Culumber Lab

Fieldwork

Research in natural populations

Our field research connects organismal biology with ecological and evolutionary patterns across populations and landscapes.

Researchers carrying sampling equipment across a dry landscape
Headed to a field site in Costa Rica with Michi Tobler and Ryan Greenway (2015)
Field team sampling fish in a wooded creek
Sampling at Mill Creek with students (2025)
Field team sampling a tropical freshwater stream
The MBZ field crew that produced our Aquat. Conserv. paper https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2640
Students with sampling equipment beside a freshwater habitat
Katherine, Makailyn and Luka (L to R) sampling at Dog Lake, Florida (2026)
Overhead view of researchers sampling a stream
Students sampling Aldridge Creek, Huntsville, AL (2026)
Color variation among field-collected mosquitofish
Mosquitofish from Lake Butler, Florida (2026)
Field-collected fish examined at South Bay Boat Ramp
A melanistic molly (P. latipinna) collected at the South Bay Boat Ramp, Florida (2026)
Researcher sorting specimens collected from natural populations
Jen Dougherty processing specimens after collection (2020)
Field researchers and collaborators standing together
Tobler Lab field crew and collaborators in Mexico (2015)
Aquaria and equipment used to transport live fish
Prepping fish for transport to the US from the CICHAZ field Station in Mexico
Open-air dining area during an international field expedition
Taqueria Los Bayos in Barrio Aguazarca down the street from CICHAZ
Jars of preserved livebearing-fish specimens
Examining UMMZ collections of livebearers that led to multiple publications (2016)
Freshwater habitat at Little Big Econ
Can you spot the melanistic male? (2026)
Field vehicle parked during a sampling expedition
When your Mexico rental field vehicle breaks down 6 hours from the nearest rental place (2019)
Delilah resting in a field vehicle
Delilah co-piloting a field expedition (2026)
Deer encountered during fieldwork
Spotted an endangered Key Deer on Big Pine Key, Florida (2019)