Species Health

Migration, Habitat, and Interactions

Using state-of-the-art biologging methods and devices, and integrating biomechanics, animal behavior, DNA, and stable isotope ecology, we explore species evolution, as well as species-human interactions and their impacts. Multidisciplinary approaches and collaborations show how environmental changes influence key species indicators and illuminate ways forward. Below is a rotating selection of our standout investigators in these areas.

   ○ Recent News and Highlights
   ○ Related Strength: Mariculture

• Selected Publications

  • deVries, M., Lowder, K., & Taylor, J. (2021). From telson to attack in mantis shrimp: bridging biomechanics and behavior in crustacean conflicts. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 61(2).

    Ensminger, D., et al. (2018). Maternal stress alters the phenotype of the mother, her eggs and her offspring in a wild‐caught lizard. Journal of Animal Ecology, 87(6).

    Larabee, F., Gronenberg, W., & Suarez, A. (2017). Performance, morphology and control of power-amplified mandibles in the trap-jaw ant Myrmoteras (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Experimental Biology, 220(17).

    McDonald, B., Elmegaard, S., et al. (2021). High Heart Rates in Hunting Harbour Porpoises. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288(1962).

    Shaffer, S., et al. (2017). Population-level plasticity in foraging behavior of western gulls (Larus occidentalis). Movement Ecology, 5(27).

• Award Highlights

  • DeVries, "Examining the capacity of seaweed and shellfish co-culture to improve the physiology, biomechanics, and outplanting of farmed juvenile abalone and oysters" — NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants Competition, 2022

    McDonald, "CAREER: Foraging ecology and physiology of emperor penguins in the Ross Sea” — NSF, 2020

    McDonald, "At-sea experimental disturbance to characterize physiological plasticity in diving northern elephant seals” — NSF, 2017

    Shaffer, "Collaborative Research: Predator Facilitation Across a Variable Marine Environment" — NSF, 2021

• Affiliates

  • Agricultural Research Institute

    CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology

    CSU WATER

    Ocean Studies Institute (OSI)

    STEM-NET

Featured Faculty

Maya deVries
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Marine Biology and Ecology, Climate Change, Aquaculture, Ecomechanics, Invertebrates, Coral Reefs, Kelp Forests
ORCID: 0000-0003-1276-1993

David Ensminger
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Physiological and Behavioral Impacts of Individual and Transgenerational Stress in Wildlife
ORCID: 0000-0001-5554-1638

Susan Lambrecht
Professor of Biological Sciences
Climate Change, Plant Physiological Ecology, Evolution, Drought
ORCID: 0000-0002-6669-5023

 Fredrick Larabee
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Entomology, Ants, Molecular Biology, Evolution and Functional Morphology of Trap-Jaw Ants
ORCID: 0000-0001-8404-0146

Gitte McDonald
Associate Professor of Vertebrate Ecology
Physiological Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Marine Mammals, Penguins, Impacts of Disturbance, Energetics, Diving Physiology, Foraging Ecology, Antarctica, Stress
ORCID: 0000-0001-5028-066X

Scott Shaffer
Professor of Biological Sciences
Albatross, Animal Ecology, Biologging, Conservation, Energetics, Flight, Habitat Use, Metagenomics, Seabirds, Tracking
ORCID: 0000-0002-7751-5059

Potential collaborators and members of the media may contact us at officeofresearch@sjsu.edu.