SCOTT HAMILTON

Specific Research Interests:

My research focuses on the ecology of coastal marine fish, their role in nearshore ecosystems, and the response of these ecosystems to environmental change and human impacts. Using a combination of field experiments and observations, along with laboratory analyses, my lab focuses on research questions that range from early life stages of fish to whole ecosystems, including: (1) examination of early life history dynamics such as recruitment, selective mortality, and population linkages via larval dispersal; (2) investigation of the causes and consequences of demographic and life history variation among fish populations; and (3) evaluation of changes in the structure and function of kelp forest and coral reef communities associated with marine protection. We are motivated by a desire to provide fundamental insights to aid fisheries management and conservation efforts.