Michael W. Sandel

​​Members of my research group are motivated to understand the diversification of aquatic animal life, with a focus on the evolution of teleost fishes. We use molecular phylogenetic systematics and related statistical methods to identify genomic signatures of natural selection and reproductive isolation within and among populations.  I encourage my students to apply comparative methods to the study of co-evolving lineages, such as mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, microbial symbionts and their hosts, and codistributed freshwater taxa. This information advances basic scientific understanding of biological complexity, which is an underappreciated natural resource. We use similar tools to study environmental DNA (eDNA) sequences, which provide estimates of diversity and relative abundance of species living in aquatic environments. This information enables state and federal agencies to make better decisions about how to manage threatened and endangered species. Our ultimate goal is to conserve freshwater biodiversity, because freshwater animals rank among the most imperiled species on the planet. In order to accomplish this goal, we highlight the societal benefits brought by healthy local aquatic ecosystems, especially those relating to human health.

www.sandellab.org