Francesca Porri

South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)

My research interests lie in the ecology of coastal systems. I have a background in marine ecology, focussing on the dynamics of dispersal, recruitment, functioning of early life stages in coastal habitats, including rocky shores, sandy beaches, estuaries, mangroves and urbanised shorelines. Mechanisms of organismal responses to the environment and connectivity of benthic populations are key topics of the research I do, with current applications to the field of ecological engineering of the built coastal environment. Strong inter- and multidisciplinary links to oceanography, physiology, ichthyology, genetics, theoretical ecology, indigenous knowledge, modelling, the arts and education complete the research I do.