Eelgrass is the predominant seagrass species in Washington and is an important plant species in coastal estuaries in the Pacific Northwest. As a result of climate change, eelgrasses are experiencing declines on a global scale, including in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. In response to this issue, Washington state recently passed the Kelp Forest and Eelgrass Meadow Health and Conservation Initiative (SB5619) to restore 10,000 acres of eelgrass by 2040. Christine, along with a team of scientists working at WA Department of Natural Resources and WA Department of Ecology, are focused on better understanding eelgrass population persistence. To accomplish the goal laid out in SB5619, it is more important than ever to understand how eelgrass populations will respond to climate change and how its reproduction and resilience will be affected.

To help address this need, Christine’s research is aimed at understanding how a changing climate will affect growth and reproduction in eelgrass. Currently, there is little understanding of how eelgrass perceives its local environment and how this affects flowering and seed production rates in populations. Christine will leverage a previously published eelgrass genome to identify genes that are involved in flowering processes. With important genes identified, she will combine molecular biology techniques with ecological experimental design to understand how warming temperatures impact the function of these genes. The local scientists and stakeholders that Christine works with will use her findings to develop new tools to evaluate resilience and new restoration strategies based on how eelgrass is predicted to respond to warming temperature. Results from this project will inform future restoration and conservation plans for eelgrass meadows in Washington state and help managers and local agencies foster resilience in eelgrass habitat.