• Ph.D. Zoology, Northern Arizona University
• M.S. Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• B.S. Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Carl greatly enjoys regularly teaching courses in general biology, zoology, and botany, ecology, winter and tropical ecology, and conservation biology.  He has also taught and designed courses in evolution and intelligent design.  He strongly encouraged students to learn through experiencing the process of scientific inquiry.

Carl has been scientifically inquisitive since his teenage years.  In his undergraduate summers, he gained years of experience as a glaciological field technician, studying volcano-glacier interactions in the Wrangell and Aleutian Ranges, and the dynamics of surging glaciers and ice streams in Southeast Alaska and Greenland.  During the academic year, Carl worked as a technician identifying zooplankton from the North Pacific and the Bering Sea and also aided in studies of phytoplankton biomass and productivity.  Occasionally, he would miss class as he pursued his work via helicopter or research vessel, often far into the pack ice.

Dr. Tobin’s biological interests spurred graduate study of the plant-arthropod interactions.  His Master’s work focused on the relationship between oviposition choices of insects and host plant characteristics.  He continued along these lines of inquiry, studying how newly incorporated hosts plants affect maternal manipulation of sex ratios, in spider mites.

Since arriving at APU in 1995, Carl has conducted research in herbivore-plant relationships, examining the nutritional ecology of Canada geese, rather than insects.  He has also investigated policy questions related to controversial wildlife management proscriptions and is currently examining the effects of development on the physical and biological processes of wetlands.

Carl enjoys climbing rocks, ice, snow, trees, and other steep media.  He is the father of two children.