Our weekly seminar series featuring internal and external speakers in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology. This seminar will be in-person and livestreaming on Zoom (link this page).

Abstract:
From individual growth and survival to the ecological trajectories of populations to the social and culture fabric of society, food plays a pivotal role in shaping life on Earth. As climate continues rapidly changing and more complex human-environment interactions emerge, it has become even more important to understand how these relationships shape the ecological processes that maintain the structure and function of ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. In this talk, I will explore a series of interconnected case studies on food web dynamics in coral reef socio-environmental systems, which hold some of the highest biodiversity in the world, provide food for ~1B people, and support >$375B in global goods and services. I plan to show how taking a molecular approach to food web ecology can shed light on some fundamental questions in ecology while providing scientific support to address current and emerging ocean challenges. Through this process, I want to highlight the need and value to think about ecology in a decolonized context that centers the voices, experiences, and ways of Indigenous communities who steward >80% of coral reefs globally.

Contact eebsemaccess@umich.edu for Zoom password at least 2 hours prior to event.