From Backyard Ponds to Freshwater Mussels: Franchesca Ruiz's Journey to Research and Conservation

Franchesca Ruiz can trace her path to becoming a student at LSU majoring in natural resources ecology and management from fishing with her father in backyard ponds to observing aquatic species in canals and ditches and an overall curiosity about wildlife and the environment.

The nature-loving child has become a dedicated researcher.

Ruiz participated in the ASPIRE program, a 10-week internship that paired her with mentor Garrett Hopper, an assistant professor in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. She worked on a project that involved creating a field guide for freshwater mussels in Louisiana, something that hadn’t been done before.

“We have 65 different species of freshwater mussels, and 48% of them are listed as species of greatest conservation need by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and then five of those species are federally listed under the Endangered Species Act," Ruiz said.

The project required research, data collection and collaboration with various experts and institutions. The guide has been peer reviewed, and Ruiz said the next step is to publish it and their findings.

“I had never done my own research project before. ASPIRE gave me the chance to do that, and it turned into something much bigger than I ever expected,” she said. “I'm publishing as an undergraduate. I'm so lucky to have that opportunity.”

Her major has given Ruiz the opportunity to do the work she loves and has given her passion a purpose. Ruiz will continue gaining experience in research. She is starting a new project with Hopper and professor Megan La Peyre

Ruiz will be assisting with a freshwater mussel laboratory experiment to see how the mussels react to different disturbances.

“They're really sensitive to changes in their habitat, pollution, sedimentation,” Ruiz said of freshwater mussels. “There's just a lot of things going on that are causing declines in their population, so this hopefully will tell us a little bit more about how specific disturbances affect the behavior.”

Ruiz said her coursework at LSU has also been instrumental in her development. Classes have been hands-on and engaging, with some involving outdoor activities like birding and species identification. Ruiz said these classes provide practical experience and foster a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

 Ruiz is excited about her future in natural resources ecology and   management. She plans to pursue graduate studies and continue her   research.

 "There's so much we need to know about different species and   environments," she said. "As our world continues to change, it's   important to understand how these changes affect the environment   and wildlife populations."