Research

The Nancollas Lab seeks to understand how aquatic organisms physiologically respond and adapt to dynamic and changing environments, especially in the context of global climate change. Rising temperatures, shifting salinity, declining oxygen, and other human-driven stressors are rapidly reshaping aquatic ecosystems. These challenges affect not only individual organisms but also populations, community interactions, and ecosystem functioning. Our research aims to uncover the physiological mechanisms that determine how aquatic animals are adapted to their environment and whether they have the capacity to survive and thrive in an increasingly challenging world.

To address these questions, we integrate fieldwork, laboratory studies, and experimental approaches. We are particularly interested in mechanisms associated with metabolism, bioenergetics, and stress tolerance, combining whole-organism and biochemical methods with emerging computer vision technologies.

Much of our work focuses on shellfish (e.g., mussels, oysters, crabs), given their ecological importance and economic value, but we also study other aquatic invertebrates and fish to broaden our understanding of resilience across species. Our goal is to generate knowledge that advances the fundamental science of environmental physiology while informing and supporting the conservation and management of species that are ecologically, economically, and culturally significant.

Publications

Sarah Nancollas - Bibliography