About Our Lab
The ToBo Lab lab is shared by two PI’s Robert J. Toonen (To) and Brian Bowen (Bo). Our lab focuses on understanding the patterns of marine biodiversity through the study of the genetics and ecology of a wide variety of marine species. Lab members have worked on everything from sea stars to dolphins, seeking to illuminate the underlying mechanisms behind differences in dispersal, distribution and speciation.
Rob Toonen’s research focuses on the processes that influence dispersal and recruitment in coastal marine invertebrates, and the evolutionary consequences of larval developmental modes among Hawaiian coral reef species.
Brian Bowen’s research program focuses on the biogeography of marine vertebrates, with an emphasis on coral reef fish. Bowen uses environmental DNA to document species diversity and endangered species distributions.
Helpful Links
Dive deeper into our work and inquire about research and education opportunities at our lab.
Research Team
Loading
Latest News & Research
Featured updates from our lab
Study Debunks Myth of Native Hawaiians Causing Bird Extinctions
January 13, 2026
Climate Resilience Found in Traditional Hawaiian Fishponds
November 17, 2025
Million-Squid Diet: UH Conducts First-Ever Study to Calculate Survival Needs of Deep-Diving Pilot Whales
November 13, 2025
Support the next wave of marine science
Our research is advancing and evolving to meet the needs of our changing world. We invite you to join us in curiosity, discovery, learning, and stewardship.
