Current Research
My work in New Zealand focuses on the patterns and consequences of larval dispersal in marine metapopulations. The offspring of most coastal marine organisms develop in offshore waters for extensive periods of time and potentially travel large distances before returning to near-shore habitats. The extent to which offspring are “lost” from their parental populations and successfully “captured” by more distant populations is a measure of population connectivity. Population connectivity underpins the population dynamics and evolution of most marine species, determines the efficacy of marine reserves, and influences the response of natural systems to perturbations including pollution, invasive species, climatic anomalies, and fishing. See my research programme for further information.
I also maintain a long-term research programme on the coral reefs of French Polynesia. Most of my work in this system is conducted from the University of California-Berkeley Gump Research Station on the island of Moorea. My approach integrates long-term observational studies, field experiments, and mathematical modelling. Read more about my research in French Polynesia.