Alice Besterman

Alice Besterman is a coastal scientist interested in how global change (e.g. sea level rise) alters interactions between geomorphology and hydrology, and ecosystem processes. Her research focuses on primary production, trophic interactions, and food webs while paying particularly close attention to species and habitats of conservation interest. It is motivated by a fascination with the natural world and ecological processes as well as the urgent need for science that addresses the global changes threatening coastal ecosystems. Ultimately, she seeks to deliver scientific knowledge that simultaneously advances fundamental ecological theory and has practical applications for managers and policy makers.

Selected Publications:

• Besterman, A.F., K.J. McGlathery, M.A. Reidenbach, P.L. Wiberg, M.L. Pace. In press. Predicting benthic macroalgal abundance in shallow coastal bays from geomorphology and hydrologic flow patterns. Limnology and Oceanography. DOI: 10.1002/lno.11592
• Besterman, A.F., S. Karpanty, M.L. Pace. 2020. Impact of exotic macroalga on shorebirds varies with foraging specialization and spatial scale. PLoS ONE. 15(4): e0231337. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231337

Mapping Salt Marsh Response to Sea Level Rise and Evaluating 'Runneling' as an Adaptation Technique to Inform Wildlife Habitat Management in New England