Dr. Janet Walker
Dr. Jan Walker is an Ecologist in the Biology Department who specializes in developing assessment tools and programs for coastal wetland ecosystems. She’s focusing on developing condition assessment tools for estuaries and other marine habitats, as well as causal assessment methodologies in order to identify and predict potential stressors to these ecosystems. As part of this, one of her long-term goals is to develop a framework for incorporating both field manipulations and mesocosm studies into environmental monitoring in order to better understand and fix degraded or impaired habitats.
She received a Ph.D. in ecology from San Diego State University and the University of California, Davis in 2020 and a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Virginia in 2015. She joined SCCWRP in 2020.
Education
Ph.D., ecology, San Diego State University and University of California, Davis, CA, 2020
B.S., environmental science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 2015
Professional Experience
Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 2020-Present
Data analyst, San Diego State University, 2019-2020
Graduate Fellow, U.S. National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument, 2018-2019
Visiting Researcher, The Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, 2017
Teaching Assistant, Ecology and the Environment, San Diego State University. 2016-2017
Teaching Assistant, Career Discovery Group, University of California, Davis. 2017-2018
Teaching Assistant, Ecology and the Environment, San Diego State University. 2015-2016
Professional Appointments
Present Executive Board Member, California Estuarine Research Society, 2020-Present
Applicant Reviewer, SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference. 2019
Honors and Awards
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation, 2019
Point Reyes National Seashore Association's (PRNSA), Neubacher, Marine Science Grant, 2019
COAST Graduate Student Research Award Program, 2019
San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program, Student Research Grant, 2019
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation, 2018
The Wetland Foundation, Field Travel Grant, 2018
San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program, Student Research Grant, 2018
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation, 2017
San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program, Student Research Grant, 2017
Garden Club of America Award in Coastal Wetlands Studies, 2017
Society of Wetland Scientists Student Research Grant, 2017
San Diego State University, Graduate Student Travel Fund, 2017
San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program, Student Research Grant, 2016
San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program, Student Research Grant, 2015
Mahlon G. Kelly Prize for outstanding undergraduates in ecology, 2015
Selected Presentations and Conference Proceedings
Walker, J.B., and J. Lorda. Translational ecology: Integrative science to elevate science. Assessment of coastal lagoons. Invited contributor. Presidential symposium. Western Society of Naturalists. November 11-13, 2022. Oxnard, CA.
Walker, J.B., and E. Stein. Assessing resiliency in dune habitats to inform coastal management. Oral Presentation, ASBPA National Coastal Conference. September 13-16, 2022. Long Beach, CA.
Walker, J.B., E.D. Stein, K. O’Connor, R. Clark. Modular Monitoring Framework to Assess Performance of Coastal Wetland Management. Oral Presentation, Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting. May 14-20, 2022. Grand Rapids, MI.
Walker, J.B., R. Clark, A. Baldo Cooper, S. Garcia, D. Gillett, W. Heady, B. Hughes, K. Irving, D. Jacobs, J. Largier, K. O’Connor, R. Roettger, E. Stein, C. Toms, and C. Whitcraft. 2021. A framework for condition assessment and monitoring of estuary MPAs in California. Oral Presentation, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.
Walker, J.B., R. Clark, K. O’Connor, and E. Stein. 2021. A framework for bioassessment and monitoring of California’s estuaries. Oral Presentation and session organizer, California Aquatic Bioassessment Workgroup & California Chapter of Society for Freshwater Science annual meeting.
Walker, J.B., E.D. Grosholz, and J.D. Long. 2020. Crab impacts on cordgrass depend upon crab communities and edaphic conditions. Oral Presentation, Western Society of Naturalists.
Walker, J.K., E.D. Grosholz, and J.D. Long. 2019. The consequences of burrowing crabs for plant community composition and restoration. Oral Presentation, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.
Walker, J.K., E.D. Grosholz, and J.D. Long. 2018. Crab identity and density drive site-specific effects of burrowing crabs on plant community composition. Oral Presentation, California Estuarine Research Society.
Walker, J.K., E.D. Grosholz, and J.D. Long. 2018. Plant tissue, species, and population influence palatability for a salt marsh burrowing crab. Oral Presentation, Western Society of Naturalists.
Walker, J.K., and J.D. Long. 2018. Site-specific effects of burrowing crabs on plant community composition in California salt marshes. Oral Presentation, Society of Wetland Scientists.
Walker, J.K., and J.D. Long. 2017. Site-specific effects of burrowing crabs on plant community composition in California salt marshes. Oral Presentation, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.
Walker, J.K., and J.D. Long. 2016. Burrowing crabs alter salt marsh plant community composition. Poster Presentation, Western Society of Naturalists.
Walker, J.K., A.L. Bijak, and L.K. Blum. 2015. Spatial and genetic structure of Spartina alterniflora at four spatial scales in Virginia salt marshes. Oral Presentation, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.
Walker, J.K., A.L. Bijak, and L.K. Blum. 2015. Potential relationship between salt marsh dieback and the genetic diversity and spatial structure of Spartina alterniflora. Poster Presentation, Department of Environmental Sciences, Research Forum. University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
Publications
Journal Articles
Walker, J.B., S.A. Rinehart, W.K. White, E.D. Grosholz, and J.D. Long. 2020. Local and regional variation in effects of burrowing crabs on plant community structure. Ecology 102(2):e03244. DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3244