Rosanna Carreras De León

I did my Licenciatura en Biología in Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) and then with a Fulbright Sholarship I was able to get my Master of Science degree in Mississippi State University (MSU) under the supervision of Dr. Mark E. Welch. I have also been involve with the Iguana Specialist Group (ISG) since 2012. My research experience is mostly related to endangered species from the Dominican Republic, Eretmochelys imbricata, Cyclura cornuta, Cyclura ricordii, Pinus occidentalis, two Vaccinium species, and other plant and animal species of conservation concern. I also teach in Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, and work in a Genetics laboratory located within the Biology Department, from the Science Faculty.

My scientific interest are mostly related with big reptiles, such as iguanas, as well as with Conservation Genetics. I have experience in a variety of areas related to conservation work, such as evaluating nesting behavior, predation, diet studies, whole population evaluations in a long term scale, and genetics directed to conservation.

I have an ongoing project to work with Cyclura ricordii where we intend to complete the population genetic structure information, as to monitor and evaluate new nesting locations, and to perform radio telemetry to detect biological corridors for this species within their habitat in the southeastern portion of the Dominican Republic. However, many questions for the study of both iguana species remain unanswer.