Dr. Janet Walker
Ecologist
Biology
714-755-3207
janw@sccwrp.org
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Dr. Jan Walker is a Senior Ecologist in the Biology Department who specializes in developing assessment tools and programs for coastal ecosystems. She's focusing on developing condition assessment tools for estuaries and other marine habitats, as well as causal assessment methodologies to identify and predict potential stressors to these ecosystems. She is also developing consistent assessment tools and approaches for evaluating regional and state coastal resilience.

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

Senior Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 2023-Present

Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 2020-2023

Data analyst, San Diego State University, 2019-2020

Graduate Fellow, U.S. National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument, 2018-2019

Visiting Researcher, The Tjarno 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

Advisor, Offshore Wind Environmental Monitoring Guidance Habitat and Ecosystems Working Group, 2024-Present

Member, CERF Nominations and Leadership Development Committee, 2024-Present

President-Elect, California Estuarine Research Society (CAERS), 2023-Present

Co-chair, California Estuarine Monitoring Workgroup (CEMW), 2023-Present

Advisor, Southern CA Wetlands Recovery Program Science Advisory Panel, 2023-Present

Advisor, Aliso Creek Estuary Restoration Science Advisory Team, 2023-Present

Executive Board Member, California Estuarine Research Society (CAERS), 2020-2023

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., E. Stein, K. O'Connor, R. Clark, C. Whitcraft, B. Hughes, J. Largier, D. Jacobs, and C. Toms. Monitoring for management: A modular, ecosystem function-based assessment framework to assess estuarine condition. Oral Presentation, Restore America's Estuaries. October 7-9, 2024. Washington, DC.

Walker, J.B., E. Stein, K. O'Connor, K. Nichols, M. Clemens, A. Barrera, and M. Hall. Developing a sentinel site network to build capacity for assessing wetland recovery and resiliency. Oral Presentation, H2O Conference. November 29-30, 2023. Ventura, CA.

Walker, J.B., E. Stein, K. O'Connor, R. Clark, C. Whitcraft, B. Hughes, J. Largier, D. Jacobs, and C. Toms. Monitoring for management: A modular, ecosystem function-based assessment framework to assess estuarine condition. Oral Presentation, Coastal Estuarine Research Federation. November 13-16, 2023. Portland, OR.

Walker, J.B. Monitoring for management: An ecosystem function-based approach to estuarine assessment. Invited speaker. California State University Long Beach Biology Seminar Series. March 9, 2023. Long Beach, CA.

Walker, J.B., J. Lorda, R. Beas, C. Whitcraft, and E. Stein. Binational monitoring for fish community support and indicators of tropicalization. Oral Presentation, American Fisheries Conference, Cal-Neva. March 2, 2023. Long Beach, CA.

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.

Publications


Journal Articles

Wasson, K., K. Cressman, K. Beheshti, E.C. Herder, C. Endris, C.D.G. Harley, A. Abadia-Cardoso, R. Beas-Luna, J. Carolsfeld, A.L. Chang, J.A. Crooks, M.C. Ferner, E.D. Grosholz, N. Harrington, J. Harris, H. Hayford, A.R. Helms, J. Lorda, J.L. Ruesink, A. Ruiz de Alegria-Arzaburu, S.S. Rumrill, J. Schmitt, R.S. Smith, J.B. Walker, C.R. Whitcraft, S. Yang, D. Zacherl, C.J. Zabin. 2025. Setting the limit: cold rather than hot temperatures limit intertidal distribution of a coastal foundation species. Marine Environmental Research 208:107149.

Walker, J.B., K. O'Connor, K. Wasson, C. Crain, K.K. Johnston, R.F. Ambrose, C.R. Whitcraft, J. Crooks, K. Beheshti, M. Hall, K. Nichols, M. Clemens, E.D. Stein. 2025. Sentinel site networks as a mechanism to evaluate progress toward meeting restoration goals in altered and unaltered landscapes. Restoration Ecology DOI:10.1111/rec.70062.

Rinehart, S.A., J.M. Dybiec, J.B. Walker, L. Simpson, J.A. Cherry. 2024. Effects of burrowing crabs on coastal sediments and their functions: A systematic meta-analysis. Ecosphere 15:e4927.

Rinehart, S.A., J.M. Dybiec, P. Richardson, J.B. Walker, J.D. Peabody, J.A. Cherry. 2024. Researcher effects on the biological structure and edaphic conditions of field sites and implications for management. Ecosphere DOI:10.1002/ecs2.4750.

Walker, J.B., D.J. Gillett, M. Sutula. 2022. Establishing biologically relevant sediment organic matter thresholds for estuaries and embayments of the Southern California Bight, USA. Ecological Indicators 143:1-12.

Walker, J.B., S. Rinehart, G. Greenberg-Pines, W.K. White, R. DeSantiago, D.A. Lipson, J.D. Long. 2022. Aboveground competition influences density-dependent effects of cordgrass on sediment biogeochemistry. Ecology and Evolution 12:e8722.

Walker, J.B., E.D. Grosholz, J.D. Long. 2021. Predicting burrowing crab impacts on salt marsh plants. Ecosphere 12:e03803.

Walker, J.B., A.L. Bijak, L. Blum. 2021. Genetic Diversity and Clonal Structure of Spartina alterniflora in a Virginia Marsh. Northeastern Naturalist 28:357-370.

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

Technical Reports

O'Connor, K., B. Fulkerson, J.B. Walker, E.D. Stein, C. Whitcraft, J.S. Huckeba. 2025. Estuary Marine Protected Area - 2023 Data Analysis Report. Technical Report 1430. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA.

Stein, E.D., J.B. Walker, K. O'Connor, C. Toms. 2023. Estuary Marine Protected Area - Monitoring Program Implementation Blueprint. Technical Report 1315.C. California Ocean Protection Council. Sacramento, CA.

O'Connor, K., R. Clark, B. Fulkerson, J.B. Walker, E.D. Stein, C. Whitcraft, S. Garcia. 2023. Estuary Marine Protected Area - 2021 Data Analysis Report. Technical Report 1315.B. California Ocean Protection Council. Sacramento, CA.

Walker, J.B., E.D. Stein, K. O'Connor, R. Clark, C. Whitcraft, S. Garcia, B. Hughes, A. Cooper, D. Jacobs, M. Abrecht, J. Largier, R. Roettger, C. Toms. 2023. Estuary Marine Protected Area - Monitoring Protocol. Technical Report 1315.A. Ocean Protection Council. Sacramento, CA.

Stein, E.D., J.B. Walker, K. O'Connor, R. Clark, C. Whitcraft. 2023. Development of a Statewide Estuary Monitoring Program to Evaluate California's Estuarine Marine Protected Areas - Estuary Marine Protected Area Program Overview. Technical Report 1315. California Ocean Protection Council. Sacramento, CA.

Gillett, D.J., W. Enright, J.B. Walker. 2022. Southern California Bight 2018 Regional Monitoring Program: Volume III. Benthic Infauna. Technical Report 1289. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA.