Researchers

Bio

My research focuses on estimating how environmental factors influence the capacity for coral reefs to grow and sustain important geo-ecological functions in the face of climate change. These functions include coastal protection from storms, commercially important fisheries, and eco-tourism. By quantifying geological and ecological processes that add and subtract calcium carbonate to a reef, I develop carbonate budgets that determine whether a reef is experiencing net growth or erosion through time. Knowing how quickly a reef is growing or being destroyed helps us predict whether their geo-ecological functions will persist or become obsolete in the face of rapid sea-level rise and increasing sea-surface temperatures.