Though I never thought I'd be interested in larvae, now I can't get enough of the little guys. Figuring out where larvae go is one of the key issues in marine ecology. While some great studies have increased our understanding of population connectivity, they have focused on species that retain hard parts (e.g. otoliths or shells) throughout their development. These techniques don't work on animals such as crustaceans, which molt their exoskeletons several times during larval development. Thus my research focuses on using natural trace element signatures of soft tissues, rather than calcium carbonate structures. The soft tissue signatures of embryos and megalopae are analyzed to determine the natal origins of crab settlers along the open coast of northern California. Using these signatures, we can create a connectivity matrix to see how far larvae might be traveling. Preliminary field tests look promising, though there is still a lot of work to be done.
My other interests include defining larval swimming behaviors, looking at the factors influencing the switch from benthic to suspended prey items in some adult crabs, and investigating the alleged recruitment limitation of the northern California coast. I also work with the Science Advisory Team of the California Marine Life Protection Act to establish a series of marine protected areas along our state's coast; it's a lot of work but fun to be involved in the policy side of science. For more information on my work and teaching, please see my C.V. (pdf)
