Historical marine ecology

The field of marine historical ecology developed from the fundamental observation that marine ecosystems had been changed by human actions long before scientists began to study them. My work in this field has used novel methods to evaluate century-long changes in the abundance, distribution, size, and species composition of a suite of marine animals, including invertebrates, fish, reptiles, and mammals. This research involves compiling previously unused historical data--including photographs, newspaper articles, restaurant menus, and customs records--and incorporating them into ecological analyses. The results describe changes to population structure, ecosystem state, and energy flow in marine ecosystems farther back in time than was previously possible and provide novel understandings of ecosystem function in the absence of pervasive human influence. My current historical ecology work focuses on understanding historical biogeographic patterns of large marine animals, which are an essential but often overlooked component of long-term population dynamics and conservation assessments. I am also keenly interested in how to employ knowledge of past ecosystems toward endangered species recovery, sustainable fisheries, and ecosystem restoration, as well as ways in which the past can provide insights into precedents for sustainable management and ecosystem recovery.

 Marine fisheries conservation

One branch of my research program integrates social science and historical methodologies to understand both the effects of climate change on marine fisheries and the ways in which community-driven conservation provide hope for species recovery and fisheries sustainability.   Published research to-date has quantified the ecological benefits of Community Supported Fisheries in North America, investigated the social benefits conferred by the restoration of habitat connectivity and historical alewife populations in Maine rivers, assessed the adaptive capacity of co-managed fisheries in the face of environmental change, and used choice experiments to investigate opportunities and barriers to fisheries diversification in New England and consumer support for fair trade fish. Two recent papers use historical data and interviews with Maine lobster fishers to understand the social effects of changing water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine (McClenachan et al. 2019) and the adaptive capacity of the Maine lobster fishery, the most valuable fishery in the United States 

Fishers’ mental model of the lobster fishery. Despite scientific consensus, fishers do not define warming waters as a major driver, due in part to views of warming a cyclical.

Environmental history

Some of my work bridges into environmental history.  In a paper exploring the relationship between environmental decline and recreational fishing,  I argue that a lack of early leadership in the angling community led to anti-conservation political activism among marine anglers, which stands in stark contrast to the tradition of conservation minded sportsmen on land and in freshwater. In work on the Florida sponge fishery, I argue that a combination of social conflict and technological innovation initiated a dramatic and permanent change in the industry, with lasting impacts on the communities of the Florida Keys.  I have collaborated frequently with historians; I co-authored a book chapter on the history of fishing in Newfoundland, and recent papers have described best practices for the use of archival materials , and the conservation implications of omitting historical knowledge. Beginning this spring, together with Dr. Andrew Trant , I will lead a series of National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SSEYNC) funded workshops that bring historians, ecologists, and conservation practitioners to address the question: “How does a historical perspective inform ecosystem management targets, goals, and outcomes?"

Species for which surprising historical data altered the conservation outcome: A. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), B. North American beaver (Castor canadensis), C. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), D. balloon wine (Cardiospermum corindum).