Geoffrey Trussell

Geoffrey Trussell

Chair
Director
and Doherty Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences

Expertise:

  • Community Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology

About Geoffrey Trussell

My research program currently focuses on a number of important issues in evolutionary, community and ecosystem ecology.  These interests are being explored in a number of systems including rocky intertidal shores, old fields, and freshwater amphibian communities.  In a nutshell, I think interesting questions are far more important than interesting systems but, of course, if one can have both then things are that much better!  Much of our current work emphasizes the evolutionary and ecological significance of predation risk, with an emphasis on the evolution of phenotypic plasticity and inducible defenses, the ecological significance of nonconsumptive predator effects, and the influence of trait-mediated indirect interactions on community dynamic and ecosystem function.  However, we also spend a good amount of time on other topics including the factors influencing invasive and exotic plant diversity in terrestrial systems, the influence of species diversity on ecosystem function, and the impact of climate change on natural food webs.

My research is highly collaborative and involves some outstanding colleagues including Oswald Schmitz (Yale University), Barney Luttbeg (Oklahoma State University), Matthew Bracken (Northeastern University), Steve Vollmer (Northeastern University), Lee Smee (Texas A&M), Jeremy Long (San Diego State University) and Osamu Kishida (Hokkaido University).

Contact

Mailing Address:

4 MSC (Marine Science Center), Nahant, MA 01908
Institutes, Labs & Research Centers
Trussell Lab
Marine and Environmental Sciences

Research in the Trussell Lab is focused on the ecology and evolution of marine communties, in particular the role of species interactions in shaping communities. This work involves laboratory projects and field research that spans the breadth of habitats in the Gulf of Maine.

Publications:

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