As a broadly trained quantitative marine fish ecologist, my research interests span a wide range of issues in ecology, and are primarily focused on questions of immediate relevance to effective management of marine ecosystems and marine fisheries. I am interested in the population and community ecology of marine fishes and the ways in which humans interact with them, whether by the harvest of native species (e.g., via fishing), the introduction of non-native species (e.g., via aquarium releases), or some other mechanism (e.g., the addition of artificial habitat). My research combines a firm grounding in ecological theory with rigorous empirical field investigations and advanced analytical tools to determine how marine fish populations and communities function, and how our actions directly and indirectly affect the ability of these populations and communities to provide valuable ecosystem goods and services.
My goals as a teacher are to bring basic biological concepts and fundamentals to a general student population in an exciting and engaging way, to lead advanced students in the discovery of ecological principles through the application of empirical and statistical approaches, and to encourage both students and the public to think critically, communicate effectively, and act responsibly on marine conservation issues. I have had the good fortune to have been taught and mentored by many exceptional scientists and educators. I model my teaching approach on their examples, and hope to build upon this foundation as I continue to refine my own approach.
