Doug Rasher, Phd

Education

B.S., Zoology, Michigan State University, 2005

Ph.D., Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2012

Research Interests

Dr. Douglas Rasher is an ecologist who studies the coastal realm. His research spans multiple environments ranging from tropical coral reefs to cold-water kelp forests, but his work is unified by a common aim: to reveal the causes and consequences of abrupt “state shifts” in reef ecosystems.

A state shift occurs when an ecosystem loses its habitat-forming, foundational species, such as coral or kelp. Over the past 15 years, Rasher and his colleagues have discovered that state shifts on reefs are triggered by ocean warming, the cascading effects of predator loss, and the interplay between those processes. He and his collaborators have also revealed that these shifts reverberate to impact a variety of broader system attributes — including the recovery potential of the reef, and the flow of energy through food webs.

To study the drivers and impacts of state shifts, Rasher and his team employ a unique, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approach — blending large-scale field observations with cutting-edge sample analyses, mechanistic experiments, and computer models. Further, they study the topic of state shifts through the lens of species interactions, doing so across multiple spatial scales (from kilometers to millimeters) and trophic levels (from apex predators to microbes).

The ultimate goal of Rasher’s work is to reveal how the loss of large consumers, and climate change, are reshaping reef ecosystems in the Anthropocene. That knowledge can inform ecosystem management in ways that maximize the functioning of modern reefs, as well as the services they provide to humanity.

Currently, the Rasher Lab is composed of postdoctoral scholars, PhD students, and undergraduate student interns. If you would like to collaborate or seek training with Dr. Rasher, please send an email.