Humans benefit from nature in countless ways. Yet the value of nature is often taken for granted or poorly understood. The lack of a quantitative value of these “ecosystem services” makes it difficult to account for in decision-making and management. I am working with numerous collaborators through the Mapping Ocean Wealth project to quantify the benefits humans derive from marine habitats. In particular I am interested in how marine habitats support critically important fisheries species. In particular, what factors affect the fish production supported by these habitats and how the fisheries value of these habitats change spatially. We are examining a host of different habitats, including shellfish beds, seagrasses, saltmarshes, mangroves and coral reefs.

P.S.E. zu Ermgassen, Spalding M.D., Brumbaugh R.D. (2015) Historic ecosystem service provision estimates can guide restoration efforts. Chapter in: Marine Historical Ecology in Conservation: Applying the Past to Manage for the Future. K. Bromberg Gedan et al. (eds) P.S.E. zu Ermgassen, Spalding M.D., Grizzle R., Brumbaugh R.D. (2013) Quantifying the loss of a marine ecosystem service: filtration by the eastern oyster in US estuaries. Estuaries and Coasts 36: 36-43 DOI: 10.1007/s12237-012-9559-y P.S.E. zu Ermgassen, Spalding M.D., Blake B., Coen L.D., Dumbauld B., Geiger S., Grabowski J.H., Grizzle R., Luckenbach M., McGraw K., Rodney W., Ruesink J.L., Powers S.P., Brumbaugh R.D. (2012) Historical ecology with real numbers: Past and present extent and biomass of an imperilled estuarine ecosystem. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 279:3393-3400 DOI:10.1098/rspb.2012.0313