A panoramic view of a forest stream with four individuals engaged in environmental research activities. They are in a dense forest with lush greenery surrounding a rocky stream bed. Two of the researchers, wearing waders, are standing in the stream; one is measuring the flow of water with equipment, while the other is observing. On the bank, two more researchers are analyzing samples and recording data. Various pieces of equipment, such as buckets and clipboards, are placed around them, indicating an active field study in a natural, outdoor laboratory setting.

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At the Crossroads of Ecology and Evolution

We study the eco-evolutionary dynamics of freshwater and coastal ecosystems. The study of eco-evolutionary dynamics focuses on bi-directional interactions occurring between ecology and evolution in nature. We examine how evolution shapes populations, communities, and ecosystems and how these ecological changes feed back to shape the trajectory of evolution. Because our research is at the interface of ecology and evolution, we utilize a diversity of techniques and approaches. In particular, we combine surveys of genetic, phenotypic, and ecological variation in nature with field and laboratory experiments to test the mechanisms underlying observed patterns. Our research addresses basic questions in evolutionary ecology and applied questions in conservation biology and fisheries management. We are located at the Coastal Science Campus at UC Santa Cruz.