Research Highlights

Population success in new environments: Using a replicated whole-lake introduction experiment of stickleback in the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, we explored the factors that influence which populations succeed in which environments. We found that some populations were consistently more successful across environmental conditions, suggesting that intrinsic population characteristics is more important than environmental matching in these contexts. Eckert et al. 2026. BioRxiv.

Using herbarium collections to study genetic change:  In a fun side project, we explored the extent to which our vast herbarium collections could be used to understand the genetic state of plant populations globally. By clustering specimens in space and time, we show that we can reconstruct hundreds of thousands of historical plant populations with ample sample sizes for genetic analysis (Eckert el al. 2026. BioScience), and we discuss how such genetic data can be used for genetic monitoring and understanding adaptive responses to global change (Eckert et al. 2026. New Phyt).

Loss of unique traits:  Rouge Lake in Haida Gwaii contains a population of stickleback listed as Special Concern under COSEWIC due to several evolutionarily unique traits, including an absence of lateral armoured plates. However, we show that a severe drought in 2015 caused dramatic population decline and phenotypic change in many traits, including an increase in lateral plates, raising questions of the status and protection of the population. Sanderson, Eckert, et al. 2026. Evo Appl.

Parental care selects for reproductive anatomy:  Reproductive accessory glands are organs possessed only by certain fish species, but play crucial functions in securing reproduction and fitness. By estimating evolutionary rates, we show that the presence of parental care likely selected for the development of these organs, rather than sperm competition, challenging our current understanding of the evolution of these organs across taxa. Eckert el al. 2025. Evolution.