¡Hola! I’m Daki, an aquatic ecologist working on ecotoxicology, parasitology, climate change, invasion biology, and biodiversity.
Areas of research and teaching
One Health
The One Health framework highlights the interconnectedness between human, wildlife, and environmental health. While defining health is difficult, having a One Health mindset helps to balance these components from an interdisciplinary perspective.
One Health
The One Health framework highlights the interconnectedness between human, wildlife, and environmental health. While defining health is difficult, having a One Health mindset helps to balance these components from an interdisciplinary perspective.
One Health
The One Health framework highlights the interconnectedness between human, wildlife, and environmental health. While defining health is difficult, having a One Health mindset helps to balance these components from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Global Change Ecology
Our planet is experiencing rapid change, from warming to land use change and species range expansions. These shifts are likely to elicit complex responses, especially in the presence of multiple stressors and in intimate ecological interactions such as host-parasite systems.
Global Change Ecology
Our planet is experiencing rapid change, from warming to land use change and species range expansions. These shifts are likely to elicit complex responses, especially in the presence of multiple stressors and in intimate ecological interactions such as host-parasite systems.
Global Change Ecology
Our planet is experiencing rapid change, from warming to land use change and species range expansions. These shifts are likely to elicit complex responses, especially in the presence of multiple stressors and in intimate ecological interactions such as host-parasite systems.
Ecotoxicology
Each year, hundreds of new chemicals are produced, often with unknown toxicity. Assessing the environmental toxicity of these pollutants—amidst the influence of various abiotic and biotic factors—is crucial to protecting natural resources and ensuring public health and safety.
Ecotoxicology
Each year, hundreds of new chemicals are produced, often with unknown toxicity. Assessing the environmental toxicity of these pollutants—amidst the influence of various abiotic and biotic factors—is crucial to protecting natural resources and ensuring public health and safety.
Ecotoxicology
Each year, hundreds of new chemicals are produced, often with unknown toxicity. Assessing the environmental toxicity of these pollutants—amidst the influence of various abiotic and biotic factors—is crucial to protecting natural resources and ensuring public health and safety.
Parasitology
Parasites, while often associated with disease, they contribute to biodiversity, food webs and ecosystem integrity. Understanding how parasites respond to global change is critical to identify which groups will thrive or decline and to anticipate the resulting ecological and public health impacts.
Parasitology
Parasites, while often associated with disease, they contribute to biodiversity, food webs and ecosystem integrity. Understanding how parasites respond to global change is critical to identify which groups will thrive or decline and to anticipate the resulting ecological and public health impacts.
Parasitology
Parasites, while often associated with disease, they contribute to biodiversity, food webs and ecosystem integrity. Understanding how parasites respond to global change is critical to identify which groups will thrive or decline and to anticipate the resulting ecological and public health impacts.
My Journey
From Puerto Rico, to Germany, to Washington state, I’ve been around the world growing as a researcher and mentor.
2024–Present
Postdoc, University of Washington
Historical ecology of parasitism. Understanding drivers of change on parasite burdens over historical time scales.
2024–Present
Postdoc, University of Washington
Historical ecology of parasitism. Understanding drivers of change on parasite burdens over historical time scales.
2024–Present
Postdoc, University of Washington
Historical ecology of parasitism. Understanding drivers of change on parasite burdens over historical time scales.
2023–2024
Postdoc, University of Duisburg-Essen
One Health. Working on establishing protocols for eDNA applications in aquatic parasitology.
2023–2024
Postdoc, University of Duisburg-Essen
One Health. Working on establishing protocols for eDNA applications in aquatic parasitology.
2023–2024
Postdoc, University of Duisburg-Essen
One Health. Working on establishing protocols for eDNA applications in aquatic parasitology.
2019–2022
PhD, University of Duisburg-Essen
Aquatic Ecology. Experiments and laboratory analyses in marine environmental parasitology.
2019–2022
PhD, University of Duisburg-Essen
Aquatic Ecology. Experiments and laboratory analyses in marine environmental parasitology.
2019–2022
PhD, University of Duisburg-Essen
Aquatic Ecology. Experiments and laboratory analyses in marine environmental parasitology.
2017–2019
MSc, University of Duisburg-Essen
Environmental Toxicology. Understanding the ecotoxicological implications of PGE mining in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa.
2017–2019
MSc, University of Duisburg-Essen
Environmental Toxicology. Understanding the ecotoxicological implications of PGE mining in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa.
2017–2019
MSc, University of Duisburg-Essen
Environmental Toxicology. Understanding the ecotoxicological implications of PGE mining in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa.
2015-2016
Fulbright Scholar, University of Duisburg-Essen
Invertebrate sampling, parasite identification, and in vivo experiments in EnviTox.
2015-2016
Fulbright Scholar, University of Duisburg-Essen
Invertebrate sampling, parasite identification, and in vivo experiments in EnviTox.
2015-2016
Fulbright Scholar, University of Duisburg-Essen
Invertebrate sampling, parasite identification, and in vivo experiments in EnviTox.
2011-2015
BSc, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
Environmental Science. Marine parasitology and coral reef ecology.
2011-2015
BSc, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
Environmental Science. Marine parasitology and coral reef ecology.
2011-2015
BSc, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
Environmental Science. Marine parasitology and coral reef ecology.
Publications
Stay tuned for more research to come!
2025
Sures B, Díaz Morales DM, Yong RQY, Erasmus A, Schwelm J. “Biology and life cycles of helminths” in: Aquatic Parasitology: Ecological and Environmental Concepts and Implications of Marine and Freshwater Parasites (Eds: Nico J Smit & Bernd Sures), Springer Nature.
2025
Sures B, Díaz Morales DM, Yong RQY, Erasmus A, Schwelm J. “Biology and life cycles of helminths” in: Aquatic Parasitology: Ecological and Environmental Concepts and Implications of Marine and Freshwater Parasites (Eds: Nico J Smit & Bernd Sures), Springer Nature.
Díaz-Morales DM, Jolma R, Sures B, Thielgtes D. “Parasites in biological invasions” in: Aquatic Parasitology: Ecological and Environmental Concepts and Implications of Marine and Freshwater Parasites (Eds: Nico J Smit & Bernd Sures), Springer Nature.
Díaz-Morales DM, Jolma R, Sures B, Thielgtes D. “Parasites in biological invasions” in: Aquatic Parasitology: Ecological and Environmental Concepts and Implications of Marine and Freshwater Parasites (Eds: Nico J Smit & Bernd Sures), Springer Nature.
2024
Noè S, Bommarito C, Díaz-Morales DM, Guy-Haim T, Ermak K, Wahl M, Sures B, Morov AR, Rilov G. Response of native and alien grazers to global warming: marine heatwaves vs gradual trends. Minor revision in Marine Ecology Progress Series.
2024
Noè S, Bommarito C, Díaz-Morales DM, Guy-Haim T, Ermak K, Wahl M, Sures B, Morov AR, Rilov G. Response of native and alien grazers to global warming: marine heatwaves vs gradual trends. Minor revision in Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Bommarito C, Noè S, Díaz-Morales DM, Luki’c I, Hiebenthal C, Rilov G, Guy-Haim T, Wahl M. Co-occurrence of native and invasive macroalgae might be facilitated under global warming. Science of the Total Environment 912: 169087, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169087
Bommarito C, Noè S, Díaz-Morales DM, Luki’c I, Hiebenthal C, Rilov G, Guy-Haim T, Wahl M. Co-occurrence of native and invasive macroalgae might be facilitated under global warming. Science of the Total Environment 912: 169087, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169087
2023
Bommarito C, Díaz-Morales DM, Guy-Haim T, Noè S, Delasalle J, Rilov G, Sures B, Wahl M. Warming and parasitism impair the performance of Baltic native and invasive macroalgae and their associated fauna. Limnology and Oceanography 68(8): 1852-1864, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12390
2023
Bommarito C, Díaz-Morales DM, Guy-Haim T, Noè S, Delasalle J, Rilov G, Sures B, Wahl M. Warming and parasitism impair the performance of Baltic native and invasive macroalgae and their associated fauna. Limnology and Oceanography 68(8): 1852-1864, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12390
Khosravi M, Díaz-Morales DM, Thieltges DW, Wahl M, Vajedsamiei J. Thermal optima of cercarial emergence in trematodes from a marine high-temperature ecosystem, the Persian Gulf. Scientific Reports, 13(1):4923, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31670-0
Khosravi M, Díaz-Morales DM, Thieltges DW, Wahl M, Vajedsamiei J. Thermal optima of cercarial emergence in trematodes from a marine high-temperature ecosystem, the Persian Gulf. Scientific Reports, 13(1):4923, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31670-0
Khosravi M, Thieltges DW, Díaz-Morales DM, Bommarito C, Vajedsamiei J. Filtration and respiration responses of mussels (Mytilus edulis) to trematode parasite infections (Renicola roscovita) and transient heat exposure. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 21: 296-304, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.07.007
Khosravi M, Thieltges DW, Díaz-Morales DM, Bommarito C, Vajedsamiei J. Filtration and respiration responses of mussels (Mytilus edulis) to trematode parasite infections (Renicola roscovita) and transient heat exposure. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 21: 296-304, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.07.007
2022
Díaz-Morales DM, Bommarito C, Knol J, Grabner DS, Noè S, Rilov G, Wahl M, Guy-Haim T, Sures B. Parasitism enhances gastropod feeding on invasive and native algae while altering essential energy reserves for organismal homeostasis upon warming. Science of the Total Environment, 863:160727, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160727
2022
Díaz-Morales DM, Bommarito C, Knol J, Grabner DS, Noè S, Rilov G, Wahl M, Guy-Haim T, Sures B. Parasitism enhances gastropod feeding on invasive and native algae while altering essential energy reserves for organismal homeostasis upon warming. Science of the Total Environment, 863:160727, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160727
Díaz-Morales DM*, Khosravi M*, Grabner DS, Nahar N, Bommarito C, Wahl M, Sures B. Trematode parasite modulates biochemical responses of Gammarus locusta to thermal stress but not its feeding rate or survival. Science of the Total Environment, 858:159946, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159946
Díaz-Morales DM*, Khosravi M*, Grabner DS, Nahar N, Bommarito C, Wahl M, Sures B. Trematode parasite modulates biochemical responses of Gammarus locusta to thermal stress but not its feeding rate or survival. Science of the Total Environment, 858:159946, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159946
Díaz-Morales DM, Bommarito C, Vajedsamiei J, Grabner DS, Rilov G, Wahl M, Sures B. Heat sensitivity of first host and cercariae may restrict parasite transmission in a warming sea. Scientific Reports, 12:1174, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05139-5
Díaz-Morales DM, Bommarito C, Vajedsamiei J, Grabner DS, Rilov G, Wahl M, Sures B. Heat sensitivity of first host and cercariae may restrict parasite transmission in a warming sea. Scientific Reports, 12:1174, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05139-5
2021
Díaz-Morales DM, Erasmus H, Bosch S, Nachev M, Zimmerman S, Smit N, Wepener V, Sures B. Metal contamination and toxicity of soils and river sediments from the world’s largest Platinum mining area. Environmental Pollution, 286:1172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117284
2021
Díaz-Morales DM, Erasmus H, Bosch S, Nachev M, Zimmerman S, Smit N, Wepener V, Sures B. Metal contamination and toxicity of soils and river sediments from the world’s largest Platinum mining area. Environmental Pollution, 286:1172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117284
2019
Otaño-Cruz A, Montañez-Acuña AA, García-Rodríguez NM, Díaz-Morales DM, Benson E, Cuevas E, Ortiz-Zayas J, & Hernández-Delgado EA. Caribbean near-shore coral reefs benthic community response to changes on sedimentation dynamics and environmental conditions. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6:551, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00551
2019
Otaño-Cruz A, Montañez-Acuña AA, García-Rodríguez NM, Díaz-Morales DM, Benson E, Cuevas E, Ortiz-Zayas J, & Hernández-Delgado EA. Caribbean near-shore coral reefs benthic community response to changes on sedimentation dynamics and environmental conditions. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6:551, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00551
Atkinson SD, Hallett SL, Díaz-Morales D, Bartholomew JL, & De Buron I. First Myxozoan Infection (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) in a Marine Polychaete from North America and Erection of Actinospore Collective Group Saccimyxon. Journal of Parasitology, 105(2):252–262, https://doi.org/10.1645/18-183
Atkinson SD, Hallett SL, Díaz-Morales D, Bartholomew JL, & De Buron I. First Myxozoan Infection (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) in a Marine Polychaete from North America and Erection of Actinospore Collective Group Saccimyxon. Journal of Parasitology, 105(2):252–262, https://doi.org/10.1645/18-183
2017
Carballeira N, Montano N, Morales C, Mooney J, Torres X, Díaz D, & Sanabria-Ríos DJ. 2-Methoxylated FA Display Unusual Antibacterial Activity Towards Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CIMRSA) and Escherichia coli. Lipids, 1-14, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-017-4262-1
2017
Carballeira N, Montano N, Morales C, Mooney J, Torres X, Díaz D, & Sanabria-Ríos DJ. 2-Methoxylated FA Display Unusual Antibacterial Activity Towards Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CIMRSA) and Escherichia coli. Lipids, 1-14, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-017-4262-1
© Dakeishla Diaz-Morales, 2025.