1) Population Genetic Structure & Phylogenetics of Marine Invertebrates:
        One of the most powerful tools introduced to Marine Biology over the past few decades has been the widespread acceptance of molecular approaches to answering long-standing questions. These tools allow us to answer a diverse set of questions regarding such important issues as species identity and mapping of life-history characters, patterns and magnitude of larval dispersal, connectivity issues for the design of Marine Protected Areas, and origins of invasive species.

2) Larval Ecology:
        Roughly 80% of marine species (more than 90,000 currently described species of vertebrates, invertebrates & algae) have a biphasic life cycle in which they produce planktonic propagules. These larvae often have an obligate period during which they are incapable of metamorphosing into the adult body form, and for many species, the potential for dispersal in the ocean currents is far greater during this planktonic larval stage than during the benthic adult stage. I am broadly interested in the causes and consequences of larval dispersal, the cues which larvae use to assess the suitability of a site for settlement, and the variable ability of many species to delay metamorphosis from the juvenile to the adult body form. 

3) Marine Ornamental Culture & Aquarium Science:
        I am interested in aquarium science and the culture of marine ornamental species at a variety of levels. First of all, I have always been interested in the husbandry of marine ornamental species.  But beyond that, I believe that it is both an important and rewarding pursuit to introduce primary research to the public, and it is hard to find an audience that is more enthusiastic and interested for marine biology than aquarium hobbysists.  Therefore, I write for a number of different hobby magazines on a regular basis, and I try to have at least one aquarium science research project underway in my lab at any given time.

 

Selected Publications

Toonen, R.J. & R.K. Grosberg. In review. Effects of coastal upwelling on genetic structure in an intertidal crab with planktonic larvae. Evolution.

Toonen, R.J. 2004. I Genetic evidence of multiple paternity of broods in the intertidal crab, Petrolisthes cinctipes.  Marine Ecology Progress Series. 270:259-263

Toonen, R.J., M. Locke & R.K. Grosberg. 2004. Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci from the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister.  Molecular Ecology Notes 4(1):30-32.

Toonen, R.J. & J.R. Pawlik. 2001. Foundations of gregariousness: A dispersal polymorphism among the planktonic larvae of a marine invertebrate. Evolution 55:2439-2454.

Toonen, R.J. & J.R. Pawlik. 2001. Settlement of the gregarious tube worm Hydroides dianthus (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) I. Gregarious and nongregarious settlement. Marine Ecology Progress Series 224:103-114.

Toonen, R.J. & J.R. Pawlik. 2001. Settlement of the gregarious tube worm Hydroides dianthus (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) II. Testing the desperate larva hypothesis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 224:115-131.

Toonen, R.J. & S. Hughes. 2001. Increased throughput for fragment analysis on an ABI 377 automated sequencer using a 100-lane RapidLoad membrane comb and STRand software. BioTechniques 31:1320-1324.

Toonen, R.J. & J.R. Pawlik. 1996. Settlement of the gregarious tube worm Hydroides dianthus (Polychaeta: Serpulidae): Cues for gregarious settlement. Marine Biology 126:725-733.

Pawlik, J.R., B. Chanas, R.J. Toonen, & W.M. Fenical. 1995. Chemical defenses of caribbean marine sponges. Marine Ecology Progress Series 127:183-194.