M.S. Thesis: Swimming performance, fin kinematics, and the functional morphology of surfperches (Embiotocidae)  

Hello!  I am interested in the swimming performance, fin kinematics, and the functional morphology of the amazing family of surfperches.  These fishes are found in just about every nearshore habitat along the entire California coast, from the open water to kelp forests, and as their namesake implies, the surfzone.  Surfperches primarily use their pectoral fins (side fins) to swim, known as labriform swimming.

I am researching how the shape and orientation of their pectoral fins affects how surfperches swim in different flow regimes.  Some surfperches flap their fins, whereas others tend to make a rowing stroke in the water.  The morphology of these fins is very important in influencing the hydrodynamic forces occuring around the body of the fish.  With different fin morphologies, I expect to see a difference in the swimming performance and fin kinematics among the many species of surfperches.  I also expect that some surfperch species will be better equipped to swim in increasing flow regimes, possibly being the reason why we see surfperches living in one habitat and not another.

Posters

Western Society of Naturalists 2007 (Seattle, WA)

Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology 2008 (San Antonio, TX)

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Currents Symposium  2008 (Marina, CA)

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Currents Symposium  2009 (Monterey, CA)

Presentations

Western Society of Naturalists 2008 (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology 2009 (Boston, MA)