Aly Putnam

Aly Putnam is a marine ecologist whose work blends fundamental and applied ecology, connecting climate change, invasion biology, and coastal community dynamics. She studies intertidal invertebrates and seaweeds, focusing on how warming, heatwaves, and shifting species interactions reshape rocky shore ecosystems. She uses a combination of field, lab, and statistical modeling methods to quantify adaptive capacity of key invasive and native invertebrates and seaweeds to guide management and restoration strategies. Her work informs adaptive management in New England’s coastal waters and is carried out in collaboration with partners such as the National Park Service, USGS, and the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. At Smith, she a variety of lab and lecture courses and mentors students interested in coastal systems and applied conservation. As a first generation and invisibly disabled scholar, she is actively working to make research and fieldwork more equitable and accessible.