Research Interests

Left-right asymmetry: Genes as leaders or followers? Evolution by natural selection requires three steps. New phenotypic variation 1) must arise, 2) must have an impact on fitness (survival or fecundity), and 3) must (ultimately) be heritable. The first step -- how new variation arises -- remains controversial. Traditionally, new phenotypes are ascribed to novel genotypes (mutants or recombinants). But developmental plasticity -- the same genotype yields different forms in different environments -- may be a much more important source of new phenotypes than generally recognized. This has renewed interest in its evolutionary significance. Development & evolution of claw asymmetry in fiddler crabs (Uca) Our studies of the development, genetics and evolutionary history of left-right asymmetry variation have yielded some of the strongest evidence to date for a genes-as-followers mode of evolution (sometimes called genetic assimilation) -- a result that caught the attention of the Pharyngula blog. PNAS 1996, Science 2004, BioEssays 2007, Current Biology 2009, Philosophical Transactions 2016

Mechanics of high-speed movement and sound production Many animals can move body parts faster than muscles can contract. They do this by ingenious combinations of springs (for energy storage) and latches (to rapidly release stored energy). Snapping shrimp (Current Biology 2018), annelid worms (Current Biology 2019), male amphipods (Current Biology 2021) Development and evolution of morphological asymmetries in many taxa Many animals can move body parts faster than muscles can contract. They do so by ingenious combinations of ÔspringsÕ (for energy storage) and ÔlatchesÕ that allow rapid release of stored energy. Side-lying bivalves (Journal of Molluscan Studies 2024), Snapping shrimp (Current Biology 2018), Snapping shrimp (Current Biology 2018), Ongoing research includes: evolutionary origins of novel energy-storage mechanisms in ultrafast shrimp and amphipod claws identification of sound-producing invertebrates in coastal British Columbia mechanics of high-speed movements in sound-producing invertebrates comparative morphology of doubly asymmetric, rock-boring snapping shrimp role of learned, handed behavior in the evolution of morphological asymmetry BMSC Web Cam Most of our research is done at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, a magnificent field station on the west coast of Vancouver Island: West Side Bamfield & Barkley Sound, from BMSC   Web of Science metrics           Research funded by: