Melissa Ward


Ph.D. Candidate, Marine Ecology, Ocean Biogeochemistry
 University of California, Davis / San Diego State University Abstract

Coastal vegetated habitats such as seagrasses meadows, salt marshes, and kelp forests play important roles in regional carbon cycling. Their ability to draw down atmospheric and aqueous carbon can offset impacts from climate change and ocean acidification. Measuring these carbon services and their implications therefore remains a scientific priority across disciplines. The research presented here quantifies how much carbon these habitats absorb along the California coast, and explores how this might affect sensitive species and the human communities that rely on them.

Presenter

Melissa Ward, a California native, is receiving her PhD from the University of California, Davis and San Diego State University. Although her degree is in ecology, her research and interests span the fields of oceanography, geology, coastal management, and social science. As such, her work brings in perspectives from state and federal agencies, industry representatives, and academic scientists to tackle questions surrounding ocean acidification and climate change.