My research background involves the use of molecular techniques to improve 1) the management of European hake fish stocks, by phylogenetic reconstruction and taxonomy; and 2) the cultivation of Atlantic cod and egg quality determination.

I am currently working in the Environmental Toxicology group as a part of the ToxiGen project. My role in this project is mainly related to the analysis of endocrine disruption in maturing fish adults, using exiting samples of polar cod and ex vivo and in vitro experiments on cod species in combination with omics-based techniques.

Conference lecture

• María Fernández Míguez (2022). What does genetics contribute to the conservation of species?. (external link)
• Jasmine Nahrgang; Claudia Erhart; María Fernández Míguez et al. (2024). Assessing the impact of crude oil on cod fish reproduction: a multi-omics and physiological approach.. (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez; Alfonso Pita; Angie Santafé-Muñoz et al. (2018). Genetic structure of the European hake merluccius merluccius: functional tags versus neutral markers. (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez (2019). Hakes of the world: clarifying the phylogenetic status of five candidate species. (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez (2023). Effects of microplastic ingestion in maturing Atlantic cod. (external link)
• Maria Fernandez Miguez; Malin Birkeland; Aliza Naeem Rana et al. (2025). Fish to flask: Advancing crude oil toxicity testing with ex vivo and in vitro techniques. (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez; Øyvind J Hansen; Pablo Presa et al. (2018). Influence of maternal factors on egg quality in atlantic cod Gadus morhua. (external link)
• Pablo Presa; Antonio Gómez; María Fernández Míguez et al. (2023). Temporal incongruence between demographic and genetic metrics in fisheries assessment: the European hake case study. (external link)

Podcast

• Abby Chapman; Antoni Vivós; María Fernández Míguez (2026). Maria Fernandez Miguez discusses effects of crude oil on fishes and research life after the PhD - Young Researchers in the Spotlight | Podcast on Spotify. (external link)

Conference poster

• Malin Birkeland ; Jasmine Nahrgang; Odd André Karlsen et al. (2025). Using precision-cut liver slices for assessing hepatic toxicity of components of crude oil on Atlantic cod. (external link)
• Raquel Ruivo; Bram Danneels; Diogo Oliveira et al. (2024). Gene loss events shaped the chemical defensome in Cetacea. (external link)
• Maria Fernandez Miguez; Claudia Erhart; Fekadu Yadetie et al. (2024). Multi-omics assessment of gametogenesis in polar cod exposed to crude oil. (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez; Velmurugu Puvanendran; Pablo Presa et al. (2021). Microplastics influence expression profiles of genes involved in the reproduction of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). (external link)
• Aliza Naeem Rana; Odd André Karlsen; Jasmine Nahrgang et al. (2025). Toxicity screening of crude oil fractions using reporter gene assay for Atlantic cod receptors. (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez; Montse Pérez; Pablo Presa et al. (2019). Gene expression analysis as an indicator of egg quality in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. (external link)
• Abigail Lynn Chapman; Claudia Erhart; Jorge Manuel de Oliveira Fernandes et al. (2024). Assessing multigenerational effects of exposure to crude oil on the arctic keystone species Boreogadus saida and the model Danio rerio.. (external link)
• Maria Fernandez Miguez; Pablo Presa; Velmurugu Puvanendran et al. (2024). Gene expression and phenotypic assessment of egg quality across developmental stages of Atlantic cod. (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez; M. I. Rodríguez-Pérez; J Cuéllar-Pinzón et al. (2018). The impact of overfishing on the genetic effective population size of the European hake Merluccius merluccius. (external link)
• Aliza Naeem Rana; Odd André Karlsen; Jasmine Nahrgang et al. (2025). Toxicity screening of crude oil fractions using reporter gene assay for cod receptors. (external link)
• Maria Fernandez Miguez; Lenny Debuck; R Cremer et al. (2025). MULTI-OMICS AND BIOMARKER ASSESSMENT OF REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY IN POLAR COD (BOREOGADUS SAIDA) EXPOSED TO CRUDE OIL. (external link)
• Maria Fernandez Miguez; Claudia Erhart; Fekadu Yadetie et al. (2024). Multi-omics assessment of gametogenesis in polar cod exposed to crude oil. (external link)
• Malin Birkeland; Jasmine Magali Nahrgang-Berge; André Odd Erik Rogander Karlsen et al. (2025). Using precision-cut liver slices for assessing hepatic toxicity of components of crude oil on Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). (external link)

Academic article

• Alfonso Pita; María Fernández-Míguez; Pablo Presa (2022). EST-Microsatellite Types and Structural Scenarios in European Hake Fisheries. (external link)
• Maria Fernandez Miguez; Pablo Presa; Velmurugu Puvanendran et al. (2024). Gene Expression and Phenotypic Assessment of Egg Quality across Developmental Stages of Atlantic Cod throughout the Spawning Season. (external link)
• Frank Thomas Mlingi; Velmurugu Puvanendran; Erik Burgerhout et al. (2025). “Influence of short-to-continuous and continuous photoperiods combined with elevated temperatures on sexual maturation in lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus, L. 1758)”. (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez; Alfonso Pita; Antonio Gómez et al. (2023). Temporal uncoupling between demographic and genetic metrics in fisheries assessment: the European hake case study. (external link)
• Montse Pérez; María Fernández Míguez; Jesús Matallanas et al. (2021). Phylogenetic prospecting for cryptic species of the genus Merluccius (Actinopterygii: Merlucciidae). (external link)
• María Fernández Míguez; Velmurugu Puvanendran; Erik Burgerhout et al. (2023). Effects of weathered polyethylene microplastic ingestion on sexual maturation, fecundity and egg quality in maturing broodstock Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. (external link)
• André Sture Bogevik; Velmurugu Puvanendran; Katrin Vorkamp et al. (2023). Long-Term Influence of PCB- and PBDE-Spiked Microplastic Spheres Fed through Rotifers to Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) Larvae. (external link)

Doctoral thesis (PhD)

• María Fernández Míguez; Montserrat Perez Rodriguez; Pablo Presa Martinez (2021). Application of genetic tools to the population and aquaculture management of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). (external link)

Other presentation

• María Fernández Míguez; Angelica Miglioli; Patricia Isabel Silvestre Pinto et al. (2025). The MOST workshop: Application of omics in marine ecotoxicology. (external link)

Master’s thesis

• Lenny Debuck; Jasmine Nahrgang; Maria Fernandez Miguez (2025). Transcriptome responses of reproducing polar cod (Boreogadus saida) exposed to a water-soluble fraction of crude oil. (external link)
• Malin Stamnes Birkeland; Anders Goksøyr; Odd André Karlsen et al. (2025). Assessing toxicity of crude oil water accommodated fractions and sub-fractions using Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) precision cut liver slices. (external link)

Lecture

• Maria Fernandez Miguez; Claudia Erhart; Fekadu Yadetie et al. (2025). Decoding the Spill: Multi-Omics Insights into Crude Oil's Impact on Fish Reproduction. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

2024. Mlingi, F.T., Puvanendran, V., Burgerhout, E., Mommens, M., Hansen, Ø.J., Míguez, M.F., Presa, P., Tveiten, H., Tomkiewicz, J. and Kjørsvik, E., 2024. Influence of short-to-continuous and continuous photoperiods combined with elevated temperatures on sexual maturation in lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus, L. 1758). Aquaculture, 741981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741981

2024. Fernández Míguez, M.; Presa, P.; Puvanendran, V.; Tveiten, H.; Hansen, Ø.J.; Pérez, M. (1/6). Gene Expression and Phenotypic Assessment of Egg Quality across Developmental Stages of Atlantic Cod throughout the Spawning Season.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 25(13), 7488. 10.3390/ijms25137488.

2023. Fernández-Míguez, M., Pita, A., Gomez, A., & Presa, P. Temporal uncoupling between demographic and genetic metrics in fisheries assessment: the European hake case study. Frontiers in Marine Science. DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1214469

2023. Bogevik A.S., Puvanendran V., Vorkamp, K., Burgerhout E., Hansen, Ø., Fernández-Míguez, M., Krasnov A., Afanasyev S., Høst V.1 Ytteborg E. (6/10). Long-Term Influence of PCB- and PBDE-Spiked Microplastic Spheres Fed through Rotifers to Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) Larvae. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(12), 10326; DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210326. 

2023. MLINGI, Frank Thomas, et al. Reproductive biology of farmed lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus): Gonadal development and associated profiles of selected endocrine factors. bioRxiv, 2023, p. 2023.06. 16.545335. DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.16.545335

2023. Fernández-Míguez, M.; Puvanendran, V.; Burgerhout, E.; Presa, P.; Tveiten, H.; Vorkamp, K.; Hansen, Ø.J.; Johansson, G.S.; Bogevik, A.S. (1/9). Effects of weathered polyethylene microplastic ingestion on sexual maturation, fecundity and egg quality in maturing broodstock Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. Environmental Pollution. 121053. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121053. 

2022. Pita, A.*, Fernández-Míguez, M.*; Presa, P. (1*/3). EST-Microsatellite Types and Structural Scenarios in European Hake Fisheries. Animals, MDPI. 12(11), 1462. DOI: 10.3390/ani12111462. 

2021. Pérez, M.; Fernández-Míguez, M.; Matallanas, J.; Lloris, D.; Presa, P. (2/5). Phylogenetic prospecting for cryptic species of the genus Merluccius (Actinopterygii: Merlucciidae). Scientific Reports. 11, 5929. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85008-9.

2023-2027: ToxiGen - Reproductive toxicity and transgenerational effects of petroleum mixtures in fish