JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Cecilia Villacorta Rath

About

Cecilia is passionate about using genetic tools for the sustainable management of aquatic and terrestrial resources. She is currently working on a range of projects using the environmental DNA (eDNA) technique for biosecurity and conservation purposes. Cecilia is trailing field methods and conducting laboratory experiments testing the persistence and detectability of eDNA of an array of species of conservation and management significance, in freshwater and marine, as well as terrestrial ecosystems. She is working towards engaging non-specialists, including Indigenous ranger groups, for sample collection in remote areas of northern Australia.

Cecilia has previously worked on a wide variety of research topics, ranging from larval fish and seagrass ecology to invertebrate genomics. At James Cook University she pursued MSc in Marine Biology studying the factors affecting growth during early life stages of a reef-associated pelagic fish. She then worked for the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation of Queensland conducting seagrass monitoring along the northern and central Queensland coast. In 2013 Cecilia moved to Hobart to start a PhD at the University of Tasmania. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) Cecilia investigated the patterns of larval dispersal of the Southern rock lobster in southeast Australia.

Experience

2018 to present - Research Officer, James Cook University (Australia)
2013 to 2018 - PhD, University of Tasmania (Australia)
2011 to 2012 - Research Assistant, James Cook University (Australia)
2008 to 2011 - MSc, James Cook University (Australia)
2006 to 2008 - MScAppSci, James Cook University (Australia)
1999 to 2004 - BSc, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (Peru)

Research Disciplines

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Kwong L, Villacorta-Rath C, Doyle J and Uthicke S (2021) Quantifying shedding and degradation rates of environmental DNA (eDNA) from Pacific crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris). Marine Biology, 168, Article: 85, DOI:10.1007/s00227-021-03896-x.
Huerlimann R, Cooper M, Edmunds R, Villacorta-Rath C, Le Port A, Robson H, Strugnell J, Burrows D and Jerry D (2020) Enhancing tropical conservation and ecology research with aquatic environmental DNA methods: an introduction for non-environmental DNA specialists. Animal Conservation, 23 (6), pp. 632-645, DOI:10.1111.acv.12583.
Villacorta Rath C, Adekunle A, Edmunds R, Strugnell J, Schwarzkopf L and Burrows D (2020) Can environmental DNA be used to detect first arrivals of the cane toad, Rhinella marina, into novel locations? Environmental DNA, 2 (4), pp. 635-646, DOI:10.1002/edn3.114.
Silva C, Villacorta-Rath C, Woodings L, Murphy N, Green B, Hartmann K, Gardner C, Bell J and Strugnell J (2019) Advancing our understanding of the connectivity, evolution and management of marine lobsters through genetics. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 29 (3), pp. 669-687, DOI:10.1007/s11160-019-09573-z.
Villacorta-Rath C, Souza C, Murphy N, Green B, Gardner C and Strugnell J (2018) Temporal genetic patterns of diversity and structure evidence chaotic genetic patchiness in a spiny lobster. Molecular Ecology, 27 (1), pp. 54-65, DOI:10.1111/mec.14427.
Souza C, Murphy N, Villacorta-Rath C, Woodings L, Ilyushkina I, Hernandez C, Green B, Bell J and Strugnell J (2017) Efficiency of ddRAD target enriched sequencing across spiny rock lobster species (Palinuridae: Jasus). Scientific Reports, 7 (1), Article: 6781, DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-06582-5.
Villacorta-Rath C, Ilyushkina I, Strugnell J, Green B, Murphy N, Doyle S, Hall N, Robinson A and Bell J (2016) Outlier SNPs enable food traceability of the southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii. Marine Biology, 163 (11), Article: 223, pp. 1-11, DOI:10.1007/s00227-016-3000-1.
Collier C, Villacorta-Rath C, Van Dijk K, Takahashi M and Waycott M (2014) Seagrass proliferation precedes mortality during hypo-salinity events: a stress-induced morphometric response. PLoS ONE, 9 (4), Article: e94014, pp. 1-11, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0094014.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - Advancing Pest Animal and Weed Control Solutions Competitive Grant Round

Applying environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for Yellow crazy ant detection, a sensitive and less labour-intensive approach to invasive ant detection.

Indicative Funding: $629,505 over 3 years
Summary: Invasive invertebrates in Australia are estimated to impact agricultural production losses by $4.7 billion annually and cost up to $8 billion annually considering all impacts and expenses. More specifically, invasive ants are a significant threat to agricultural production, biodiversity, tourism, personal property, and local business and industry. Current methods for invasive ant detection (i.e. baited traps or cards, pitfall traps, and detection dogs) rely on trapping, smelling, or sighting active individuals and are therefore labour-intensive, costly, and highly reliant on weather conditions. The proposed project will apply environmental DNA methods for yellow crazy ant (YCA) detection. YCA has been listed as a high priority species under the National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan 2018-2028, and will be used as a case study. The proposed methodology could be applied to the existing infestations and taken up by farmers, as well as being applied to other terrestrial pests.
Investigators: Cecilia Villacorta Rath and Lori Lach (TropWATER and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Early detection; yellow crazy ant; DNA; Invasive Species; Monitoring

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - Research Grant

Biosecurity molecular screening using eDNA technology

Indicative Funding: $213,000 over 1 year
Summary: This project will test the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for invasive honeybees and bee parasites. The primary objective of the project is to research eDNA technology along with portable sequencing devices to determine their applicability for operational use in screening for priority species and diseases. In scopeactivities include development and testing of eDNA methods for laboratory analysis as well as portable diagnostic technology for detection in operational environments. The project will be carried out in collaboration with The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS), the University of Canberra and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Investigators: Cecilia Villacorta Rath in collaboration with Geoff Grossel, Con Golestos and Uday Divi (TropWATER, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water and the Environment)
Keywords: Early detection; Monitoring; eDNA; In-situ detection; Invasive bees; Bee parasites

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Development and Application of Novel Genetic Tools for the Investigation of Genetic Diversity and Age Structure of Crown-of-Thorns Seastar on the Great Barrier Reef (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.