I am a marine ecologist interested in how species interactions and communities respond to climate change and other human-induced stressors; as part of this work, I have focused on coral reef, seagrass, and oyster reef ecosystems across the U.S. and Caribbean.
Research Description
The unifying theme of my research is the evaluation of how biotic and abiotic factors affect interactions among organisms (often sponges) and subsequently drive changes in marine community ecology, habitat complexity, and biodiversity. Specifically, I focus my efforts on evaluating ‘hidden’ or underappreciated interactions that have historically received less scientific attention, but nonetheless, have an important impact on marine ecosystems. One of my primary avenues of research is understanding the ecological and environmental drivers that affect sponge bioerosion occurring in carbonate-based ecosystems (oyster or coral reefs), and the subsequent impacts of this sponge-mediated carbonate breakdown. My current collaborative National Science Foundation grant investigates whether sponge bioerosion of two sponges, Cliona celata (temperate and subtropical Atlantic) and Cliona californiana (temperate Pacific), is impacted by acidification and sponge predator presence.
Another major area of research I have is an ongoing research project in Jamaica where I have been monitoring coral reef recruitment since 2009. Students occasionally travel with me to Jamaica to perform underwater surveys and then work on the post-analysis of the photos of recruitment tiles back in California. From this work, I have amassed a long-term record of recruitment and benthic composition. I am always looking for motivated students to help with photo analysis and developing machine learning techniques to analyze this dataset.
In the Stubler lab, students will learn:
- How to maintain a large-scale seawater system
- Phytoplankton mariculture and sponge cultivation techniques in the lab
- How microCT technology can be used to answer complex research questions
- Experimental design best practices and data analysis methods
- To measure various water quality and environmental parameters (salinity, pH, total alkanity, pCO2, etc.).
- Strong foundational skills in experimental methods used in marine ecology
Courses
Topics in Biology (BIO103)
Marine Biology (BIO105)
Biostatistics (BIO268)
Functional Marine Ecology (BIO363)
Biological Oceanography (BIO369)
Senior Seminar (Comps) (BIO490)
Student Research Opportunities
Students can contact me to get involved in the lab and explore opportunities each semester!