Ryan Kelly, Ph.D., JD
Professor, School of Marine & Environmental Affairs
Associate Director, School of Marine & Environmental Affairs
Trained as both an ecologist and a lawyer, Ryan Kelly has a broad set of interests, focused both on hard scientific data and policymakers’ use of those data. From the science side, he studies the interplay between geography, ecology, and genetics in marine species. His more applied research joins genetic and ecological research with real-world implementation in law and policy, particularly with respect to environmental monitoring, resource management, endangered species, and ocean acidification. In general, he is drawn to projects that have significant elements of both scientific and policy relevance as we work towards more sustainable use of marine resources. Dr. Kelly received his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology from Columbia University, and his JD from University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.
Dr. Kelly teaches:
- SMEA 515: US Coastal and Ocean Law
- SMEA 550: Marine Biodiversity: Science, Law, and Policy
- SMEA 580 A: Coding in R for Natural and Social Sciences
- SMEA 591: Marine Science in the Coastal Zone
- ENV 250: Environmental Studies: Data Types and Collection Methods
Selected publications
Jacobs-Palmer, E., Gallego, R., Cribari, K., Keller, A., & Kelly, R. P. (2021). Environmental DNA Metabarcoding for Simultaneous Monitoring and Ecological Assessment of Many Harmful Algae. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9:262.
Gallego, R., Jacobs-Palmer, E., Cribari, K. J., & Kelly, R. P. (2020). Environmental DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Winners and Losers of Global Change in Coastal Waters. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 287:20202424.
Gold, Z., AR Wall, EE Curd, RP Kelly, ND Pentcheff, L Ripma, PH Barber, and R Wetzer. eDNA metabarcoding bioassessment of endangered fairy shrimp (Branchinecta spp.). Conservation Genetic Resources 12, 685–690 (2020).
E. Jacobs-Palmer, R. Gallego, Ana Ramón-Laca, Emily Kunselman, Kelly Cribari, Micah Horwith, and Kelly, R.P.. 2020. A Halo of Reduced Dinoflagellate Abundance In and Around Eelgrass Beds. PeerJ 8: e8869.
Djurhuus, A., Closek, C.J., Kelly, R.P. et al. Environmental DNA reveals seasonal shifts and potential interactions in a marine community. Nature Communications 11, 254. 2020.
Kelly, R.P., A.O. Shelton, and R. Gallego. 2019. Understanding PCR Processes to Draw Meaningful Conclusions from Environmental DNA Studies (formerly: Understanding eDNA.) Scientific Reports 9: 1-14.
Shelton, A.O., R.P. Kelly, J.L. O’Donnell, L. Park, P. Schwenke, C. Greene, R.A. Henderson, and E.M. Beamer. Environmental DNA provides quantitative estimates of a threatened salmon species. Biological Conservation 237. 2019.: 383-391.
Lebon, K.M., and R.P. Kelly. Evaluating alternatives to reduce whale entanglements in commercial Dungeness Crab fishing gear. Global Ecology and Conservation 18. 2019.: e00608.
Tillotson, M.D., R.P. Kelly, J.J. Duda, M. Hoy, J. Kralj, and T.P. Quinn. 2018. Concentrations of Environmental DNA (eDNA) Reflect Spawning Salmon Abundance at Fine Spatial and Temporal Scales. Biological Conservation 220:1-11.
Kelly, R.P., R. Gallego Simón, and E. Jacobs-Palmer. 2018. The Effect of Tides on Nearshore Environmental DNA. PeerJ: 6:e4521.
Hart, C.J., R.P. Kelly, and S.F. Peterson. 2018. Will the California Current Lose its Nesting Tufted Puffins? PeerJ 6: e4519.
Battista, W., R.P. Kelly, A. Erickson, and R. Fujita. 2018. Fisheries Governance Impacting Conservation Outcomes in the United States and European Union. (Submitted, Coastal Management).
Lee, T.S., J.D. Toft, J. Cordell, M.N. Dethier, J. Adams, and R.P. Kelly. 2018. Quantifying the Effectiveness of Shoreline Armoring Removal on Coastal Biota of Puget Sound. PeerJ 6:e4275.
O’Donnell, J.L., R.P. Kelly, A.O. Shelton, J.F. Samhouri, N.C. Lowell, G.D. Williams. 2017. Spatial Distribution of Environmental DNA in a Nearshore Marine Habitat. PeerJ 5:e3044.
Mossler, M.V., A. Bostrom, R.P. Kelly, K.M. Crosman, and P. Moy. 2017. How Does Framing Affect Policy Support for Emissions Mitigation? Testing the Effect of Ocean Acidification and Other Frames. Global Environmental Change 45:63-78.
Kelly, R.P., C.J. Closek, J.L. O’Donnell, J.E. Kralj, A.O. Shelton, and J.F. Samhouri. 2017. Genetic and Manual Survey Methods Yield Different and Complementary Views of an Ecosystem. Frontiers in Marine Science 3:283, doi=10.3389/fmars.2016.00283.