Luis Hurtado

Luis Hurtado, Ph.D., is a professor in the Texas A&M Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology. His research program has two main themes: (1) understanding the evolution of biodiversity; and (2) the use of genetics to aid in the preservation and management of biodiversity. He has studied a broad range of terrestrial and aquatic organisms in different parts of the world, at local, regional, and global scales, collaborating with colleagues from around the world. His current research projects include studies on: conservation genetics of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, the most endangered sea turtle in the world; population genetics of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, one of the most important fisheries in the US; and conservation genetics of the African bonytongue in Benin and Africa. One of his major lines of research has been the study of the evolution of coastal isopods, for which he has conducted worldwide phylogeographic studies. In a current study, he is looking at evolution of terrestriality in a coastal isopod lineage in the world’s highest mountain coastal range.