Welcome to the Carlson Lab, where we study the evolutionary ecology and conservation of freshwater fishes. We seek to understand the dynamics of California’s inland fishes, and the factors that shape these populations and influence their persistence.
Some topics that interest us include:
- Life history portfolios and resilience
- Habitat mosaics and connectivity
- Impacts of drought and climate change on stream fishes
- Ecological and evolutionary impacts of management (water, fishery, hatchery, protected area)
- Evolutionary enlightened management
Much of our research is field-based and incorporates elements of behavioral, population, and community ecology. Our research combines various techniques like tagging and tracking individually marked fish, experimental manipulations in the field, direct observations, comparative studies, and modeling.
The Carlson Lab is part of the Berkeley Freshwater group, along with the labs of Drs. Ted Grantham and Albert Ruhí. Learn more about the research and training opportunities within the broader Berkeley Freshwater group here!