Dr. Brenda Walles

I am researching the impact of climate change and extreme events, such as heat waves, on the area between low tide and high tide. Natural ways to protect the coast against erosion and flooding include shellfish reefs, seagrass beds, and salt marshes. They also ensure greater biodiversity. However, worms and shellfish in these habitats are anchored in the soil and cannot simply move away in extreme weather. My goal is to help translate knowledge about nature into sustainable strategies for coastal management. I also study how soil characteristics and measures such as sand nourishment and managed redevelopment influence species composition. And their resilience in extreme weather conditions.