Former lab members - Marine Ecology

Undergraduate student researchers:

Mahina Ah Sam: Tracking metal pollution in Mission Bay Using Ulva australis.

Eleanor Brown: Size-frequency distribution of the owl limpet (Lottia gigantea) in the rocky intertidal.

Elizabeth Bushnell: Thermal tolerance of newly settled Chthamalus fissus barnacles (see results here), and effects of the predatory gastropod Mexcanthina lugubris lugubris.

Haley Cahill: Impact of thermocline on vertical distribution of barnacle larvae.

Robyn Cates: Distribution of Zoobotyron verticillatum in Mission Bay, San Diego, CA.

Gina Choi: Assessing the distribution of Amathia verticillata.

Beck Chrisbens: The relationship between larval size and temperature.

Ella Crotty: Variation in reproductive output of the barnacle Chthamalus fissus.

Allison Durland Donahou: Population dynamics of Emerita analoga.

Dana Flerchinger: Reproductive cycles and parasitism of adult barnacles in La Jolla, CA.

Diana Fontaine: Settlement dynamics of barnacles in La Jolla, CA rocky intertidal.

Connor Frank: Isopod diversity in Mission Bay.

Hannah Fumar: Thermal tolerance of barnacle cyprids and metamorphs.

Emily Gardner: Night and day differences in cuttlefish camouflage ability.

Olivia Hager: Impacts of ocean acidification on larval shore crab, Pachygrapsus crassipes, behavior.

David Martinez: The effects of temperature and salinity on growth rates of the invasive ascidian Botrylloides violaceus in Mission Bay, California.

Hannah Matcham: Barnacle (Chthamalus fissus) reproduction and food availability.

Nikki Milan: Population dynamics of an invasive species of bryozoan within Mission Bay, San Diego, CA.

Megan Mir: Vertical distribution of larvae.

Kai Monteil-Doucette: Distribution of Arcuatula senhousia in Mission Bay, San Diego.

Monica Oddo: Larval ingress into Mission Bay, San Diego, CA.

Meredith Olson: Nearshore vertical distribution on barnacle larvae.

Jill Pryor: Vertical distribution of barnacle larvae in high swell events in La Jolla, CA.

Brendan Qiu: Defensive morphologies of the barnacle Chthamalus fissus.

Karina Rog: Varying temperature and food availability on Chthamalus fissus reproduction.

Samantha Stelter: Invertebrate communities in Amathia verticillata.

Marisa Swiderski: Influence of significant wave height on the vertical distribution of barnacle larvae.

Allison Tennyson: Population dynamics of the owl limpet (Lottia gigantea) in the rocky intertidal.

Sarah Timney: Effect of temperature on the growth and survival of the barnacle Chthalamus fissus.

Zoe Virta: Early juvenile mortality of barnacles.

Patrick Walker: The effects of nitrates on coral growth.

Hannah Warde: Barnacle larvae in the surf zone.

Nicole Yamada: Larval distribution of bryozoans in the nearshore.

Graduate students: theses titles

Sean Hitchman (2011): Age-specific association with potential adult habitat in larval bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis, in the Southern California Bight. (Published paper here)

Bri Tracy Sawdey (2013): Temporal and spatial variation in native and non-indigenous ascidian settlement within fouling communities in Mission Bay, San Diego, California. (Published paper here)

Anthony Basilio (2016): Settlement of larval spotted sand bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus) within Mission Bay, San Diego CA in relation to environmental conditions. (Published paper here)

Malloree Hagerty (2017): Vertical and cross-shore distributions of barnacle larvae in La Jolla, CA nearshore waters: implications for larval transport processes. (Published papers here and here)

Kate Hargenrader (2018): The temporal and spatial dynamics of larval supply, settlement, and adult populations of Chthamalus fissus within the La Jolla, California rocky intertidal

Gabby Yamhure (2020): Nearshore vertical distribution of barnacle cyprids: temporal patterns and hydrographic variability. (Published paper here)

Samantha Ahlman (2022): Distribution patterns of the invasive mussel Arcuatula senhousia in Mission Bay, San Diego, California: Effects of sediment grain size and byssus thread production on predation

Emily Zavacki (2023): Spatiotemporal dynamics of the marine invertebrate community associated with Amathia verticillata. (Published papers here and here)

Alberto Rivera (2025): Impact of temperature on larval mortality and performance of the acorn barnacle Chthamalus fissus in San Diego, CA

Natalie De Wet (2025): Characterizing fish communities using traditional and emerging monitoring approaches in San Diego County estuaries (Fulbright Scholar)

Research technicians:

Anthony Basilio

Chris Bayne

Colin Gaylord