Research

kelp rockfish

Much of my research is focused on marine conservation and approaches using spatial management such as Marine Protected Areas.   As part of PISCO (www.piscoweb.org), my group monitors MPAs throughout central and southern California.  We are also involved in designing cost-effective and efficient monitoring approaches that contribute useful information for coastal marine spatial planning and spatial approaches to fisheries management.  

We study ecological relationships among key players in kelp forest and coral reef communities.

A major focus area in my lab is understanding the processes that contribute to as well as the consequences of variable settlement and recruitment of fishes and invertebrates.  I have studied recruitment extensively in both coral reef and kelp forest ecosystems and on a variety of taxonomic groups.