Invest in Science That Changes Outcomes
We study how coral reefs and kelp forests recover from disturbance. Your support funds field experiments, student training, and open-access publications.
Our Funders
Research That Gets Used
We measure success by whether our findings change decisions. Here's how our work has translated to real-world outcomes.
Do marine reserves benefit adjacent fishing areas through spillover?
Long-term monitoring of lobster populations inside and outside Channel Islands MPAs (Lenihan et al. 2021).
Found evidence that spillover enhances catch at reserve borders. Published in Scientific Reports.
How do dead coral structures affect reef recovery after disturbance?
Mathematical modeling of disturbance types and their legacies (Kopecky et al. 2023).
Models suggest standing dead coral can promote algal regime shifts. Published in Ecology.
How do mutualist crabs protect branching corals?
Field experiments manipulating crab presence on coral colonies (Stier et al. 2010, McKeon et al. 2012).
Demonstrated that guard crabs defend corals against crown-of-thorns and other threats.
How common is large carnivore recovery globally?
Synthesized data on 362 large carnivore populations worldwide (Ingeman et al. 2022).
Found ~3% showing recovery signs. Identified factors associated with successful cases.
What prevents urchins from overgrazing kelp forests?
Studied urchin behavior in relation to kelp detritus availability (Rennick et al. 2022).
Detrital food supply appears to reduce urchin grazing pressure. Published in Ecology.
Can photogrammetry improve coral monitoring?
Compared 3D photogrammetric methods to traditional survey techniques (Curtis et al. 2023).
Photogrammetry captured more structural detail than manual methods. Published in Coral Reefs.
What We Deliver
Our research infrastructure spans two long-term ecological research sites, quantitative modeling expertise, and deep practitioner relationships.
Field Experiments
Manipulative studies in coral reefs and kelp forests at two LTER sites
Quantitative Models
Population dynamics, food webs, and decision-support tools
Open Data & Code
All datasets and analysis code publicly available on GitHub
Decision Thresholds
Action triggers and intervention guidelines for practitioners
Implementation Pilots
Testing solutions with management partners before scaling
Training & Capacity
Graduate students, postdocs, and practitioner workshops
What Funding Enables
Different investment levels unlock different scales of impact. Here's what your support can accomplish.
Seed Research
Launch targeted field experiments or synthesis projects
What you enable:
- 1–2 peer-reviewed publications
- Open datasets and code
- Preliminary management recommendations
- Graduate student training
Examples: Single-site field experiment, pilot study, graduate thesis support
Multi-Year Study
Sustained research program with implementation pilots
What you enable:
- 3–5 peer-reviewed publications
- Decision-support tools or protocols
- Stakeholder workshops and training
- Postdoc + graduate student positions
Examples: Multi-site comparative study, model development with validation
Transformative Program
Large-scale, cross-system research with broad impact
What you enable:
- 5–10+ publications
- Open-source tools and platforms
- Implementation partnerships
- Multi-institution collaboration
- Policy briefs and practitioner guides
Examples: Cross-ecosystem synthesis, long-term monitoring, decision-support system development
What Your Money Buys
Real costs for real science. No overhead surprises. Here's exactly what different investments fund.
4-week field expedition with dive operations and boat time
3-month kelp forest research: boats, diving, equipment
Salary and benefits for a PhD-level researcher
Stipend, tuition, and research costs
10-week research experience with housing
Photogrammetric mapping of reef plots
All costs are approximate and include UC Santa Barbara indirect costs (currently 60% on federal grants, negotiable for foundations). We're happy to provide detailed budgets for any project scope.
Who Uses Our Science
Let's Discuss How We Can Work Together
Whether you're exploring a specific research question or looking for a long-term partnership, we'd love to hear from you.
Adrian C. Stier, Associate Professor
Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology
UC Santa Barbara
