Thomas Schoener

Thomas Schoener is a Professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on ecological interactions, particularly in island systems, with an emphasis on predator-prey dynamics, food web structure, and the impacts of environmental disturbances such as hurricanes. He is renowned for experimental studies investigating how ecological and evolutionary processes interact, especially in insular ecosystems.

Key research interests include island biogeography, niche theory, and the role of natural selection in shaping community structures. His work often combines field experiments with observational studies, particularly involving Anolis lizards in the Bahamas to explore topics like behavioral adaptations, resource flows, and the effects of invasive species.

Dr. Schoener’s experimental work has revealed how predator introduction or removal alters food web dynamics, and how climatic events like hurricanes drive evolutionary changes in traits such as morphology and behavior. His long-term studies on islands have advanced understanding of community resilience and recovery mechanisms post-disaster. Collaborative grants include projects on eco-evolutionary dynamics and the effects of marine subsidies in coastal ecosystems.

Notable contributions include foundational studies on species-area relationships, the role of indirect ecological effects, and the impact of hurricanes on population survival. His research bridges ecological and evolutionary time scales, emphasizing the importance of both short-term ecological processes and long-term evolutionary adaptations in shaping biodiversity.