My research in ecology has focused on the dynamics of species in marine systems and the role they play at ecosystems scales. Two recurring themes in my research are the implications of variability and size structure for population and community level dynamics, and the contribution of basic ecology to marine resource conservation. My interests can be broadly grouped into three areas: (1) identifying the causes and consequences of variability in marine populations, (2) understanding the relative impacts of genetic and demographic factors to extinction risk, and (3) the interplay between species and productivity in coastal marine ecosystems.
My approach to the above topics is pluralistic. I have used both laboratory and field experiments, with the overall goal of testing ecological theory. The questions I ask range from individual consequences to ecosystem responses. I maintain a strong interest and active research program into the contribution of basic ecology to marine resource conservation. I expect students in my lab to be facile in both empirical and theoretical approaches to ecology and evolution.
| Department of Ecology and Evolution |
| The University of Chicago |