Johanna Segovia

Johanna Segovia
Born	27 June 1982 (1982-06-27) (age 43) San Salvador Department, El Salvador
Alma mater	University of El Salvador University of Costa Rica
Known for	Studies on reefs
Scientific career
Fields	Marine ecology
Institutions	Francisco Gavidia University

Johanna Vanesa Segovia (born 27 June 1982) is a Salvadoran marine ecologist and professor, recognised for her studies on reefs, the discoveries of extinct species of black coral and microplastics in crabs intended for human consumption in El Salvador.

Early life and education

Segovia was born on 27 June 1982 in San Salvador Department, as the daughter of teachers. ^[1] Her interest in the marine world began at an early age when she observed small animals trapped in tide pools and developed an admiration for American oceanographer Sylvia Earle. ^[1]

She graduated with a degree in biology from the University of El Salvador, obtained a Master of Science in biology with a specialisation in ecology from the University of Costa Rica in 2012, as well as a diploma in marine science education from the Distance State University (UNET) and science communication from the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT). ^[1]

Career

Segovia works at the Marine and Limnological Research Centre (CYMARyL), at the Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation (ICTI) and at the Francisco Gavidia University (UFG). ^{[1] [2]}

Segovia registered for the first time the presence of Glaucus atlanticus in the country in 2015. ^[3]

She joined the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World in 2020. ^[4]

She warned in an interview in 2021 on damage to coral reefs in Central America, stating that the degradation of coral ecosystems directly affects fishing communities and pointed out that factors such as climate change, coral bleaching, pollution and unregulated fishing pose significant threats to the country's marine biodiversity. ^[5]

In April 2022, the team she led discovered the existence of a mesophotic reef in the Los Cóbanos Marine Protected Area  [ es ] in El Salvador. ^[6] The discovery was remarkable in that less than ten years earlier, black coral was considered extinct in the country. ^[6] The reef was made up of black coral Antipathes galapagensis, a species of coral never before recorded in the country, Myriopathes panamensis, and several Octocorallia . ^[6]

In 2023, Segovia was part of the discovery of dead cell debris and microplastics in crabs intended for consumption in El Salvador during the first phase, which consisted of extracting the contents of the stomachs of seven crabs to be disintegrated with hydrogen peroxide. ^[7]

The United Nations Office at Geneva recognised Segovia in 2024 for its contribution to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14 on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources. ^[8]

Publications

• Biodiversity at the ecosystem level in patches of hermatypic corals (2007) ^[9]
• Record of Glaucus atlanticus on the coast of El Salvador, Central American Pacific. ^[3]
• Excavating sponges of the Central American Pacific, descriptions and faunal record (2018) ^[10]
• Richness and distribution of echinoderms on the rocky reefs of Punta Amapala and Los Cóbanos, El Salvador (2017)
• Ecosistemas Acuáticos de El Salvador. UFG Editores, 2021. ^[11]
• Black coral forests and associated organisms in the mesophotic zone of Los Cóbanos, El Salvador (2023) ^[12]

References

1. Joma, Susana (16 March 2023). ""Me ha tocado romper muchos muros": ecóloga Johanna Segovia". Disruptiva magazine (Francisco Gavidia University). Retrieved 15 October 2025.
2. "Johana Vanesa Segovia". Fondo de Inversión Ambiental de El Salvador. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
3. Segovia, Johanna; López, Gina (2015). "Registro de Glaucus atlanticus en la costa de El Salvador, Pacíficode Centroamérica". Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad (in Spanish). 86 (4). doi: 10.1016/j.rmb.2015.05.015 . ISSN   2007-8706.
4. "Johanna Segovia". Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World . Retrieved 18 October 2025.
5. Ayala, Edgaro (1 June 2021). "Daños en arrecifes de coral golpean a comunidades pesqueras en América Central". Inter Press Service . Retrieved 18 October 2025.
6. Joma, Susana (14 April 2022). "En Los Cóbanos hallan coral negro declarado extinto en El Salvador". elsalvador.com. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
7. Hompanera, Yessica (19 November 2023). "Científicas detectan plástico en cangrejos". elsalvador.com. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
8. Puente, L. (7 June 2024). "Investigadora de la UFG es reconocida por la ONU en Ginebra". elsalvador.com. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
9. "Biodiversidad a nivel de ecosistema en parches de Corales Hermatípicos (Porites lobata, Pocillopora sp.) en la zona intermareal de la playa Los Cóbanos, departamento de Sonsonate, El Salvador". FAO . Retrieved 18 October 2025.
10. "Excavating sponges from the Pacific of Central America, descriptions and a faunistic record" (PDF). ResearchGate . Retrieved 18 October 2025.
11. "Ecosistemas acuáticos de El Salvador". WorldCat . Retrieved 18 October 2025.
12. "SEGOVIA, Johanna. Black coral forests and associated fauna in the mesophotic zone of Los Cóbanos, El Salvador. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2023, vol.71, n.1, e52345. ISSN 0034-7744". SciELO. Retrieved 18 October 2025.