About

I’m interested in understanding how physical and biological processes interact across local and regional scales to shape salt marsh and mangrove forest environments and the communities which rely on them.
My research focuses on coastal biogeomorphology, socio-ecological systems, and ecosystem service sustainability.
My research interests cover hydrological monitoring, geomorphic change detection, Blue Carbon, geographic information systems, spatial statistics, citizen science schemes, and practical management tool development.
Cai J. T. Ladd
current role
The status of the delta fringe can act as an early warning signal for the entire delta social-ecological system (SES). WP4 will characterize coastal social-ecological tipping points. Through innovative and holistic multi-stakeholder approaches, WP4 will, for the first time, characterise tipping-point thresholds, risks and opportunities for coastal areas. Using this knowledge, we will propose delta-level interventions to avoid negative tipping points and favour positive transformation towards desired SES states.
previous roles
Carbon Sequestration in Intertidal Environments (C-SIDE) is striving to produce the first large-scale empirical study of saltmarsh carbon storage, accretion rates, its drivers and the long-term stability/resilience of these stores. The outcomes of the work will provide practical guidance for coastal managers and inform shoreline policy to safeguard carbon storage in the intertidal zone.
places i've worked...
publications
- Pétillon J, McKinley E, Alexander M, Adams JB, Angelini C et al. (2023). Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research. Sci Total Environ 898:165544
- McMahon L, Ladd CJT, Burden A, Garrett E, Redeker KR et al. (2023). Maximizing blue carbon stocks through saltmarsh restoration. Front Mar Sci 10:1106607
- Banerjee S, Ladd CJT, Chanda A, Shil S, Ghosh T et al. (2023). Securing the sustainable future of tropical deltas through mangrove restoration: Lessons from the Indian Sundarban. One Earth 6(3):190-194
- Rahman MF, Ladd CJT, Large A, Banerjee S, Vovides AG et al. (2023). Locally led adaptation is key to ending deforestation. One Earth 6(2):81-85
- Balke T, Vovides AG, Ladd CJT, Huxham M (2023). The coastal conservation narrative is shifting from crisis to ecosystem services. Mar Biodivers 53(1):3
- Ladd CJT, Smeaton C, Skov MW, Austin WEN (2022). Best practice for upscaling soil organic carbon stocks in salt marshes. Geoderma 428:116188
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Smeaton C, Burden A, Ruranska P, Ladd CJT, Garbutt A et al. (2022). Using citizen science to estimate surficial soil Blue Carbon stocks in Great British saltmarshes. Front Mar Sci 9:1461
- Ladd CJT, Duggan-Edwards MF, Pagès JF, Skov MW (2021). Saltmarsh resilience to periodic shifts in tidal channels. Front Mar Sci 8:757715
- Ladd CJT (2021). Review on processes and management of saltmarshes across Great Britain. Proc Geol Assoc 132(3):269-283
- Balke T, Vovides AG, Schwarz C, Chmura GL, Ladd CJT, Basyuni M (2021). Monitoring tidal hydrology in coastal wetlands with the “Mini Buoy”: applications for mangrove restoration. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 25(3):1229-1244
- Ladd CJT, Duggan‐Edwards MF, Bouma TJ, Pagès JF, Skov MW (2019). Sediment supply explains long‐term and large‐scale patterns in salt marsh lateral expansion and erosion. Geophys Res Lett 46(20):11178-11187
- Ford H, Garbutt A, Duggan-Edwards MF, Harvey R, Ladd CJT, Skov MW (2019). Large-scale predictions of salt-marsh carbon stock based on simple observations of plant community and soil type. Biogeosci 16(2):425-436
- Ford H, Garbutt A, Ladd CJT, Malarkey J, Skov MW (2016). Soil stabilization linked to plant diversity and environmental context in coastal wetlands. J Veg Sci 27(2):259-268