R. 2017. Sea Turtles of the Gulf of Mexico. In: Habitats and Biota of the Gulf of Mexico: Before the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, pp. 1189-1351

 

Belskis, L., Frey, A., Jenson, M., LeRoux, R., and Stewart, K. compilers. 2016. Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA NMFS-SEFSC-701: 262p. THIS IS NOT A PEER-REVIEWED DOCUMENT

 

Myre, B., Guertin, J., Selcer, K., and Valverde, R.A. 2016. Ovarian Dynamics in Free-Ranging Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta). Copeia. 104(4):921-929

 

Bézy, V.S., Girondot, M., and Valverde, R.A. 2016. Estimation of the net nesting effort of Olive Ridley arribada sea turtles based on nest densities at Ostional beach, Costa Rica. Journal of Herpetology. 50(3): 409-415

 

Escobar-Lasso, S., Fonseca, L. G., Villachica, W. N., Herrera, H., Valverde, R.A., Quirós-Pereira, W., ... & Plotkin, P. T. 2016. First field observation of the predation by Jaguar (Panthera onca) on Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) at Nancite Beach, Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. Mammology Notes, 3(1): 20-23

 

Caillouet Jr, Charles W., Putman, N.F., Shaver, D.J., Valverde, R.A., et al. 2016. A Call for Evaluation of the Contribution Made by Rescue, Resuscitation, Rehabilitation, and Release Translocations to Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) Population Recovery. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 11 (2016): 486-496

 

Bézy VS, Valverde RA, Plante CJ (2015) Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Hatching Success as a Function of the Microbial Abundance in Nest Sand at Ostional, Costa Rica. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0118579

 

Bézy, V.S., Valverde, R.A. and Plante C.J. 2014. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Hatching Success as a Function of Microbial Abundance and the Microenvironment of In Situ Nest Sand at Ostional, Costa Rica. Journal of Marine Biology, 2014: 1-10

 

Smelker, K., Smith, L., Arendt, M., Schwenter, J., Rostal, D., Selcer, K., & Valverde, R. (2014). Plasma Vitellogenin in Free-Ranging Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Marine Biology, 2014: 1-10.

 

Valverde, R.A. et al. (2012) Olive Ridley Mass Nesting Ecology and Egg Harvest at Ostional Beach, Costa Rica. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 11(1):1-11.

 

Becker, R.E., Valverde, R.A. and Crother, B.I. (2010). Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and testing the phylogenetic position of turtles (Testudines). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 1-12.

 

Cohn, W.B., Jones, R.A., Valverde, R.A., Leiner, K.A., MacKenzie, D.S. (2010). Molecular cloning and regulation of mRNA expression of the thyrotropin B and glycoprotein hormone A subunits in red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Fish Physiology & Biochemistry, 36: 1277-1290.

 

Valverde, R.A., Wingard, S., Gómez, F., Tordoir, M.T., and Orrego, C.M. (2010) Field lethal incubation temperature of olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea embryos at a mass nesting rookery. Endangered Species Reseacrh, 12: 77-86.

 

Fonseca, L.G., Murillo, G.A., Guadamúz, L., Spínola, R.M., Valverde, R.A. (2009). Downward but stable trend in the abundance of arribada olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles at Nancite Beach, Costa Rica for the period 1971-2007. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 8(1):19-27.

 

Valverde, R.A., Selcer, K.W., Lara, R. and Sibaja, J. (2008) Lack of xenoestrogen-induced vitellogenin in male olive ridley sea turtles. Revista de Biologia Tropical, 56 (Suppl. 4): 49-57.

 

Valverde, R.A., Stabenau, E., and MacKenzie, D.S. (2007). Physiology of ridley sea turtles. In: “Biology and Conservation of ridley turtles”. Plotkin, P. (ed.). The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, pp. 119-149.

 

Seasholtz, A.F., Valverde, R.A., Denver, R.J. (2002). Corticotropin-releasing hormone-binding protein (CRH-BP): From fishes to mammals. Journal of Endocrinology, 175: 89-97.

 

Valverde, R.A., Denver, R.J., Cortright, D.N., and Seasholtz, A. (2001). Biochemical characterization and expression analysis of corticotropin-releasing hormone binding protein of Xenopus laevis. Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology, 173: 29-40.

 

Valverde, R.A., Owens, D.W., MacKenzie, D.S., and Amoss, M.S. (1999). Basal and stress-induced corticosterone levels in olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in relation to their mass nesting behavior. The Journal of Experimental Zoology, 284: 652 662

 

Valverde, R.A. (1999). Letter to the editors: On the Ostional affair.  Marine Turtle Newsletter, 86: 6-8

 

Valverde, R.A. and Gates, C.E. (1999). Population surveys on mass nesting beaches.  In: Eckert, K., K. Bjorndal, A. Abreu and M. Donnelly (eds.).  Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group.  Pub. No. 4, pp. 56-60

 

Valverde, R.A., Cornelius, S.E., and Mo, C.L.  (1998). Decline of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) nesting assemblage at Nancite beach, Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 3: 58-63

 

Lahanas, P.N., Bjorndal, K.A., Bolten, A.B., Encalada, S.E., Miyamoto, M.M., Valverde, R.A., and Bowen, B.W. (1998). Genetic composition of a green turtle feeding ground population: Evidence for multiple origins. Marine Biology, 130: 345-352

 

Gates, C.E., Valverde, R.A., Mo, C., Chaves, A.C., Ballestero, J., and Peskin, J. 1996. Estimating arribada size using the instantaneous count procedure.  Journal of Agricultural, Biological and  Environmental Statistics 1(3): 275 287

Present Courses