Karen Thorne, Ph.D.

Her research expertise is on coastal ecosystems and understanding ecosystem services, wetland ecology and restoration, impacts from inundation and storms, and nature-based solutions. She received her Ph.D. and MS from the University of California, Davis.

Dr. Thorne's interests lie in conservation and management issues surrounding coastal ecosystems within a changing environment and management landscape. The research she conducts is critical to understanding the role that coastal ecosystems provide, both environmentally and economically. The research she conducts specifically helps guide Federal, State, and local landowners and managers in planning for more resilient and adaptable habitats; assists in informing the impacts or benefits needed to maintain ecosystem values; and provides methods and tools that identify and help landowners and regulators improve the restoration needed to off-set anthropogenic impacts in coastal environments. Current research focuses include assessing flooding impacts to mangrove and marsh ecosystem processes. Also, understanding ecological processes for marsh, mangrove, and seagrass restoration to inform management in the U.S. and South Pacific islands. Her research is based on field data collection methods that can be used to inform decision-making for managing emerging concerns.