I am broadly interested in how organisms adapt to the marine environment – particularly, in how salt plays a role in shaping speciation and biodiversity. My research background is in genome evolution, entomology, niche shifts, and island biogeography. My dissertation focused on the ecology, evolution, and phylogenies of marine flies, particularly Canacidae (beach flies).

As an affiliate of the Ruhi Lab, I investigated the effects of climate change on San Francisco Estuary fish communities, using time series modeling and spectral analysis. In particular, I worked in the project ‘Anticipating the effects of future climates and river flow regimes on Pacific herring recruitment in the San Francisco Bay‘, funded by California Sea Grant under the ‘New Faculty Awards’.

Main publications:

Pak, N., Colombano, D.D., Greiner, T., Hobbs, J.A., Carlson, S.M. and Ruhi, A., 2023. Disentangling abiotic and biotic controls of age‐0 Pacific herring population stability across the San Francisco Estuary. Ecosphere, 14(5), p.e4440.

Related article: Under climate change, Pacific herring require ecosystem-based management approach