About me

I am a biologist who believes marine science and conservation are of upmost importance for the future of our oceans and coasts. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to do collaborative research within temperate kelp forests, coral reefs, coastal wetlands, and rivers in the northern and southern hemispheres. My areas of research have ranged widely, including population and community ecology, parasitology, invasions ecology, bio-control of exotic species, development of bio-indicators of ecosystem health, and biogeography.

Having a better understanding of the relationships between biotic and abiotic variables and the abundance and distribution of ecologically and economically important species will allow us to potentially ameliorate the effects of human disturbances, such as climate change, fishing pressure, eutrophication, and human development.

I am currently a professor at the Facultad de Ciencias of the  Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Ensenada, México. I teach Community Ecology and Invertebrate Zoology and continue to research our valuable coastal ecosystems. I am also part of a diverse group of students and researchers doing monitoring and coastal science, called MexCal and an adjunct scientist at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.