Mariana Mateos

Mariana Mateos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. Her research focuses on evolutionary ecology, genetics, and conservation, with expertise in insect-bacteria associations, Drosophila symbionts, parasitic wasps, and phylogeography of marine and freshwater organisms. She leads the Mariana Mateos Lab (https://sites.google.com/tamu.edu/mariana-mateos-lab), investigating topics like symbiotic mutualisms, species diversification, and conservation genomics.

Her work integrates molecular techniques (e.g., genome sequencing, phylogenetics) with field studies to address questions in evolutionary biology, such as how symbionts influence host survival, how species adapt to environmental pressures, and the genetic basis of hybridization. Recent studies include phylogeographic patterns in isopods, toxin repertoires of Spiroplasma strains, and genetic diversity in endangered fish stocks.

Publications highlight contributions to understanding symbiont-mediated defenses, cryptic species diversity in insects and crustaceans, and evolutionary processes in extreme environments like sulfidic springs. Her research bridges laboratory experiments and field observations, emphasizing applications to conservation and pest management.