Welcome to the Funk Lab

We strive to understand the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that generate and maintain biological diversity using population genomics, experimental manipulations, and field studies. Our goal is to not only test basic evolutionary and ecological theory, but also directly inform policy and management decisions that will ultimately determine the fate of biodiversity.

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Conservation genomics

Santa Catalina island fox (Urocyon littoralis catalinae). Photo credit: Julie King

 Conservation genomics is an emerging field that uses genomic data from thousands to millions of loci or entire genomes to address important questions for biodiversity conservation. Compared to traditional conservation genetic approaches that typically used 10-20 loci, conservation genomics has far more power. In particular, it allows much more precise estimates of demographic parameters (effective population size, changes in effective population size, and gene flow) and the exciting possibility of characterizing adaptive genetic variation across real-world landscapes, critical information for making sound policy and management decisions. The Funk Lab employs genomic approaches to address conservation questions in a variety of species of conservation concern and develops new frameworks and strategies for integrating genomics into conservation policy and practice.

Current projects: