Olivia Pares

NOAA-EPP LMRCSC Doctoral Fellow 
Ph.D., Environmental Science
University of Maryland Center of Environmental Science-IMET

Olivia Pares began her academic journey at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. After her undergraduate pursuits, she worked as an industrial analytical chemist. Transitioning into graduate research, Olivia turned her focus to the life-history traits of C. sapidus (blue crab) and Callinectes spp. in tropical climates.

During her 2021 NOAA Experiential Research Training Opportunity (NERTO), Olivia undertook a systematic review of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, offering her preliminary insights on the subject. Her graduate research led her to assess the abundance and size structure of Callinectes spp. in The Torrecillas lagoon, Carolina, Puerto Rico. Additionally, she examined the temporal female reproductive status, discerning that the Lagoon serves as a spawning habitat for both C. sapidus and C. bocourti. Beyond this, Olivia’s research explored pathogens affecting blue crabs in tropical regions, with a pronounced emphasis on CsRV1 and Hematodinium sp. Her interest in disease ecology prompted her to study the host range, infection rate, and potential fatality of CsRV1 across different Callinectes species. She is also investigating its presence in blue crab prey species.

With the leverage of funding made possible by NOAA EPP, Olivia secured her pre-doctoral Fellowship at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, where she continues her exploration of CsRV1’s host range. Culminating her findings, Olivia’s dissertation is titled, “Exploring the Relationship of Life History Variation, CsRV1 Prevalence, and Host Range in Callinectes spp.: Implications for Disease Ecology and Environmental Interactions in Tropical Ecosystems.”

Research Theme: Healthy Habitats

NOAA LMRCSC Fellows attain the NOAA Core Competencies detailed in this rubric.

NERTO Project Title: A Systematic Review of the Disease Ecology and Conservation & Management strategies of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

Academic Advisor: Dr. Eric Schott, IMET

NOAA Mentor: Helena Antoun – NOAA Southeast Regional Office

Publications/Presentations

  1. Pares, O., Zhao, M., Stevens, M., and Schott, E. The artisanal Callinectes spp. crab fishery in Puerto Rico: multi-species abundance and reproductive state. Oral. American Fisheries Society, Grand Rapids MI. Aug. 20-24, 2023.
  2. Pares, O*., Fowler, A., Zhao, M., Schott, E. The potential for blue crab prey to be a host of the crab pathogen, CsRV1. Oral. Atlantic Estuarine Research Chestertown, MD. Oct. 14-15, 2022. Oral
  3. Pares O., Fowler A., Zhao M., Stevens B., Schott E. (2021) Life History and Reproductive Strategies of Callinectes sp. in a Tropical Urban Estuary. Presented at the 151st American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
  4. Pares O., Fowler A., Zhao M., Schott E. (2021) The potential for blue crab prey to be a host of the crab pathogen, CsRV1. Presented poster at the 113th Annual Meeting of the National Shellfisheries Association
  5. Pares O. and Schott E. (2020) Life History and Disease Ecology of the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus, a Key Benthic-Pelagic Link, in Puerto Rico. Presented at NOAA EPP/MSI 10th Biennial Education and Science Forum.
  6. Pares O. and Schott E. (2020) Life History and Disease Ecology of the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus, a Key Benthic-Pelagic Link, in Puerto Rico. Presented at NOAA EPP/MSI 10th Biennial Education and Science Forum.

NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Lead Institution)
(410) 651-7870
Award numbers: FY 2021 Award #NA21SEC4810005
Funding Agency: NOAA Educational Partnership Program with Minority-Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

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