Michael N. Dawson Research Group

University of California, Merced

Why does marine biodiversity arise in some places, persist in others, and disappear elsewhere? Michael Dawson investigates these processes from molecular variation to whole ecosystems. His research connects population genomics, ecological genomics, phylogeography, and evolutionary ecology with questions about adaptation, speciation, symbioses, and environmental change. The group integrates biological and physical sciences across small and large evolutionary scales. These projects are relevant to interests in marine diversity, conservation genomics, invasive species, and the reciprocal relationship between environments and biological variation.