Cassidy D'Aloia

Education

• PhD., Biology, Boston University (2015)
• BA., Biology, Middlebury College (2010)

Research

I am broadly interested in the molecular ecology of coastal fishes and invertebrates. The central theme of my research program is understanding the patterns, causes, and consequences of dispersal and gene flow in the ocean. Current research topics in my lab include: (1) disentangling historical and contemporary factors that shape the distribution of genetic variation in natural populations; (2) understanding how (and when) kin structure emerges in marine populations; and (3) exploring the usefulness of genomic data to support sustainable fisheries and marine conservation efforts. My group combines theory, field work, and genomics to pursue these topics. Most of our projects focus on coral reef fishes, but we also study temperate fishes, molluscs, and echinoderms.

Current Lab Members

• Galento Galvez, PhD Student
• Taylor Naaykens, PhD Candidate
• Lydia White, PhD Candidate (co-supervised)
• Krystyn Forbes, MSc Student

Become a Lab Member

We currently have opportunities available for both undergraduate and graduate researchers. To learn more and find out how you can apply to be a part of the D'Aloia Lab, visit the 'Join Us' page on our website. 

Recent Publications

For a complete list of publications, visit Dr. D'Aloia's Google Scholar page.

• Babaei, S., Varkey, D. A., Adamack, A. T., LeBlanc, N. M., Puncher, G. N., Parent, G. J., Wang, Y., Rowe, S., D’Aloia, C. C., & Pavey, S. A. (2025). Genome-wide SNPs reveal novel genetic relationships among Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from the south coast of Newfoundland, Canada (subdivision 3Ps), Northern cod stock complex, and Gulf of St Lawrence. PLoS ONE, 20, e0317768. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317768 (Co-senior authors)
• D’Aloia, C. C., Bogdanowicz, S. M., Andrés, J. A., & Buston, P. M. (2022). Population assignment tests uncover rare long-distance marine larval dispersal events. Ecology, 103, e03559. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3559
• D’Aloia, C. C., Andrés, J. A., Bogdanowicz, S. M.*, McCune, A. R., Harrison, R. G., & Buston, P. M. (2020). Unraveling hierarchical genetic structure in a marine metapopulation: A comparison of three high-throughput genotyping approaches. Molecular Ecology, 29, 2189–2203. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15483 (Co-first authorship)
• Fahim, H., Naaykens, T., & D’Aloia, C. C. (2024). Habitat quality effects on the abundance of a coral-dwelling fish across spatial scales. Ecology and Evolution, 14, e70322. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70322
• Francis, R. K., Catalano, K., Majoris, J. M., Rueger, T., D’Aloia, C. C., Bogdanowicz, S. M., & Buston, P. M. (2022). Characteristics of breeding habitat, genetic mating system, and determinants of male mating success in the sponge-dwelling goby Elacatinus lori. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 76, 157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-022-03242-3
• Harvey, E., Marleau, J., Gounand, I., Leroux, S., Firkowski, C. R., Altermatt, F., Blanchet, F. G., Cazelles, C., Chu, C., D’Aloia, C. C., Gravel, D., Guichard, F., McCann, K., Ruppert, J. L. W., Ward, C., & Fortin, M.-J. (2023). A general meta‐ecosystem model to predict ecosystem functions at landscape extents. Ecography, e06790. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.06790
• Kubelka, J., Sturch, W. H., Baker, K., & D’Aloia, C. C. (in press). Assessing size at sexual maturity and fine-scale population structure in a direct developing whelk (Buccinum undatum) in Southern Newfoundland, Canada. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
• Naaykens, T., & D’Aloia, C. C. (2022). Isolation-by-distance and genetic parentage analysis provide similar larval dispersal estimates. Molecular Ecology, 31, 3072–3082. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16456
• Naaykens, T., Fahim, H., & D’Aloia, C. C. (2024). Sponge species identity and morphology shape occupancy patterns of a Caribbean sponge-dwelling goby (Elacatinus horsti). Environmental Biology of Fishes, 107, 799–812. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-024-01494-1
• Scavo Lord, K., Lesneski, K. C., Buston, P. M., Davies, S. W., D’Aloia, C. C., & Finnerty, J. R. (2023). Rampant asexual reproduction and limited dispersal in a mangrove population of the coral Porites divaricata. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 290, 20231070. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1070
• Sturch, W. H., & D’Aloia, C. C. (2023). Genetic population structure of the waved whelk (Buccinum undatum) in the western North Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 80, 261–272. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2022-0062
• Xuereb, A., D’Aloia, C. C., Andrello, M., Bernatchez, L., & Fortin, M.-J. (2021). Incorporating putatively neutral and adaptive genomic data into marine conservation planning. Conservation Biology, 35, 909–920. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13651
• Andrello, M., D’Aloia, C. C., Dalongeville, A., Escalante-Sanchez, M.-A., Guerrero, J., Perrier, C., Torres-Florez, J.-P., Xuereb, A., & Manel, S. (2022). Evolving spatial conservation prioritization with intraspecific genetic data. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 37, 553–564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2022.02.003
• Andrello, M., Manel, S., Vilcot, M., Xuereb, A., & D’Aloia, C. C. (2023). Benefits of genetic data for spatial conservation planning in coastal habitats. Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures, 1, e28. https://doi.org/10.1017/cft.2023.25