Research
Elasmobranch Stress Physiology
My current research centers around elasmobranch stress physiology and health. This work utilizes biochemical metrics, such as circulating glucose, lactate, and ketones, to elucidate the internal responses of elasmobranchs to stressors. I have also investigated the usefulness of hand held point of care meters to test elasmobranch blood rapidly in the field by comparing the results of these meters to standardized laboratory biochemical assays for validation.
​
Elasmobranch Blood Bacteria Presence
During my masters program I developed methods to isolate bacteria from the blood of free ranging elasmobranchs. While blood is typically assumed to be sterile in recent years there has been literature isolating bacteria from the blood of seemingly healthy vertebrates. This was part of the second chapter of my thesis and is one of my continued research interests. Link to poster.
As an undergraduate at Cal State Long Beach I studied the reproductive biology of kelp bass in the Southern California Bight. Through histology I investigated the spawning peak of male kelp bass across the breeding season. I presented this work at the Southern California Academy of Sciences in 2016. Link to poster.
Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) reproductive physiology
Future Research Interests
I am broadly interested in marine vertebrate ecological physiology, performance, and behavior. Specifically the physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations that animals employ to increase their fitness in a given environment or to overcome environmental stressors, and how this impacts the ways in which they interact with their environment. I am also interested in animal microbiomes and how these microbial communities change in response to stress, and how microbiomes influence host physiology. I am most interested in elasmobranch taxa and intertidal organisms.