Cassidy D’Aloia Lab

Research in the D’Aloia lab lies at the intersection of marine ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. We are broadly interested in the molecular ecology of coastal fishes and invertebrates. The central theme of our research program is understanding the patterns, causes, and consequences of dispersal in the sea. Questions of interest include:

1. Why do most marine organisms have a dispersive larval phase?
2. What intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence realized dispersal patterns?
3. How does dispersal interact with demographic and environmental stochasticity to affect the spatiotemporal structure of alleles, individuals, and populations?
4. How and why could dispersal patterns change, given the growing human footprint on the ocean?

We are also interested in finding useful ways to incorporate genetic and demographic connectivity estimates into marine conservation planning efforts.

We draw from a variety of approaches to address these research questions, including genetics/genomics, GIS, and theoretical modeling. But our favorite place to be is underwater, so all of our projects have a strong SCUBA-based field component. Our lab at UNB Saint John is well-equipped for both molecular ecology bench work and scientific diving.

For more information see cassidydaloia.com, or get in touch with Cassidy at cdaloia@unb.ca.