Causes and consequences of variability in larval connectivity

许多商业的、受保护的和入侵的海洋物种都有一个早期的生命阶段，在这个阶段，洋流可以将幼虫分散到很远的距离，并将地理上不同地区的种群联系起来。这种幼虫的连通性依赖于多种生物和环境因素的复杂相互作用，这使得可靠地预测一个种群对不断变化的气候和人类对海洋的利用的适应能力或脆弱性具有挑战性。我的研究利用模型的力量来检验幼虫招募过程中变异性的原因和后果，并为决策者提供实用的量化建议。我还将培训下一代海洋生态系统科学家和管理者，如何利用建模来增进我们对生态的理解，并可持续地管理海洋生物资源。

Many commercial, protected, and invasive marine species have an early life stage during which ocean currents can disperse larvae long distances and link populations in geographically distinct areas. This larval connectivity depends on the complex interaction of multiple biological and environmental factors, which makes it challenging to reliably predict a population's resilience or vulnerability to changing climate and human use of the ocean. My research exploits the power of models to examine the causes and consequences of variability in larval recruitment, and to provide decision-makers with practical quantitative advice. I will also train the next generation of marine ecosystem scientists and managers in ways to use modeling to advance our ecological understanding and sustainably manage living marine resources.