Research Interests:
Taking data after collecting sand darters (Ammocrypta sp.) in the Sabine R. at 2AM.
I work to understand how diversity (phenotypic, ecological, and species diversity) accumulates in species rich lineages of fishes. I use a variety of different types of data (morphological, ecological, phylogenetic, and functional) to address a series of related questions. I currently use the North American radiation of freshwater percid fishes commonly called darters as my primary study system. I have also begun to study the morphological correlates of ecological divergence in threespine sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus in lakes and streams on Vancouver Island, Canada.
Collaborative projects:
1. Phylogenetic relationships among all described and undescribed species of darters. (With Tom Near at Yale U.; Near, Carlson, et al. in prep.)
2. Patterns of lineage diversification and morphological disparity accumulation across plant and animal lineages. (With Chris Searcy at UC Davis)
Postdoctoral research:
At Harvard (with George Lauder):
1. The kinematics of benthic station-holding in darters. (Carlson and Lauder 2010)
2. Use of the boundary layer by station-holding darters. (Carlson and Lauder in prep.)
3. Correlated variation in pectoral fin kinematics during darting and fin shape among darter species.
4. Correlated evolution of morphological (pectoral fin shape) and ecological (microhabitat) diversity across darters.
5. Extent of convergent ecological and morphological adaptation to lotic environments in North American and European percid fishes.
6. Manner in which invasion of a novel hydrodynamic environment (the boundary layer) has facilitated diversification of darter fishes.
At UT Austin (with Dan Bolnick):
1. Effect of community diversity (ecological, phylogenetic) on population niche breadth in the johnny darter E. nigrum.
2. Relationship between morphological and diet diversity in E. nigrum.
3. Integration of novel trophic characters into classic studies of resource use in threespine sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus. (Bolnick et al. in review)
Dissertation research:
1. Ecological morphology of darters and variation in morphological disparity among major clades. (Carlson and Wainwright 2010)
2. Temporal dynamics of microhabitat habitat diversification and consequences for community assembly in darters. (Carlson et al. in prep.)
3. Temporal patterns of morphological disparity accumulation and species diversification in darters. (Carlson and Wainwright in prep.)
4. Relationship between species co-occurrence and morphological diversification in Percina darters. (Carlson et al. 2009)
5. Change in tropic morphology in the Tessellated darter E. olmstedi following introduction of the Banded darter E. zonale to the Susquehanna R. drainage. (Carlson 2008)
Undergraduate research:
1. Factors contributing to the distinct vertical distribution pattern of the common periwinkle Littorina littorea. (Perez, Carlson, et al. 2009)
2. Heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of L. littorea. (Carlson et al. 2006)
3. Frequent loss of the swimbladder in teleost fishes parallels a high incidence of swimbladder-related mutations during development in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. (McCune and Carlson 2004)
©2010 R.L. Carlson