Nearly all ecological and evolutionary processes are influenced by movement, including individual fitness,
               population and community dynamics, and ecosystem processes. Further, movement is one of the key ways
               in which animals respond to environmental heterogeneity, including human-induced rapid environmental
               change, making movement a key issue in conservation efforts. An individual's physiology interacts with external
               environmental conditions to determine how it will move, and what threats or opportunities it will encounter.

Current Research Themes

​Much of my current work focuses on fish species of concern which are native to California. This includes green and white sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris, A. transmontanus), as well as Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus). We study various aspects of swimming physiology and behavioral responses to human impacts, as well as lab-based studies to evaluate the potential of new technology for use in these species.

Swimming physiology and behavior

• Juvenile sturgeon (Acipenser spp.) interactions with water diversion screens (active project)
• Endurance swimming capacity and physiology of juvenile sturgeon (active project)
• Behavioral response of sturgeon to turbulent flow fields (active project)
  

Telemetry technology

• Feasibility of acoustic telemetry techniques in the sensitive Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus)
• Impacts of Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags on juvenile sturgeon (Acipenser spp.)