Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

EEB faculty and students study a broad range of species and habitats, from the physiology of marine mammals, to the evolutionary dynamics of invasive plant species, to the behavioral strategies of lizards and birds, to the conservation value of marine protected areas.  An outstanding group of faculty, each with a vigorous, internationally recognized research program, teaches courses in their specialties as well as core courses for the major.  EEB faculty and students are uniquely able to take advantage of the ecological and environmental resources of the Monterey Bay area and UCSC Natural Reserve System.  EEB also shares the on-shore marine laboratory facilities at LML, and a unique field station on Año Nuevo Island (19 miles north of Santa Cruz) especially suited for studies of pinnipeds and marine birds.  Faculty and students at all levels can use the UCSC Natural Reserve sites at Younger Lagoon (adjacent to Long Marine Lab), Fort Ord, and Landels-Hill Big Creek (south of Big Sur) in support of instruction and research.  These habitats, from fog-enshrouded redwood forest to coastal scrub, provide an unparalleled natural laboratory for marine, coastal, and terrestrial research and serve as UC-wide study sites for scientists and students.

For more in depth information about specific research, see the individual pages of the EEB faculty.