focal areas
We work with agencies, government bodies, companies, and foundations to develop and guide climate goals supported by ocean-based habitat recovery opportunities. Our focal areas include:
BLUE CARBON & COASTAL CARBON CYCLING
What: How can blue carbon habitats (salt marshes, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and macroalgae) mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon?
How: Field, lab, and modeling approaches (e.g., sediment cores, sensors, analytical lab work)
For whom: Data are incorporated into national and sub-national climate action plans and into developing carbon offset programs. Institutional collaborators on this work include scientists with the University of Oxford, the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, Santa Barbara, among many others.
AQUACULTURE
What: We investigate how sustainable aquaculture can build coastal community resilience. (e.g., How can shellfish farmers adapt to Ocean Acidification (OA)? How can marine primary producers ameliorate OA? How can seaweed culture be used for climate resilience?)
How: Community interviews, in situ, oceanographic sensor deployments, observation-based approaches, etc
HABITAT RESTORATION
What: We work on coastal habitat restoration projects, including seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral reefs and more.
How: Habitat monitoring and data collection, data analysis and reporting to understand restoration outcomes and success.
For whom: This restoration work is conducted for mitigation, community-led projects, or for state and federal initiatives. We also work frequently with restoration communities, stakeholders, and rightsholders to understand the implications and efficacy of restoration, with an eye towards meeting habitat protection and coverage goals (e.g., 30 by 30 initiatives).
BIODIVERSITY
What: We explore biodiversity by addressing questions such as - what forces (connectivity, local evolution) drive biodiversity in complex ecosystems? Can metrics of habitat structure be used to assess habitat function (i.e., biodiversity)?
How: This work is conducted through novel techniques (e.g., eDNA) and traditional field-based monitoring approaches in a multitude of marine and coastal habitats.
For whom: This work is conducted with research collaborators across the globe, and is rapidly advancing as novel mechanisms to support and finance biodiversity develop (e.g., biodiversity credits).
BLUE CARBON & COASTAL CARBON CYCLING
What: How can blue carbon habitats (salt marshes, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and macroalgae) mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon?
How: Field, lab, and modeling approaches (e.g., sediment cores, sensors, analytical lab work)
For whom: Data are incorporated into national and sub-national climate action plans and into developing carbon offset programs. Institutional collaborators on this work include scientists with the University of Oxford, the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, Santa Barbara, among many others.
AQUACULTURE
What: We investigate how sustainable aquaculture can build coastal community resilience. (e.g., How can shellfish farmers adapt to Ocean Acidification (OA)? How can marine primary producers ameliorate OA? How can seaweed culture be used for climate resilience?)
How: Community interviews, in situ, oceanographic sensor deployments, observation-based approaches, etc
HABITAT RESTORATION
What: We work on coastal habitat restoration projects, including seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral reefs and more.
How: Habitat monitoring and data collection, data analysis and reporting to understand restoration outcomes and success.
For whom: This restoration work is conducted for mitigation, community-led projects, or for state and federal initiatives. We also work frequently with restoration communities, stakeholders, and rightsholders to understand the implications and efficacy of restoration, with an eye towards meeting habitat protection and coverage goals (e.g., 30 by 30 initiatives).
BIODIVERSITY
What: We explore biodiversity by addressing questions such as - what forces (connectivity, local evolution) drive biodiversity in complex ecosystems? Can metrics of habitat structure be used to assess habitat function (i.e., biodiversity)?
How: This work is conducted through novel techniques (e.g., eDNA) and traditional field-based monitoring approaches in a multitude of marine and coastal habitats.
For whom: This work is conducted with research collaborators across the globe, and is rapidly advancing as novel mechanisms to support and finance biodiversity develop (e.g., biodiversity credits).
selected works and publications
Peer-reviewed papers
1. Ward, M. Dibble, C. D., Lilley, R.J., Lynch, J., McGlathery, K., Seddon, N., Strong, A., Wedding, L. Management Approach Matters: Meeting Seagrass Recovery and Carbon Mitigation Goals. Nature: Ocean Sustainability. (In Review).
2. Ward, M. Coasta, M., Ricart, A., Wedding, L., Macreadie, P., Crooks, S. Where we’ve come from and where we’re going: Blue carbon in a new era of carbon accounting. (2025). Annual Reviews. (In Review).
3. Ryder. A., Edwards, M.A, Ward, M., W. Oechel. Seasonal patterns of community metabolism in the eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows of San Diego Bay. (2024). Estuaries and Coasts. (In Review).
4. Janousek, C....Ward, M., et al. Multi-scale drivers of variability in blue carbon stocks along the Pacific coast of North America. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. (In Review).
5. Palola, P., ... Ward, M., et al. Simulation-based inference advances water quality mapping in shallow coral reef environments. Royal Society Open Science. (In Review).
6. Wright, R.... Ward, M. et al. Biophysical drivers of coral reef community structure across a tropical benthic seascape. Marine Biodiversity (In Review).
7. Capece, L., Griffin, A.J., Ward, M., Ricart, A. M., Shukla, P., Lobrutto, J., Hill, T. M. Multi-scale drivers of variability in blue carbon stocks along the Pacific coast of North America. Global Biogeochemical Cycles (In Review).
8. Maxwell, T... Ward, M. et al., Worthington, T. A. Global dataset of soil organic carbon in tidal marshes. (2023). Nature: Sci Data 10, 797 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02633-x
9. Ward, M, and K. Beheshti. “Lessons Learned from over Thirty Years of Eelgrass Restoration on the US West Coast.” Ecosphere e4642, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4642
10. Wolters, E. Ward, M., Spalding, A. K., Levine, A., Green, K. G., Hasert, R., Regula-Whitefield, C. M., Johnson, K. M. Governance and Adaptation in West Coast Shellfisheries: How investment in strategic actions can build resilience to ocean acidification. Marine Policy (In Review).
11. Hamilton, S. L., Kennedy, E., Zulian, M., Hill, T. M., Gaylord, B., Sanford, E., Ricart, A. M., Ward, M., Spalding, A. K., and Kroeker, K. Variable exposure to low pH, hypoxia, and increased temperatures across a marine protected area network has implications for ocean protection. ICES Journal of Marine Science, fsad 120, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsad120
12. Green, K. M., Spalding, A. K, Ward, M., Levine, A., Hamilton, S., and Rice, L. Oregon shellfish farmers: Perceptions of stressors, adaptive strategies, and policy linkages. Ocean & Coastal Management (234) 106475, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman
13. Kennedy. E.G..., Ward, M., et al. A high-resolution synthesis dataset for multistressor analyses along the U.S. West Coast. Earth System Science Data (2023). https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2023-205
14. Ward, M., Spalding, A. K., Levine, A. L., and Wolters, E. A. California shellfish farmers: Perceptions of changing ocean conditions and strategies for adaptive capacity. Ocean & Coastal Management (225) 106 -155, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106155.
(see 2-page summary of this paper here)
15. Ricart, A. M., Ward, M., Hill, T. M., Sanford, E., Kroeker, K., Takeshita, Y., Merolla, S., Shukla, S., Ninokawa, A., Elsmore, K., and Gaylord, B. Commentary: Overstated Potential for Seagrass Meadows to Mitigate Coastal Ocean Acidification. Frontiers in Marine Science (9), 884857, (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.884857
16. Ward, M., Kindinger, T. Hirsh, H. , Koweek, D., Hill, T. Jellison, B., Lummis, S., Rivest, E., Waldbusser, G., B. Gaylord, and Kroeker, K. Spatial and temporal patterns in seagrass metabolic fluxes. Biogeosciences (19) 689-699, (2022). https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-689-2022.
17. Ward, M., Hill, T. M., Souza, C., Filipczyk, T., Ricart, A. M., Merolla, S., Capece, L. R., O’Donnell, B. C., Elsmore, K., Oechel, W. C., and Beheshti, K. M. Blue Carbon Stocks and Exchanges Along the Pacific West Coast. Biogeosciences (18) 4717-4732, (2021). https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4717-2021.
18. Ricart, A. M., Ward, M., Hill, T. M., Sanford, E., Kroeker, K., Takeshita, Y., Merolla, S., Shukla, S., Ninokawa, A., Elsmore, K., and Gaylord, B. Coast-wide evidence of low pH amelioration by seagrass ecosystems. Global Change Biology (00) 1-12, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15594
19. Ricart, A. M., Gaylord, B., Hill, T.M, Sigwart, J. Shukla, P., Ward, M., Ninokawa, A. and Sanford, E. Seagrass driven changes in carbonate chemistry enhance oyster growth. Oecologia, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-04949-0
20. Ward, M., Hill, T. M., Ricart, A., Gaylord, B., O'Donnell, B C., Capece, L., Shukla, P., Kroeker, K., Sanford, E., and W. Oechel. Synthesizing Multiple Carbon Fluxes in a Temperate, Pacific Seagrass Meadow. Global Biogeochemical Cycles (in review).
21. P. A. Bowler, Beheshti, K., Brutto, A., Drake, C., Koshniat, T., Ward, M., and K. Wong. Diocey in Riparian Environments and the Implications for Restoration. Ecological Restoration 36(4): 272 - 275, (2018). doi:10.3368/er.36.4.272
Selected technical reports and white papers
1. Ward, M. A., Merrill, J., and Katz, B.G. 2024. Science-based guidance for best management practices for co-management of submerged aquatic vegetation and molluscan shellfish in Oregon bays and estuaries. (pdf found here)
2. Queirós, A. M., Yang, M., Rühl, S., Rindt, C., Ward, M. and Crooks, S (2024). Seascape carbon management beyond wetlands, as eligible blue carbon activities. Scientific review. PML Publishing, United Kingdom. 69pp. doi: 10.17031/vhba-sf72
3. Ward, M. et al. Developing a UK Seagrass Carbon Code. (pdf found here, 2 page summary here). University of Oxford, June 2023.
4. Ward, M., McHugh, T. A., Elsmore, K., Esgro, M., Ray, J., Murphy-Cannella, M., Norton, I. and Freiwald, J. Restoration of North Coast Bull Kelp Forests: A Partnership Based Approach. California Reef Check, May 2022. (pdf found here).
5. Nichols, K and M. Ward. Newport Bay Caulerpa prolifera Suurveys. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
6. Ward, M. and K. Beheshti. Eelgrass Restoration on the U.S. West Coast: A Comprehensive Assessment of Restoration Techniques and Their Outcomes. Prepared for: Pew Charitable Trusts by the Pacific Marine Environmental Partnership. 2021. (pdf found here)
(Accompanying data search tool here)
7. A Carbon Neutral California: Blue Carbon Sequestration along California’s Coast. CCST Expert Briefing Series. 2020. (pdf found here)
8. Ward, M. Blue Carbon: Seagrass as a Tool for Ocean Acidification and Climate Change Management in California. Prepared for: the California Ocean Protection Council, the California Ocean Science Trust. 2016. (pdf found here)
9. Ward, M. Recommendations for leadership actions to protect West coast eelgrass. Scientific sign-on
letter. Prepared for: Pew Charitable Trusts and the Audubon Society. 2020.
1. Ward, M. Dibble, C. D., Lilley, R.J., Lynch, J., McGlathery, K., Seddon, N., Strong, A., Wedding, L. Management Approach Matters: Meeting Seagrass Recovery and Carbon Mitigation Goals. Nature: Ocean Sustainability. (In Review).
2. Ward, M. Coasta, M., Ricart, A., Wedding, L., Macreadie, P., Crooks, S. Where we’ve come from and where we’re going: Blue carbon in a new era of carbon accounting. (2025). Annual Reviews. (In Review).
3. Ryder. A., Edwards, M.A, Ward, M., W. Oechel. Seasonal patterns of community metabolism in the eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows of San Diego Bay. (2024). Estuaries and Coasts. (In Review).
4. Janousek, C....Ward, M., et al. Multi-scale drivers of variability in blue carbon stocks along the Pacific coast of North America. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. (In Review).
5. Palola, P., ... Ward, M., et al. Simulation-based inference advances water quality mapping in shallow coral reef environments. Royal Society Open Science. (In Review).
6. Wright, R.... Ward, M. et al. Biophysical drivers of coral reef community structure across a tropical benthic seascape. Marine Biodiversity (In Review).
7. Capece, L., Griffin, A.J., Ward, M., Ricart, A. M., Shukla, P., Lobrutto, J., Hill, T. M. Multi-scale drivers of variability in blue carbon stocks along the Pacific coast of North America. Global Biogeochemical Cycles (In Review).
8. Maxwell, T... Ward, M. et al., Worthington, T. A. Global dataset of soil organic carbon in tidal marshes. (2023). Nature: Sci Data 10, 797 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02633-x
9. Ward, M, and K. Beheshti. “Lessons Learned from over Thirty Years of Eelgrass Restoration on the US West Coast.” Ecosphere e4642, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4642
10. Wolters, E. Ward, M., Spalding, A. K., Levine, A., Green, K. G., Hasert, R., Regula-Whitefield, C. M., Johnson, K. M. Governance and Adaptation in West Coast Shellfisheries: How investment in strategic actions can build resilience to ocean acidification. Marine Policy (In Review).
11. Hamilton, S. L., Kennedy, E., Zulian, M., Hill, T. M., Gaylord, B., Sanford, E., Ricart, A. M., Ward, M., Spalding, A. K., and Kroeker, K. Variable exposure to low pH, hypoxia, and increased temperatures across a marine protected area network has implications for ocean protection. ICES Journal of Marine Science, fsad 120, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsad120
12. Green, K. M., Spalding, A. K, Ward, M., Levine, A., Hamilton, S., and Rice, L. Oregon shellfish farmers: Perceptions of stressors, adaptive strategies, and policy linkages. Ocean & Coastal Management (234) 106475, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman
13. Kennedy. E.G..., Ward, M., et al. A high-resolution synthesis dataset for multistressor analyses along the U.S. West Coast. Earth System Science Data (2023). https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2023-205
14. Ward, M., Spalding, A. K., Levine, A. L., and Wolters, E. A. California shellfish farmers: Perceptions of changing ocean conditions and strategies for adaptive capacity. Ocean & Coastal Management (225) 106 -155, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106155.
(see 2-page summary of this paper here)
15. Ricart, A. M., Ward, M., Hill, T. M., Sanford, E., Kroeker, K., Takeshita, Y., Merolla, S., Shukla, S., Ninokawa, A., Elsmore, K., and Gaylord, B. Commentary: Overstated Potential for Seagrass Meadows to Mitigate Coastal Ocean Acidification. Frontiers in Marine Science (9), 884857, (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.884857
16. Ward, M., Kindinger, T. Hirsh, H. , Koweek, D., Hill, T. Jellison, B., Lummis, S., Rivest, E., Waldbusser, G., B. Gaylord, and Kroeker, K. Spatial and temporal patterns in seagrass metabolic fluxes. Biogeosciences (19) 689-699, (2022). https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-689-2022.
17. Ward, M., Hill, T. M., Souza, C., Filipczyk, T., Ricart, A. M., Merolla, S., Capece, L. R., O’Donnell, B. C., Elsmore, K., Oechel, W. C., and Beheshti, K. M. Blue Carbon Stocks and Exchanges Along the Pacific West Coast. Biogeosciences (18) 4717-4732, (2021). https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4717-2021.
18. Ricart, A. M., Ward, M., Hill, T. M., Sanford, E., Kroeker, K., Takeshita, Y., Merolla, S., Shukla, S., Ninokawa, A., Elsmore, K., and Gaylord, B. Coast-wide evidence of low pH amelioration by seagrass ecosystems. Global Change Biology (00) 1-12, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15594
19. Ricart, A. M., Gaylord, B., Hill, T.M, Sigwart, J. Shukla, P., Ward, M., Ninokawa, A. and Sanford, E. Seagrass driven changes in carbonate chemistry enhance oyster growth. Oecologia, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-04949-0
20. Ward, M., Hill, T. M., Ricart, A., Gaylord, B., O'Donnell, B C., Capece, L., Shukla, P., Kroeker, K., Sanford, E., and W. Oechel. Synthesizing Multiple Carbon Fluxes in a Temperate, Pacific Seagrass Meadow. Global Biogeochemical Cycles (in review).
21. P. A. Bowler, Beheshti, K., Brutto, A., Drake, C., Koshniat, T., Ward, M., and K. Wong. Diocey in Riparian Environments and the Implications for Restoration. Ecological Restoration 36(4): 272 - 275, (2018). doi:10.3368/er.36.4.272
Selected technical reports and white papers
1. Ward, M. A., Merrill, J., and Katz, B.G. 2024. Science-based guidance for best management practices for co-management of submerged aquatic vegetation and molluscan shellfish in Oregon bays and estuaries. (pdf found here)
2. Queirós, A. M., Yang, M., Rühl, S., Rindt, C., Ward, M. and Crooks, S (2024). Seascape carbon management beyond wetlands, as eligible blue carbon activities. Scientific review. PML Publishing, United Kingdom. 69pp. doi: 10.17031/vhba-sf72
3. Ward, M. et al. Developing a UK Seagrass Carbon Code. (pdf found here, 2 page summary here). University of Oxford, June 2023.
4. Ward, M., McHugh, T. A., Elsmore, K., Esgro, M., Ray, J., Murphy-Cannella, M., Norton, I. and Freiwald, J. Restoration of North Coast Bull Kelp Forests: A Partnership Based Approach. California Reef Check, May 2022. (pdf found here).
5. Nichols, K and M. Ward. Newport Bay Caulerpa prolifera Suurveys. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
6. Ward, M. and K. Beheshti. Eelgrass Restoration on the U.S. West Coast: A Comprehensive Assessment of Restoration Techniques and Their Outcomes. Prepared for: Pew Charitable Trusts by the Pacific Marine Environmental Partnership. 2021. (pdf found here)
(Accompanying data search tool here)
7. A Carbon Neutral California: Blue Carbon Sequestration along California’s Coast. CCST Expert Briefing Series. 2020. (pdf found here)
8. Ward, M. Blue Carbon: Seagrass as a Tool for Ocean Acidification and Climate Change Management in California. Prepared for: the California Ocean Protection Council, the California Ocean Science Trust. 2016. (pdf found here)
9. Ward, M. Recommendations for leadership actions to protect West coast eelgrass. Scientific sign-on
letter. Prepared for: Pew Charitable Trusts and the Audubon Society. 2020.
