White abalone reproduction
Successful reproductive output is essential for the recovery of endangered white abalone. We are working on a California Sea Grant funded collaboration with the German Lab at UC Irvine to better understand the impact of a nutrient rich diet and warming temperatures on abalone reproduction. We will also be exploring how temperature and diet impact the microbiome and hormone production of white abalone.
Abalone sperm cryopreservation
A successful white abalone spawn requires output of eggs and sperm. We are currently collaborating with the CDFW Fisheries Genetics Research Lab to optimize methods for cryopreserving sperm. This will allow for successful reproduction during spawning events that are sperm limited.
Adaptive capacity and physiology of copepods
As a graduate student in the Pespeni Lab I used copepods as a model system to understand the capacity of marine ectotherms to respond to changing climate conditions. Using experimental evolution, I studied the adaptive capacity of copepods to ocean warming. Additionally I researched the stage specific temperature and salinity tolerance of copepods. My most recent publication with collaborators at the Farallon Institute used field collected copepod data and satellite temperature data to demonstrate that nutrient rich copepods may be vulnerable to future warming.
