Dr. Rachel Pool
- Senior Lecturer
- ra*********@*******ac.sc
- +248 483 1220
Department of Environment
Contact Us
Rachel joined the University of Seychelles (UniSey) in August 2025 as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environment and an affiliate research member of the Island Biodiversity and Conservation (IBC) Centre.
She holds a PhD in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Valencia, Spain, and worked as a research technician there before joining UniSey.
Her research focuses on cetacean conservation, specifically how to use citizen science and other research methods to understand cetacean ecology and inform their conservation status.
Rachel has experience participating in multiple cetacean research projects across Europe and in Seychelles waters, as well as supervising volunteers and postgraduate students.
At UniSey, she plans to build on this experience to promote interest in cetacean research among the next generation of Seychellois marine scientists and equip them with the necessary skills to succeed in this field.
Qualifications
PhD in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Spain
Publications
Peer reviewed publications
Ten, S., Pool, R.V., Raga, J.A., Sweet, A.D., Aznar, F.J. 2025. Phylogeography of Pennella (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Pennellidae) indicates interoceanic dispersal mediated by cetacean and fish hosts. Parasitology, 1-10.
Pons‐Bordas, C., Pool, R.V., Ten, S., Armenteros‐Santos, J.A., Balseiro, A., Fayos, M., Aznar, F.J., 2024. Anisakis spp. as indicators of latitudinal movements of short‐finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhynchus, in the Northeast Atlantic. Marine Mammal Science, e13191.
Pool, R.V., Pons-García, N., Consoli, F., Rivero, M., Bombardi, C., Raga, J.A., Aznar, F.J., 2024. Fine-scale distribution of the lungworm Halocercus delphini in the lungs of the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba: implications about migration pathways and functional significance. Marine Mammal Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13111.
Pool, R., Shiozaki, A., Raga, J. A., Fernández, M., Aznar, F.J., 2023. Molecular phylogeny of the Pseudaliidae (Nematoda) and the origin of associations between lungworms and marine mammals. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 20, 192-202.
Balseiro, A., Herrero-García, G., Royo, L.J., Armenteros, J.A., Altonaga, J.R., Monasterio, J.M., Pool, R.V., García Marín, J.F., Pis-Millán, J.A., 2023. Hypertrophic osteopathy in a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) with concurrent pulmonary Halocercus delphini infestation. Heliyon, https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.heliyon.2023.e17011.
Pool, R., Romero-Rubira, C., Raga, J.A., Fernández, M., Aznar, F.J., 2021. Determinants of lungworm specificity in five cetacean species in the western Mediterranean. Parasites & Vectors, 14(1), pp.1-14.
Pons-Bordas, C., Hazenberg, A., Hernandez-Gonzalez, A., Pool, R.V., Covelo, P., Sánchez-Hermosin, P., López, A., Saavedra, C., Fraija-Fernández, N., Fernández, M., Aznar, F.J., 2020. Recent increase of ulcerative lesions caused by Anisakis spp. in cetaceans from the north-east Atlantic. Journal of Helminthology, 94.
Pool, R., Fernández, M., Chandradeva, N., Raga, J.A., Aznar, F.J., 2020. The taxonomic status of Skrjabinalius guevarai Gallego & Selva, 1979 (Nematoda: Pseudaliidae) and the synonymy of Skrjabinalius Delyamure, 1942 and Halocercus Baylis & Daubney, 1925. Systematic Parasitology, 97(4), pp.389-401.
Pool, R., Chandradeva, N., Gkafas, G., Raga, J.A., Fernández, M., Aznar, F.J., 2020. Transmission and predictors of burden of lungworms of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Western Mediterranean. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 56(1), pp.186-191.
Conferences and Symposia presentations
Pool, R.V., Fernandez, C., García-Gallego, A., Brotons, J.M., Arcangeli, A., Raga, J.A., Fraija-Fernández, N. 2025. Species-specific assay for detecting and monitoring endangered sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Mediterranean Sea. European Cetacean Society (ECS) Conference. São Miguel, Azores, Portugal, poster presentation.
Pool, R.V., Caputo, M., Kiszka, J.J. 2024. Into the shallows: atypical behaviour of the Risso’s dolphin around the atoll of St. Joseph, Amirantes. Society of Marine Mammalogy (SMM) Conference. Perth, Australia, poster presentation.
Medrano, M.X., Pool, R., Fernandez, C., Raga, J.A., Fraija-Fernández, N. 2024. Todo desde una muestra de agua: Monitoreo de cetáceos, tortugas marinas y otros grandes vertebrados marinos en el Mediterráneo occidental mediante el estudio de ADN ambiental. XIV Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Cetáceos (SEC). Castelldefels, Barcelona, poster presentation.
Pool, R.V., Caputo, M., Kiszka, J.J. 2024. Into the shallows: atypical behaviour of the Risso’s dolphin around the atoll of St. Joseph, Amirantes. Seychelles Marine Science Symposium (SMSS). Eden Island, Seychelles, oral presentation.
Pool, R.V., Pons-García, N., Consoli, F., Rivero, M., Bombardi, C., Raga, J.A., and Aznar, F.J. 2024. Fine-scale distribution of the lungworm Halocercus delphini in the lungs of the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba: implications about migration pathways and functional significance. European Cetacean Society (ECS) Conference. Catania, Sicily, Italy, poster presentation.
Fernández, C., Pool, R., Raga, J.A., Tintoré, J., Martinez, J., March, D., and Fraija-Fernández, N., 2023. Monitoring cetacean biodiversity using environmental DNA. V Iberian Congress of Biological Systematics. Madrid, Spain, poster presentation.
Pons-Bordas, C., Pool, R.V., Ten, S., Armenteros Santos, J.A., Balseiro, A., Fayos, M., Abad Castiella, C., and Aznar, F.J., 2023. Anisakis spp. as biomarkers of residency of short-finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhynchus, in the Iberian Atlantic coast. European Cetacean Society (ECS) Conference. Galicia, Spain, poster presentation.
Pons-Bordas, C., Pool, R.V., Ten, S., Armenteros Santos, J.A., Balseiro, A., Fayos, M., Abad Castiella, C., and Aznar, F.J., 2021. Anisakis spp. como marcadores de movilidad geográfica del calderón tropical (Globicephala macrorhynchus) en el norte de España. XII Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Cetáceos (SEC), online oral presentation.
Pool R.V., Romero Rubira C., Raga J.A., Fernández M., and Aznar F.J., 2021. Lungworm communities in cetaceans from the Mediterranean Sea. European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) Conference. Valencia, Spain, online oral presentation.
Pool, R., Chandradeva, N., Gkafas, G., Raga, J.A., Fernández, M., and Aznar, F.J., 2019. Are lungworm infections in the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, higher during DMV outbreaks? World Marine Mammal Conference. Barcelona, Spain, poster presentation.
Pool, R., Chandradeva, N., Gkafas, G., Raga, J.A., Aznar, F.J., and Fernández, M., 2018. Predictors of lungworm burden in the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, in the western Mediterranean. Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Cetáceos (SEC). Bilbao, Spain, oral presentation.
Pool, R., Chandradeva, N., Gkafas, G., Raga, J.A., Aznar, F.J., and Fernández, M., 2018. Evidence for vertical transmission of the lungworm Skrjabinalius guevarai. Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Cetáceos (SEC). Bilbao, Spain, poster presentation.
