Research

As a shellfish ecologist, Dr. Munroe’s scientific interests center around how populations of shellfish respond and adapt to their environment. In the lab, the team has studied the way that larval dispersal connects metapopulations of shellfish and how that connectivity alters their capacity to adapt genetically to environmentally driven gradients in disease. On other occasions, programs have conducted experiments that help understand how the ecosystem services provided by shellfish populations change as the ecosystem and environment changes. Research efforts have also explored questions about how growth of individual shellfish, and shellfish populations, respond to changing environmental conditions. In all aspects of Dr. Munroe’s research, the intersection of purely scientific goals with real-world applications is a major motivation. Fisheries and aquaculture provide a natural framework where the more purely scientific research interests in the lab overlap with applied challenges. To support our ability to bring meaningful scientific insights into the realm of fisheries and aquaculture, we frequently work collaboratively with fishers and farmers to expose ourselves to the practical challenges of providing human food in a responsible, efficient, and sustainable way.