FROM SHALLOW STREAMS TO THE DEEP ABYSS
Fishes are the largest group of living vertebrates, with more than 35,000 species distributed across the globe. Lily Hughes (Curator) and Gabriela Hogue (Collections Manager) conduct research on the biodiversity of fishes using the museum’s extensive research collection of fishes, which includes species from local streams and rivers to those inhabiting deep ocean waters. The ichthyology collection is a rich source of biodiversity data, including tissues for genetic analysis, morphological data from preserved specimens, and information about where species occur. Lily’s research combines genomics and natural history data to understand the evolutionary relationships among species and how fish have evolved to adapt to diverse environments, including different salinities and temperatures. Gabriela also utilizes natural history data in her research in trying to provide the most complete picture of the distribution and diversity of species, especially those found in North Carolina.
Researchers
Adjunct Researchers
- Bryn H. Tracy