Above video Credit: MBARI
Publications
Selected publications and research products in fish systematics, genomics, spatial ecology, and biodiversity monitoring.
2026
Roa-Varón, A., Prouty, G.N., Demopoulos, A.W.J., McCowen, P.J., Thornton, L., Harter, S., David, A.W., Herrera, S., and Quattrini, A.M. 2026. High Connectivity, Local Signatures: Genomic and Otolith Evidence from Reef-Associated Snappers. bioRxiv. Under review at Evolutionary Applications. Preprint →
Ridolfi, L., Schrøder, A.E., Bahrami, A., Yazdi, M., Roa-Varón, A., Marramà, G., and Carnevale, G. 2026. A new fossil from the Eocene of Iran provides new insights into the evolution of the morphologically bizarre tube-eye fish. Papers in Palaeontology. Accepted. DOI →
2025
Roa-Varón, A., Moulos, P., Harter, S., David, A., Quattrini, AM., Herrera, S. 2025. Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Vermilion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens). Scientific Data. 12:1281 DOI →
2024
Zhou, X., Lopera-Garcia, L., Roa-Varón, A., Bracco, A. 2024. Modeling the Larval Dispersal and Connectivity of Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Progress in Oceanography. 224 DOI →
Roa-Varón, A., Moulos, P., Harter, S., David, A., Quattrini, AM., Herrera, S. 2024. Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Vermilion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens). Research Square. Preprint →
2023
Rotjan, R.D., Lynn, Croff Bell, K., Huber, J.A., Wheat, C.G., Fisher, A., Sylvan, R., McManus, J., Bigham, K.T., Cambronero-Solano, S., Cordier, C., Goode, S., Leonard, J., Murdock, S., Paula, F.S., Ponsoni, L., Roa-Varon, A., Seabrook, S., Schomberg, R., Van Audenhaege, L., Orcutt, B. 2023. COBRA Master Class: Deep-Sea expedition leadership training to accelerate early career advancement. Frontiers in Marine Science 10 DOI →
Roa-Varón, A., Moulos, P., Harter, S., David, A., Quattrini, AM., Herrera, S. 2025. Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Vermilion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens). Scientific Data. 12:1281 DOI →
2022
Roa-Varón A., & Pirro S. 2022. The Complete Genome Sequences of 18 Species of Gadiformes (Actinopterygii, Chordata). Biodiversity Genomes. DOI →
2021
Roa-Varón, A., Dikow, R., Carnevale, G., Tornabene, L., Baldwin, C. C., Li, C., & Hilton, E.J. 2021. Confronting sources of systematic error to resolve historically contentious relationships: A case study using gadiform fishes (Teleostei, Paracanthopterygii, Gadiformes). Systematic Biology 70 (4): 739-755. DOI →
Roa-Varón, A., Arce H., M., Bell, R., Franklin, M., & Wehrle, B.A. 2021. Margaret Hamilton Storey. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109 (2): 641-642. DOI →
Wehrle, B.A., Arce, M.H., Bell, R., Franklin, M., & Roa-Varón, A. 2021. John Widgeon. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109 (2): 640. DOI →
Bell, R., Arce, H. M., Franklin, M., Roa- Varón, A., & Wehrle, B. A. Helen Thompson Gaige. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109 (1): 322. DOI →
Urbano-Bonilla, A., Roa-Varón, A., & Arce, M.H. 2021. Dr. Javier Alejandro Maldonado-Ocampo. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109 (4): 1073-1074. DOI →
2019
Quattrini, A.M., McClain-Counts, J.P., Ross, W.S., Artabane, Roa-Varón, A. McIver, T.C.,Rhode, M., & Ross, S.W. 2019. Distribution of anguilliform leptocephali in the Gulf of Mexico, with notes on feeding habits based on stable isotope analysis Journal of Fish Biology. DOI →
2017
Quattrini, A.M., Demopoulos, A.W.J., Singer, R., Roa-Varón, A. & Chaytor, J.D. 2017. Demersal fish assemblages on seamounts and other rugged features in the Northeastern Caribbean. Deep Sea Research I: Oceanographic Research Papers. DOI →
Gaither, M.R., Violi, B., Gray, H., Neat, F., Drazen, J.F., Grubbs, R.D., Roa-Varón, A., Sutton, T.T. & Hoelzel, R. 2016. Depth as a driver of evolution in the deep sea: Insights from grenadiers (Gadiformes: Macrouridae) of the genus Coryphaenoides. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 104: 73-82. DOI →
2016
Gaither, M.R., Violi, B., Gray, H., Neat, F., Drazen, J.F., Grubbs, R.D., Roa-Varón, A., Sutton, T.T. & Hoelzel, R. 2016. Depth as a driver of evolution in the deep sea: Insights from grenadiers (Gadiformes: Macrouridae) of the genus Coryphaenoides. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 104: 73-82. DOI →
2013
Betancur-R, R., Broughton, R.E., Wiley, E.O., Carpenter, K., López, J.A., Li, C., Holcroft, N.I., Arcila, D., Sanciangco, M., Cureton II, J.C., Zhang, F., Buser, T., Campbell, M.A., Ballesteros, J.A., Roa-Varón, A., Willis, S., Borden, W.C., Rowley, T., Reneau, P.C., Houg,h D.J., Lu, G., Grande, T., Arratia, G. & Ortí, G. The Tree of Life and a New Classification of Bony Fishes. PLOS Currents Tree of Life. 2013 Apr 18. DOI →
2010
Ross, W.S., Quattrini, A.M., Roa-Varón, A. & McClain, J.P. 2010. Species composition and distributions of mesopelagic fishes over the slope of the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Deep Sea Research II: Tropical Studies in Oceanography 57 (21-23): 1926- 1956. DOI →
Ross, W.S., Quattrini, A.M., Roa-Varón, A. & McClain, J.P. 2010. Species composition and distributions of mesopelagic fishes over the slope of the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Deep Sea Research II: Tropical Studies in Oceanography 57 (21-23): 1926- 1956. DOI →
2009
Roa-Varón, A. & Ortí, G. 2009. Phylogenetic relationships among families of Gadiformes (Teleostei, Paracanthopterygii) based on nuclear and mitochondrial data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52: 688-704. DOI →
Publications from Undergraduate Thesis Research
Roa-Varón, A., Saavedra-Díaz, L.M., Acero, A.P. & Mejía, L.S. 2007. First records of fishes for the Colombian Caribbean, orders Myctophiformes, Polymixiformes, Gadiformes, Ophidiiformes, and Lophiiformes. Boletin de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 36:181-207. PDF →
Saavedra-Díaz, L.M., Roa-Varón, A., Acero, A.P. & Mejía, L.S. 2004. New records of fishes for the Colombian Caribbean slope orders Albuliformes, Anguilliformes, Osmeriformes, Stomiiformes, Ateleopodiformes, Aulopiformes, and Pleuronectiformes). Boletin de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 33: 181-207. PDF →
Roa-Varón, A., Acero, A., Mejía, L.S. & Saavedra, L.M. 2003. New records of fishes for the Colombian Caribbean slope of the orders Beryciformes, Zeiformes, Perciformes, and Tetraodontiformes. Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 32: 3-24. PDF →
Mejía, L.S., Acero, A., Roa-Varón, A. & Saavedra, L.M. 2001. Review of the fishes of the Genus Synagrops from the Tropical Western Atlantic (Perciformes: Acropomatidae). Caribbean Journal 37 (3-4): 202-209. PDF →