I am a Research Faculty member here at MLML. My position is a little non-traditional, but I am able to teach, conduct my own research, advise students, and head up the Ecomorphology research group. If you'd like to know more, read on!

What is it about form?  It does not take a functional morphologist to note the amazing array of jaw shapes present in nature; from the simple and familiar basses to the robust-jawed sharks and the delicately long-jawed butterflyfish. Through my research I am trying to understand why there is such a diversity in shape or form within the group of organisms we call "fishes".  My own research is centered around questions that attempt to broadly address: 1) the evolution of novel and/or specialized forms, 2) the biomechanical or performance consequence of changes in form; and; 3) how form, typically by interacting with other physiological, behavioral, or genetic variables, affects and can be used to predict functional ecological relationships.

Why fish?  Fish have been the ecological dominants in aquatic habitats pretty much since complex life evolved on this planet.  Aquatic habitats are diverse, and as a consequence fishes as a group exhibit an incredibly rich suite of forms as necessary to meet the challenges faced in these different habitats.  A quote by noted Ichthyologist Gene Helfman effectively sums up why we are passionate about fishes. “fishes are excellent showcases of the evolutionary process, exemplifying the intimate relationship between habitat and adapation, between form and function.”  I tend to focus in particular on traits associated with prey acquisition.  I am secondarily interested in ventilation and how fish generate water flow into the head and over the gills (or respiratory structures), as this is fundamentally related to how fish feed. 

You can read more by following the links in the left menu. 

Contact me at lfgraham [at] mlml [dot] calstate [dot] edu