My research focuses on the character evolution and taxonomy of spiders. I use several techniques, including microscopy (SEM, micro-CT), DNA and field sampling, to understand spider biodiversity and how species have evolved. I defended my PhD at the University of Leiden in 2021, after which I worked in the Research Coordination Office, and ISBI department at Naturalis.
Keywords
Evolution, Taxonomy, Morphology, Molecular Systematics, Arachnids, Arthropods, X-ray Micro-CT, SEM, Biodiversity.
Researchinterest
My project focuses on the evolution of spiders' brains and visual systems using new-generation visualization tools such as micro-CT scanning and immunohistochemistry preparations.
The study of character evolution is not always easy. Traditional microscopic techniques usually require the dissection or thin-slicing of the specimens to observe taxonomically relevant characters. This is especially true for internal anatomy. However, new generation imaging technologies allow us to more easily study and compare internal organs (e.g. Nervous system, digestive tracts, respiratory systems) and external characters (e.g. genitalia, spinnerets, etc.), providing more informative images with data that can give important insights about the evolution of a taxon. This morphological information combined with molecular phylogenetic analyses offers a magnificent opportunity to trace the evolution of characters and taxa in unprecedented detail.
Currenttopics
- The Evolution of the brain and visual systems in spiders.
- New spider species description.
- Phylogenetic relationships of Liocranid spiders.
- Data movilization and integration.
Keypublications
- F. A. R-Q, and F. Alvarez-Padilla. 2023. “Integration or minimalism: twenty-one new species of ghost spiders (Anyphaenidae: Anyphaena) from Mexico”. European Journal of Taxonomy. 865: 1-94.https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2023.865.2097
- F. A. R-Q, and Jeremy A. Miller. 2022. “Micro‐CT visualization of the CNS: Performance of different contrast‐enhancing techniques for documenting the spider brain”. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 530 (14): 2474-2485.https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.25343
- F. A. R-Q, and Jeremy A. Miller. 2021. “Old Brains in Alcohol: The Usability of Legacy Collection Material to Study the Spider Neuroarchitecture”. Diversity. 1012: 21–53. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13110601
- F. A. R-Q, Petcharad, B. and Jeremy A. Miller. 2021. “First records and three new species of the family Symphytognathidae (Arachnida: Araneae) from Thailand, and the circumscription of the genus Crassignatha Wunderlich, 1995”. Zookeys. 1012: 21–53. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1012.57047
- F. A. R-Q, Petcharad, B. and Jeremy A. Miller. 2020. “First records and a new genus of Comb-tailed spiders (Araneae: Hahniidae) from Thailand with comments on the six-eyed species of this family”. European Journal of Taxonomy. 724:51-69. https://doi:10.5852/ejt.2020.724.1157
- F. A. R-Q, Petcharad, B. and Jeremy A. Miller. 2020. “Mining data from legacy taxonomic literature and application for sampling spiders of the Teutamus group (Araneae; Liocranidae) in Southeast Asia”. Scientific Reports. 10:15787. https://doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72549-8
- F. A. R-Q, Schilthuizen, M., Petcharad, B. and Jeremy A. Miller. 2020. “Imperfect and askew: A review of asymmetric genitalia in araneomorph spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae)”. PLOS One. 15(6): e0220354. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220354
Teachingactivities
- April 2023. Trainer of the DEST course: Spider taxonomy and field methodologies. co-organized with the Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece.
- August 2019-April 2020. Daily supervisor on MSc project: Legacy literature markup of lestoid damselflies. Leiden University- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Netherlands.
- December 2019. Teaching Assistant. MSc Course: Integrative Taxonomy. Block III: Cybertaxonomy. Leiden University, The Netherlands.
- December 2018. Teaching Assistant. MSc Course: Integrative Taxonomy. Block III: Cybertaxonomy. Leiden University, The Netherlands.
In themedia
- Natuurwijzer (2023).
https://natuurwijzer.naturalis.nl/onderzoekers/andres-rivera-quiroz - 365 Days Curious [European City of Science, Leiden] (2022)
https://leiden2022.nl/en/node/867 - Natuurlab (2022). Sexual (r)evolution.
https://natuurlab.naturalis.nl/leerling/Hoe-werkt-evolutie/les-2-seksuele-%28r%29evolutie/ - Spotlight (2022). Spider Evolution.
https://www.naturalis.nl/en/spotlight-experiment-spider-evolution - Naturalis (2021). The day of the PhD defence.
https://www.naturalis.nl/en/follow-our-stories/day-of-phd-defence-f-andres-rivera-quiroz - New Scientist (2018).
Achter de schermen gebeurt het (It's happening behind the scenes), Page 17, NBC special
- Featured in DiSSCo RI's video! ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGWc5vtnSio&t=1s - You can see my social media at the begining of this page:
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