Just returned from the 9th International Charr Symposium hosted in Duluth, MN....first time in the United States, and very appropriate given successful lake charr restoration efforts in Lake Superior. Scientists from around the world shared their research on Arctic charr, brook charr, lake charr, bull charr, and others. The views of Lake Superior did not disappoint!

Our paper on species-level relationships of the spearfishes is out online (Bulletin of Marine Science)!

​Speed reader overview: the four currently recognized spearfish species are morphologically similar, and the validity of their distinct species status has been questioned. Based on the analysis of highly polymorphic molecular markers, we were able to clearly resolve roundscale spearfish and Mediterranean spearfish, but unable to reliably distinguish between longbill spearfish and shortbill spearfish. Perhaps these latter two species are more recently evolved? Maybe isolation between these species is incomplete? Stay tuned for more!

My research on striped marlin and white marlin is featured in the latest issue of Marlin Magazine! Check out the article here. Thanks Marlin Mag!

It's that time of year again! This has been an awesome week hanging out at the Ocean City, MD weigh station for the 2017 Mid Atlantic 500 Tournament. Thanks to the tournament for letting me collect samples for my work! Check out @MidAtl on Facebook for standings and more photos!

I am so excited to share the story that Virginia Sea Grant created to highlight my work. Way to go summer communications interns...it turned out amazing! Find the story here. 

The first study included in my dissertation work was just released online today in the ICES Journal of Marine Science!

Speed reader recap: white marlin is currently managed as a single ocean-wide stock, but recent evidence suggests the possibility of population structuring for this species. Relative to previous genetic studies, I surveyed a larger number of molecular markers and samples to increase the ability to detect population structure (if it exists)....but results were consistent with a single ocean-wide population. Are these genetic results consistent with biological reality? Stay tuned for more updates!

Had a blast at ConGen2 learning about the bioinformatic analysis of genomic data. Doesn't hurt that the University of Montana field station is beautiful!

Spent this week at the 6th International Billfish Symposium held at the International Game Fish Association headquarters in Dania Beach, FL! Pretty happy that one of these meetings took place while in the midst of my marlin research. @TheIGFA

I'll be spending this week collecting biological samples from the billfish brought in to the @MidAtl Ocean City, MD weigh station. Not too bad of a view!

Check out my research highlight by The Billfish Foundation in The Watery Rave. Efforts for the worldwide collection of billfish fin clips are in full swing! Email me if you're interested in helping: [email protected]