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Lara A. Ferry-Graham

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
: lfgraham@mlml.cal@example.com @example.com @example.comstate.edu / : ecomorphology.mlml.calstate.edu

About me

My research pertains to the study of organism structure (i.e., anatomy) and function (e.g., how it works in a particular context). Understanding the basic structure and function of organisms is one of the oldest areas of research pertaining to the natural world. We are quite simply fascinated with how animals work. My work hinges upon understanding function in an ecological or historical (evolutionary) context. We ask questions that attempt to broadly address: 1) the diversity of form and consequence, if any, of that diversity from a simple biomechanical perspective; 2) the evolution of novel and/or specialized forms, and; 3) how form, typically by interacting with other physiological, behavioral, or genetic variables, affects and can be used to predict functional ecological relationships.

My research has largely focused on marine fishes, and in particular on traits associated with prey acquisition. It does not take a functional morphologist to note the amazing array of jaw shapes present in nature; from the simple and familiar basses to the robust-jawed sharks and the delicately long-jawed butterflyfish. Through my research I am trying to understand why there is such a diversity of fish (jaw) shapes. What is the role of functional novelties in both an evolutionary and ecological context? How do we quantify the performance consequences of changes in form? What are the functional trade-offs associated with changes in form?

Please note that only a handful of my publications are listed below. A complete list with links to pdfs are at my institutional website.

Publications

1. Van Wassenbergh, S., J. Strother, B. Flammang, L. Ferry-Graham, and P. Aerts. 2008. Extremely fast prey capture in pipefish is powered by elastic recoil. Journal of the Royal Society, Interface / the Royal Society: 285-96. (article)

2. Ferry-Graham, L., A. Gibb, and L. Hernandez. 2008. Premaxillary movements in cyprinodontiform fishes: An unusual protrusion mechanism facilitates "picking" prey capture. Zoology (Jena, Germany): 455-66. (article)

3. Flammang, B., L. Ferry-Graham, C. Rinewalt, D. Ardizzone, C. Davis, and T. Trejo. 2008. Prey capture kinematics and four-bar linkages in the bay pipefish, Syngnathus leptorhynchus. Zoology (Jena, Germany). (article)

4. Hernandez, L., L. Ferry-Graham, and A. Gibb. 2008. Morphology of a picky eater: A novel mechanism underlies premaxillary protrusion and retraction within cyprinodontiforms. Zoology (Jena, Germany): 442-54. (article)

5. Gibb, A. and L. Ferry-Graham. 2005. Cranial movements during suction feeding in teleost fishes: Are they modified to enhance suction production? Zoology (Jena, Germany): 141-53. (article)

6. Ferry-Graham, L., P. Wainwright, and G. Lauder. 2003. Quantification of flow during suction feeding in bluegill sunfish. Zoology (Jena, Germany): 159-68. (article)

Grants

1. Acquisition of a High-Speed Digital Motion Analysis System for Studying Multi-Scale Interactions in a Fluid Environment

2. Collaborative Research: Development, performance, and evolutionary ramifications of premaxillary protrusion in teleosts: A transdisciplinary study of convergent evolution

3. Survey of the Fishes at the Moss Landing Power Plant Outfall

4. The chimaera's beak: the mechanics and performance consequences of an ancient feeding mechanism

5. US-Chile Program: Investigation of Trophic Functional Morphology as a Mechanism of Temperate Invasion

Groups

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