Greenhouse used for Aquatic Ecology research
Swordtails for predation studies
Pike killifish
Aquatic Ecology Research
Aquatic ecology research at the TAL is conducted in a variety of areas related to imperiled fishes of the southeast U.S., ecology of aquaculture ponds, predator-prey relationships, and the importance of intraspecific variation to ecological and evolutionary dynamics. At our location in the Southshore area of Tampa Bay, we are fortunate to have a variety of aquatic habitats at our fingertips, from spring systems to marine environments.
Research typically includes a combination of modeling, field work in streams and rivers, and manipulative experiments in mesocosms of various size, from aquaria to experimental ponds. There is a synergy between research on non-native species, one of the primary research areas of the TAL, and aquatic ecology research. Ultimately, non-native species are useful model systems for the study of ecological and evolutionary processes and informing general ecological theory.