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Understanding how animals cope with rapidly changing environmental conditions is essential for their conservation. As an evolutionary behavioral ecologist, my goal is to understand the relationship between the ecology and behavior of the individual. My research seeks to understand the importance of behavioral variability in the success of commercially important crustaceans such as blue crabs, lobsters and crayfish. These remarkable species differ dramatically in their behavior, social interactions, and life history strategies, but all are experiencing a rapid decline in the quality of their natural habitats. My students and I use a combination of laboratory studies, field surveys and computer modeling to evaluate the impact of changing environmental conditions on future populations. In my behavioral ecology course, I teach students models of optimal behavioral strategies and the complex evolutionary tradeoffs between morphology, life history, ecology and behavior. In my field ecology course, I teach students how to design, collect and analyze field observations to address specific ecological hypotheses. I also work closely with academic and government biologists to create individual-based population models of commercial species to be used for scenario planning and population forecasting. My hope is that the behavioral plasticity of animals will help them to persist in our rapidly changing environment until we can find sustainable solutions to the loss of critical habitats. Childress Lab Field Research Blog From the latest research to the latest catch, you can now read about the progress of our research teams on the Childress Lab Field Research Blog. Childress Lab Field Research Blog Congratulations Adrianna Adrianna Zito-Livingston has published her Masters thesis research in the proceedings of the Seventh International Lobster Conference and Workshop. Zito-Livingston & Childress 2009 NZ J Mar Fresh Res Good Luck Dr. Pete Peter Bouwma has left our lab for new adventures in Germany with new bride Denice. He can be reached at: pbouwma@gmail.com |
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Welcome to the Childress Lab! |
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Caribbean Spiny Lobster |
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Dr. Michael Childress |
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To contact us: Office: 105 Jordan Hall |
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Joe Bisesi and Kirk Parmenter in the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve. |
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Pete Bouwma and Tim (TJ) Jordan in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. |
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Postlarval lobsters may use conspecific odors as a settlement cue. |
