Sustainability Leadership Fellowship Cohort: 2012-2013

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Biology

Research Summary: Translocations are an important tool used to augment declining populations, yet the consequences are often unknown ahead of time. Gene flow may break down local adaptation, resulting in population declines or it may increase population size by infusing inbred populations with new genetic diversity. My work aims to understand the conditions under which gene flow results in positive or negative population growth by using an introduction experiment with freshwater stream fish in Trinidad. This information is highly important for wildlife managers to understand when planning conservation strategies for at-risk populations.