Research Interests

Patterns of gene flow and dispersal play fundamental roles in the ecology and evolution of marine organisms and in their interactions with other species. In addition, the spatial spread of larvae is central to the proper management of recreationally, commercially, or ecologically-important species. In our lab, we collect and analyze DNA in order to understand demographic connections among populations.

Note: the amazing photo of the barnacle cyprid comes courtesy of Wim van Egmond

The past 25 years of research on algal-herbivore interactions have witnessed remarkable advances in our understanding of algal defenses and the chemical and morphological mechanisms that algae use to protect themselves from being consumed by their herbivores. In contrast to algal defenses, we have far less information on what could be termed herbivore offense; that is, the traits that allow herbivores to increase their feeding rates on algae when these uses benefit the herbivores. In our lab, we focus on the evolutionary forces and underlying physiological and biochemical mechanisms that allow marine herbivores to tolerate lipophilic compounds produced by seaweeds.

The forces that drive the evolution of specialization in host use among small invertebrates have been explored in terrestrial systems for decades and in marine systems only recently. We use field surveys and simple lab- and field-based experiments to understand the relative importance of enemy-free space, food quality, mate choice and other selective forces in the evolution of host use among marine invertebrates.

Note: photo by Mark Hay

Plants induce greater resistance to herbivores after being directly grazed or after sensing cues from the grazing of neighboring plants (i.e., the "talking trees" effect). We use simple field- and lab-based experiments and manipulation of secondary metabolites to assess the induced defenses in seaweeds and vascular marsh plants.