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Ecological & Evolutionary Adaptation in the Sea

We examine how – and how quickly – marine populations respond to novel or changing conditions, with a focus on using marine species invasions as natural experiments in rapid adaptation. By coupling high-throughput sequencing with physiology and ecology, we examine adaptation at multiple levels. We also work with managers to apply genomic tools to invasion and conservation management.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Will Parson / Chesapeake Bay Program

Seeking Alaska student for paid summer research!

By ctepolt | May 22, 2023

Details here: NPRB guest student announcement

Workplace feature in the Boston Globe

By ctepolt | August 15, 2019

Carolyn took a reporter from the Boston Globe out to field to get a taste of a marine biologist’s workday. Read the feature here.

Two whales in one

By ctepolt | June 15, 2019

Congratulations to Dr. Amy Van Cise on her recent Molecular Ecology paper! Amy determined that the short-finned pilot whale comprises two subspecies, one of which contains a further population-level division. Understanding group boundaries has important implications for whale conservation, and Amy has been getting some well-deserved press for her discovery. Read more about it here:…

Green crabs, accomplished invaders

By ctepolt | April 25, 2019

Carolyn wrote about some of the work we’re doing on rapid adaptation in green crabs. You can read it here:

Ocean Science Cafe: Invasion of the Body-Snatchers

By ctepolt | April 24, 2019

Carolyn gave a public talk on biological invasions and body-snatching parasites at the Tavern on the Wharf in Plymouth, MA. Quite a few brave souls came out to a seafood restaurant to learn about crab parasites. It was recorded for posterity, and you can see it here:

Green crabs in the Cape Cod Times

By ctepolt | September 17, 2017

The Cape Cod Times did a nice feature on green crabs and their impact on the Cape. Carolyn was interviewed, and one of the lab crabs made an appearance as the cover model!

Ocean Science Journalists visit

By ctepolt | September 11, 2017

  WHOI’s Ocean Science Journalism Fellows visited the lab – and the beach – to learn more about our local invasive crabs.

Student research poster session

By ctepolt | August 4, 2017

Summer Student Fellow Jeanette Gray, from Unity College in Maine, presents her research on comparative temperature tolerance of two invasive crabs.