Research
Evolution in motion: freshwater life under a shifting climate
Central Texas rivers are among the most hydrologically volatile in North America, swinging from flash flood to multi-year drought within a single generation of fish or amphibian life. Our lab treats these rivers as natural laboratories for studying rapid evolution — combining fieldwork on the Brazos and its tributaries with genomic sequencing, common-garden physiology trials, and quantitative modeling.
Thermal Adaptation
We measure how heat tolerance in stream fishes shifts across generations, linking whole-organism physiology to underlying genetic variation.
Population Genomics
Using low-coverage whole-genome sequencing, we track allele frequency change in wild populations exposed to drought and flow alteration.
Hydrological Disturbance
Central Texas rivers swing between flash flood and drought. We study how these pulses reshape population structure and gene flow.
Applied Conservation Genetics
We partner with state and regional agencies to translate genomic data into management plans for species of conservation concern.
Funding & field sites
Fieldwork is anchored at long-term monitoring sites along the Brazos River watershed, in partnership with regional conservation agencies and the Baylor Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research. New collaborations and funding partnerships are welcome — reach out via the contact page.