Climate Change and Estuaries

Estuaries in the Pacific Northwest play host to countless species of flora and fauna, including over 190 species of birds. Changes in temperature and precipitation due to climate change will affect the interactions between birds and these ecosystems, causing changes in forage availability and habitat suitability. Conservation planning efforts in the Pacific Northwest can benefit from a deeper understanding of the changes that are expected to affect estuaries.
 Rekha Marcus' Masters research is focused on understanding how climate change is going to affect estuaries in the Pacific Northwest. In partnership with the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture, she is working to inform their conservation work in this ecologically vital region.


We work on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. The Songhees and Esquimalt, as well as the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples have deep, historical relationships with the land that continue to this day. Most of our group are uninvited settlers here. We are committed to deepening our understanding of how we can assist in the movement of reconciliation, dismantling the systems that continue to cause harm, and honoring the traditional stewards that have shaped this land.