Research Faculty
I am a Research Faculty member here
at MLML. My position is a little non-traditional, but
I am able to
both teach and conduct my own
research.
I advise students, and head up a research
lab.
If you'd
like to know more, read on! Research (Publications
- with links to reprints)
My own research is centered around questions that attempt to broadly address: 1) the diversity of form and consequence, if any, of that diversity from a simple biomechanical perspective; 2) the evolution of novel and/or specialized forms, and; 3) how form, typically by interacting with other physiological, behavioral, or genetic variables, affects and can be used to predict functional ecological relationships.
My research has largely focused on marine fishes, and in particular on traits associated with prey acquisition. 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. What is the role of functional novelties in both an evolutionary and ecological context? How do we quantify the performance consequences of changes in form? What are the functional trade-offs associated with changes in form?
Sound interesting? You might be interested in knowing how I got started. Based on these photos, I seem to spend a lot of time these days staring down into buckets and coolers - probably a pretty accurate reflection. The top photo was taken during a class seining & trawling trip into our neighboring Elkhorn Slough. The photo at right is me (with my grad students) working on the ventilation mechanics of white spotted ratfish at Bamfield Marine Station. I am actually holding electromyography wires and pressure transducer cables that have been implanted into the animals, as opposed to just sitting there contemplating it. You can see my "official" photo on the MLML Faculty Directory.
Water Intake Structure Environmental Research (WISER)
A recent addition to our research program is the WISER program. This is a program created at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories by the California Energy Commission as part of the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program. What does Ecomorphology have to do with Energy, you ask? Well, the CEC is interested in understanding the impacts of once-through cooling. A little more than 20 power plants along the California coastline use this cooling technology. When water is taken in by these plants, the community of organisms in that water is also taken in. The assumption is that the trip into and through the power plant is terminal for these organisms. Specific to Ecomorphology, one factor that determines whether or not a species will be entrained is swimming ability. By assessing swimming performance in key species, and by knowing when they are in the water column, for example, we may be able to make recommendations regarding the timing and velocity of cooling water intake. This example reflects my personal interest in the program, and does not necessarily reflect the CEC's position on cooling water intake (I think I have to add this disclaimer!). However, this gives you some idea of why I thought this was a compelling project. I like to think of this work as applied functional morphology.
My own research is centered around questions that attempt to broadly address: 1) the diversity of form and consequence, if any, of that diversity from a simple biomechanical perspective; 2) the evolution of novel and/or specialized forms, and; 3) how form, typically by interacting with other physiological, behavioral, or genetic variables, affects and can be used to predict functional ecological relationships.
My research has largely focused on marine fishes, and in particular on traits associated with prey acquisition. 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. What is the role of functional novelties in both an evolutionary and ecological context? How do we quantify the performance consequences of changes in form? What are the functional trade-offs associated with changes in form?
Sound interesting? You might be interested in knowing how I got started. Based on these photos, I seem to spend a lot of time these days staring down into buckets and coolers - probably a pretty accurate reflection. The top photo was taken during a class seining & trawling trip into our neighboring Elkhorn Slough. The photo at right is me (with my grad students) working on the ventilation mechanics of white spotted ratfish at Bamfield Marine Station. I am actually holding electromyography wires and pressure transducer cables that have been implanted into the animals, as opposed to just sitting there contemplating it. You can see my "official" photo on the MLML Faculty Directory.
Water Intake Structure Environmental Research (WISER)
A recent addition to our research program is the WISER program. This is a program created at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories by the California Energy Commission as part of the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program. What does Ecomorphology have to do with Energy, you ask? Well, the CEC is interested in understanding the impacts of once-through cooling. A little more than 20 power plants along the California coastline use this cooling technology. When water is taken in by these plants, the community of organisms in that water is also taken in. The assumption is that the trip into and through the power plant is terminal for these organisms. Specific to Ecomorphology, one factor that determines whether or not a species will be entrained is swimming ability. By assessing swimming performance in key species, and by knowing when they are in the water column, for example, we may be able to make recommendations regarding the timing and velocity of cooling water intake. This example reflects my personal interest in the program, and does not necessarily reflect the CEC's position on cooling water intake (I think I have to add this disclaimer!). However, this gives you some idea of why I thought this was a compelling project. I like to think of this work as applied functional morphology.