Research in our lab generally focuses on understanding how individual organisms interact with diverse but increasingly anthropogenically-altered environments, how those interactions alter organismal phenotypes, and how the resultant phenotypic variation modulates population dynamics, mediates species interactions, and structures communities. Our work involves field observations, laboratory and field experiments, and meta-analyses. We draw on principles from evolutionary and behavioral ecology, functional morphology, and population and community ecology and work on a variety of marine intertidal organisms and habitats.
PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY
A main focus of our lab is how marine organisms change their phenotype (e.g., behavior, physiology, morphology, life history) in response to different environmental conditions – a widespread phenomenon called phenotypic plasticity. Most studies of phenotypic plasticity ask how organisms respond to a change in their environment, but most organisms do not experience single environmental changes. Therefore, we need to understand how organisms respond to combinations of environmental changes. We are particularly interested in how combinations of environmental inducing agents affect organismal phenotype and how costs associated with these plastic responses affect individual fitness in different environments. Previous and ongoing field surveys and laboratory experiments focus on how calcifying marine invertebrates (snails, sea stars, and mussels) plastically change their behavior and morphology in response to multiple selective agents. In particular, we are interested in whether plastic responses to single inducing agents are different than responses to combinations of multiple inducing agents.
A main focus of our lab is how marine organisms change their phenotype (e.g., behavior, physiology, morphology, life history) in response to different environmental conditions – a widespread phenomenon called phenotypic plasticity. Most studies of phenotypic plasticity ask how organisms respond to a change in their environment, but most organisms do not experience single environmental changes. Therefore, we need to understand how organisms respond to combinations of environmental changes. We are particularly interested in how combinations of environmental inducing agents affect organismal phenotype and how costs associated with these plastic responses affect individual fitness in different environments. Previous and ongoing field surveys and laboratory experiments focus on how calcifying marine invertebrates (snails, sea stars, and mussels) plastically change their behavior and morphology in response to multiple selective agents. In particular, we are interested in whether plastic responses to single inducing agents are different than responses to combinations of multiple inducing agents.
ANTHROPOGENIC ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
Another main research focus in our lab is the response of marine organisms and communities to anthropogenic environmental change; including ocean acidification, climate change, epidemic disease, and invasive species. Human-induced environmental change will ultimately alter the structure of marine communities through their effects on individual species and species interactions, but certain species and interactions will be disproportionately important in determining future outcomes. It is therefore critical to understand how these species and their interactions with others will be impacted by environmental change. To do so, we are currently examining the consequences of environmental change on key intertidal ‘leverage species’ (e.g., keystone and foundation species) and their interactions with other species that drive community structure on rocky shores. Ongoing projects include: (1) collaborative work with Bengt Allen at Cal State Long Beach examining the effects of ocean acidification on energy allocation among shell defenses, growth, and susceptibility to predation in California sea mussels (Mytlius californianus), a classic marine foundation species; (2) understanding how photosynthetic activity and canopy provisioning by surfgrass (Phyllospadix spp.), a foundation species in tidepool communities, may act to buffer these communities from ph and temperature stress associated with ocean acidification and warming; and (3) investigating the impacts of sea star wasting disease on the feeding activity and chemical cue production of the keystone predatory sea star Pisaster ochraceous and the subsequent effects on its prey abundance and behavior.
Invasive species are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss across the globe. Invasive predators in particular, often have large negative effects on native prey because they lack the ability to detect and respond appropriately to novel predators due to the absence of shared evolutionary history. Yet many native prey can perceive and respond to novel predators thereby reducing the population and community impacts of the invasive predator. Conversely, if non-native prey are capable of responding defensively to native predators, their success and impacts may be enhanced. Thus the success and impact of a particular invader may depend strongly on predator-induced phenotypic plasticity. Despite this fact, in most systems we know relatively little about the mechanisms (e.g., taxonomic similarity between novel and familiar predators, generalized inducing cues, associative learning, rapid evolution) that enable prey to respond effectively to novel predators in the absence of a shared evolutionary history. Previous and ongoing projects exploring the plastic responses of prey to novel predators and the underlying mechanism include field observations and laboratory experiments (including a collaboration with Bengt Allen at Cal State Long Beach), and meta-analyses (in collaboration with Johan Hollander at Lund University in Sweden).
Another main research focus in our lab is the response of marine organisms and communities to anthropogenic environmental change; including ocean acidification, climate change, epidemic disease, and invasive species. Human-induced environmental change will ultimately alter the structure of marine communities through their effects on individual species and species interactions, but certain species and interactions will be disproportionately important in determining future outcomes. It is therefore critical to understand how these species and their interactions with others will be impacted by environmental change. To do so, we are currently examining the consequences of environmental change on key intertidal ‘leverage species’ (e.g., keystone and foundation species) and their interactions with other species that drive community structure on rocky shores. Ongoing projects include: (1) collaborative work with Bengt Allen at Cal State Long Beach examining the effects of ocean acidification on energy allocation among shell defenses, growth, and susceptibility to predation in California sea mussels (Mytlius californianus), a classic marine foundation species; (2) understanding how photosynthetic activity and canopy provisioning by surfgrass (Phyllospadix spp.), a foundation species in tidepool communities, may act to buffer these communities from ph and temperature stress associated with ocean acidification and warming; and (3) investigating the impacts of sea star wasting disease on the feeding activity and chemical cue production of the keystone predatory sea star Pisaster ochraceous and the subsequent effects on its prey abundance and behavior.
Invasive species are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss across the globe. Invasive predators in particular, often have large negative effects on native prey because they lack the ability to detect and respond appropriately to novel predators due to the absence of shared evolutionary history. Yet many native prey can perceive and respond to novel predators thereby reducing the population and community impacts of the invasive predator. Conversely, if non-native prey are capable of responding defensively to native predators, their success and impacts may be enhanced. Thus the success and impact of a particular invader may depend strongly on predator-induced phenotypic plasticity. Despite this fact, in most systems we know relatively little about the mechanisms (e.g., taxonomic similarity between novel and familiar predators, generalized inducing cues, associative learning, rapid evolution) that enable prey to respond effectively to novel predators in the absence of a shared evolutionary history. Previous and ongoing projects exploring the plastic responses of prey to novel predators and the underlying mechanism include field observations and laboratory experiments (including a collaboration with Bengt Allen at Cal State Long Beach), and meta-analyses (in collaboration with Johan Hollander at Lund University in Sweden).
FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY
Different species occupy similar trophic positions in natural communities. What are the consequences of this variation for local communities? Do species that occupy similar trophic positions have similar impacts on other species and community structure (i.e., are they functionally similar)? Two recent events – the mass mortality of a keystone predatory sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) and the local increase in abundance of a predatory crab (Romaleon antennarium) – have provided a unique opportunity to address these questions. We are using lab and field experiments to address whether, in the absence of Pisaster, crabs and other predators (smaller sea stars and whelks) will have similar effects on common prey (e.g., mussels, snails, barnacles) in rocky intertidal communities. Currently we are examining the effects of predator identity on: prey selection, prey consumption, induction of plastic behavioral and morphological defenses in prey (i.e., non-consumptive effects on prey), and ultimately, the ability to suppress prey abundance. We hope that by examining the ecological impacts of different predators in local rocky intertidal communities, we will be able to better predict the community- and ecosystem-level consequences of local species extinctions and expansions in a rapidly changing coastal environment.
Different species occupy similar trophic positions in natural communities. What are the consequences of this variation for local communities? Do species that occupy similar trophic positions have similar impacts on other species and community structure (i.e., are they functionally similar)? Two recent events – the mass mortality of a keystone predatory sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) and the local increase in abundance of a predatory crab (Romaleon antennarium) – have provided a unique opportunity to address these questions. We are using lab and field experiments to address whether, in the absence of Pisaster, crabs and other predators (smaller sea stars and whelks) will have similar effects on common prey (e.g., mussels, snails, barnacles) in rocky intertidal communities. Currently we are examining the effects of predator identity on: prey selection, prey consumption, induction of plastic behavioral and morphological defenses in prey (i.e., non-consumptive effects on prey), and ultimately, the ability to suppress prey abundance. We hope that by examining the ecological impacts of different predators in local rocky intertidal communities, we will be able to better predict the community- and ecosystem-level consequences of local species extinctions and expansions in a rapidly changing coastal environment.
See the PEOPLE page for information on individual projects.