We study how biodiversity arises and is maintained—exploring the forces that drive organisms to diversify and the conditions under which new species evolve. By connecting patterns of genomic variation to phenotypic traits and fitness in the wild, our research uncovers the mechanisms that shape biological diversity across ecological and evolutionary scales. We focus especially on fishes in the family Poeciliidae, including lineages that have adapted to extreme environments such as dark caves, toxic springs rich in hydrogen sulfide, and desert wetlands.
In addition to advancing our understanding of fish ecology, adaptation, and speciation, our lab is focused on applying this knowledge to the conservation of threatened species. Many of the fishes we study are uniquely adapted to harsh or isolated habitats that are under immediate threat from human activity. Through collaborations with zoos, conservation NGOs, and government agencies, we work to protect these species and the ecosystems they depend on. By combining ecological and evolutionary insight with conservation action, we aim to help preserve the very diversity we strive to understand.
The Department of Biology and the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center at the University of Missouri—St. Louis offers excellent resources for students interested in biodiversity and conservation. If you are interested in joining the lab for a Master’s or a Ph.D., please browse through the Tobler Lab publications and read the notes for prospective graduate students. Undergraduates that are interested in getting research experience, please consult the undergraduate research page.
