Dr Cai Ladd

Lecturer

Geography

c.j.t.ladd@swansea.ac.uk

Fluent Welsh Speaker

Climate Action Research Institue

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5437-6474

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

About

I am a coastal geographer whose research examines how biological, physical, and social processes interact across local and regional scales to shape coastal wetlands and the communities that rely on them. My work crosses disciplines of biogeomorphology, socio-ecological resilience, and ecosystem service sustainability. I use methods in spatial statistics, hydrological monitoring, and citizen science to develop practical advice and management tools to support coastal wetland conservation.

I am a lead in the Agriculture, Land Use, Biodiversity and the Ecosystem Crisis theme at the Climate Action Research Institute.

Areas Of Expertise

Coastal Wetlands
Biogeomorphology
Socio-Ecological Systems
Hydrology
Geomatics
Spatial Statistics
Geographic Information Systems
Citizen Science

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

I incorporate my research into teaching to ensure students engage with current global issues, state-of-the-art methods, and key research questions in geography. Examples include:

• Practicals to quantify soil organic carbon stocks using fieldwork, laboratory, and computer practicals.
• Lectures on key global hazards and how societies manage and adapt to them.
• Workshops for wrangling data, creating figures, and running spatial statistics using R.

Research Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

Smeaton, C., Ladd, C., Miller, L., McMahon, L., Garrett, E., Barlow, N., Gehrels, W., Skov, M., & Austin, W. (2023). Organic carbon stocks of Great British saltmarshes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1229486, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65075
Pétillon, J., McKinley, E., Alexander, M., Adams, J., Angelini, C., Balke, T., Griffin, J., Bouma, T., Hacker, S., He, Q., Hensel, M., Ibáñez, C., Macreadie, P., Martino, S., Sharps, E., Ballinger, R., Battisti, D., Beaumont, N., Burdon, D...., & Skov, M. (2023). Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research. Science of The Total Environment, 898, 165544
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165544, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63912
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165544
Garrett, E., Smeaton, C., Gehrels, W., Barlow, N., Blake, W., Koot, M., Miller, L., Havelock, G., McMahon, L., Ladd, C., & Austin, W. (n.d.) Sedimentation and carbon accumulation rates in UK saltmarshes. In EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023Copernicus GmbH.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-12459, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64473
http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-12459
McMahon, L., Ladd, C., Burden, A., Garrett, E., Redeker, K., Lawrence, P., & Gehrels, R. (2023). Maximizing blue carbon stocks through saltmarsh restoration. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1106607, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64474
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1106607
Rahman, M., Ladd, C., Large, A., Banerjee, S., Vovides, A., Henderson, A., Renaud, F., Balke, T., Wood, L., Le, H., & Huq, S. (2023). Locally led adaptation is key to ending deforestation. One Earth, 6(2), 81-85.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.01.011, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64481
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.01.011
Banerjee, S., Ladd, C., Chanda, A., Shil, S., Ghosh, T., Large, A., & Balke, T. (2023). Securing the sustainable future of tropical deltas through mangrove restoration: Lessons from the Indian Sundarban. One Earth, 6(3), 190-194.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.015, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64482
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.015
Balke, T., Vovides, A., Ladd, C., & Huxham, M. (2023). The coastal conservation narrative is shifting from crisis to ecosystem services. Marine Biodiversity, 53(1)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-022-01304-1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64483
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12526-022-01304-1
Ladd, C., Smeaton, C., Skov, M., & Austin, W. (2022). Best practice for upscaling soil organic carbon stocks in salt marshes. Geoderma, 428, 116188
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116188, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64484
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116188
Smeaton, C., Burden, A., Ruranska, P., Ladd, C., Garbutt, A., Jones, L., McMahon, L., Miller, L., Skov, M., & Austin, W. (2022). Using citizen science to estimate surficial soil Blue Carbon stocks in Great British saltmarshes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.959459, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64486
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.959459
Ladd, C. (2021). Review on processes and management of saltmarshes across Great Britain. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 132(3), 269-283.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2021.02.005, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64487
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2021.02.005
Balke, T., Vovides, A., Schwarz, C., Chmura, G., Ladd, C., & Basyuni, M. (2021). Monitoring tidal hydrology in coastal wetlands with the “Mini Buoy”: applications for mangrove restoration. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 25(3), 1229-1244.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1229-2021, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64488
http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1229-2021
Ladd, C., Duggan-Edwards, M., Pagès, J., & Skov, M. (2021). Saltmarsh Resilience to Periodic Shifts in Tidal Channels. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.757715, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64489
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.757715
Ford, H., Garbutt, A., Duggan-Edwards, M., Pagès, J., Harvey, R., Ladd, C., & Skov, M. (2019). Large-scale predictions of salt-marsh carbon stock based on simple observations of plant community and soil type. Biogeosciences, 16(2), 425-436.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-425-2019, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48689
Ford, H., Garbutt, A., Ladd, C., Malarkey, J., & Skov, M. (2016). Soil stabilization linked to plant diversity and environmental context in coastal wetlands. Journal of Vegetation Science, 27(2), 259-268.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12367, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa40269
Cremin, E., Ladd, C., Balke, T., Banerjee, S., Bui, L., Ghosh, T., Large, A., Le, H., Nguyen, K., Nguyen, L., Nguyen, T., Nguyen, V., Pal, I., Szabo, S., Tran, H., Sebesvari, Z., Khan, S., & Renaud, F. (2024). Causes and consequences of tipping points in river delta social–ecological systems. Ambio, 53(7), 1015-1036.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-023-01978-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65811
Smeaton, C., Garrett, E., Koot, M., Ladd, C., Miller, L., McMahon, L., Foster, B., Barlow, N., Blake, W., Gehrels, W., Skov, M., & Austin, W. (2024). Organic carbon accumulation in British saltmarshes. Science of The Total Environment, 926, 172104
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172104, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66238
Ladd, C., Vovides, A., Wimmler, M., Schwarz, C., & Balke, T. (2024). Monitoring tides, currents, and waves along coastal habitats using the Mini Buoy. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 22(9), 619-633.
https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10631, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66900
Maxwell, T., Spalding, M., Friess, D., Murray, N., Rogers, K., Rovai, A., Smart, L., Weilguny, L., Adame, M., Adams, J., Austin, W., Copertino, M., Cott, G., Costa, M., Holmquist, J., Ladd, C., Lovelock, C., Ludwig, M., Moritsch, M...., & Worthington, T. (2024). Soil carbon in the world’s tidal marshes. Nature Communications, 15(1), 10265
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54572-9, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68361
Malham, S., Taft, H., Farkas, K., Ladd, C., Seymour, M., Robins, P., Jones, D., McDonald, J., Vay, L., & Jones, L. (2025). Multi-scale influences on Escherichia coli concentrations in shellfish: From catchment to estuary. Environmental Pollution, 366, 125476
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125476, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68520

All Research

Journal Articles

Malham, S., Taft, H., Farkas, K., Ladd, C., Seymour, M., Robins, P., Jones, D., McDonald, J., Vay, L., & Jones, L. (2025). Multi-scale influences on Escherichia coli concentrations in shellfish: From catchment to estuary. Environmental Pollution, 366, 125476
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125476, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68520
Maxwell, T., Spalding, M., Friess, D., Murray, N., Rogers, K., Rovai, A., Smart, L., Weilguny, L., Adame, M., Adams, J., Austin, W., Copertino, M., Cott, G., Costa, M., Holmquist, J., Ladd, C., Lovelock, C., Ludwig, M., Moritsch, M...., & Worthington, T. (2024). Soil carbon in the world’s tidal marshes. Nature Communications, 15(1), 10265
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54572-9, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68361
Ladd, C., Vovides, A., Wimmler, M., Schwarz, C., & Balke, T. (2024). Monitoring tides, currents, and waves along coastal habitats using the Mini Buoy. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 22(9), 619-633.
https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10631, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66900
Cremin, E., Ladd, C., Balke, T., Banerjee, S., Bui, L., Ghosh, T., Large, A., Le, H., Nguyen, K., Nguyen, L., Nguyen, T., Nguyen, V., Pal, I., Szabo, S., Tran, H., Sebesvari, Z., Khan, S., & Renaud, F. (2024). Causes and consequences of tipping points in river delta social–ecological systems. Ambio, 53(7), 1015-1036.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-023-01978-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65811
Smeaton, C., Garrett, E., Koot, M., Ladd, C., Miller, L., McMahon, L., Foster, B., Barlow, N., Blake, W., Gehrels, W., Skov, M., & Austin, W. (2024). Organic carbon accumulation in British saltmarshes. Science of The Total Environment, 926, 172104
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172104, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66238
Smeaton, C., Ladd, C., Miller, L., McMahon, L., Garrett, E., Barlow, N., Gehrels, W., Skov, M., & Austin, W. (2023). Organic carbon stocks of Great British saltmarshes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1229486, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65075
Pétillon, J., McKinley, E., Alexander, M., Adams, J., Angelini, C., Balke, T., Griffin, J., Bouma, T., Hacker, S., He, Q., Hensel, M., Ibáñez, C., Macreadie, P., Martino, S., Sharps, E., Ballinger, R., Battisti, D., Beaumont, N., Burdon, D...., & Skov, M. (2023). Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research. Science of The Total Environment, 898, 165544
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165544, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63912
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165544
McMahon, L., Ladd, C., Burden, A., Garrett, E., Redeker, K., Lawrence, P., & Gehrels, R. (2023). Maximizing blue carbon stocks through saltmarsh restoration. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1106607, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64474
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1106607
Banerjee, S., Ladd, C., Chanda, A., Shil, S., Ghosh, T., Large, A., & Balke, T. (2023). Securing the sustainable future of tropical deltas through mangrove restoration: Lessons from the Indian Sundarban. One Earth, 6(3), 190-194.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.015, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64482
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.015
Rahman, M., Ladd, C., Large, A., Banerjee, S., Vovides, A., Henderson, A., Renaud, F., Balke, T., Wood, L., Le, H., & Huq, S. (2023). Locally led adaptation is key to ending deforestation. One Earth, 6(2), 81-85.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.01.011, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64481
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.01.011
Balke, T., Vovides, A., Ladd, C., & Huxham, M. (2023). The coastal conservation narrative is shifting from crisis to ecosystem services. Marine Biodiversity, 53(1)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-022-01304-1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64483
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12526-022-01304-1
Ladd, C., Smeaton, C., Skov, M., & Austin, W. (2022). Best practice for upscaling soil organic carbon stocks in salt marshes. Geoderma, 428, 116188
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116188, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64484
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116188
Smeaton, C., Burden, A., Ruranska, P., Ladd, C., Garbutt, A., Jones, L., McMahon, L., Miller, L., Skov, M., & Austin, W. (2022). Using citizen science to estimate surficial soil Blue Carbon stocks in Great British saltmarshes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.959459, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64486
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.959459
Ladd, C., Duggan-Edwards, M., Pagès, J., & Skov, M. (2021). Saltmarsh Resilience to Periodic Shifts in Tidal Channels. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.757715, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64489
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.757715
Ladd, C. (2021). Review on processes and management of saltmarshes across Great Britain. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 132(3), 269-283.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2021.02.005, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64487
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2021.02.005
Balke, T., Vovides, A., Schwarz, C., Chmura, G., Ladd, C., & Basyuni, M. (2021). Monitoring tidal hydrology in coastal wetlands with the “Mini Buoy”: applications for mangrove restoration. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 25(3), 1229-1244.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1229-2021, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64488
http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1229-2021
Ford, H., Garbutt, A., Duggan-Edwards, M., Pagès, J., Harvey, R., Ladd, C., & Skov, M. (2019). Large-scale predictions of salt-marsh carbon stock based on simple observations of plant community and soil type. Biogeosciences, 16(2), 425-436.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-425-2019, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48689
Ford, H., Garbutt, A., Ladd, C., Malarkey, J., & Skov, M. (2016). Soil stabilization linked to plant diversity and environmental context in coastal wetlands. Journal of Vegetation Science, 27(2), 259-268.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12367, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa40269

Conference Contributions

Garrett, E., Smeaton, C., Gehrels, W., Barlow, N., Blake, W., Koot, M., Miller, L., Havelock, G., McMahon, L., Ladd, C., & Austin, W. (n.d.) Sedimentation and carbon accumulation rates in UK saltmarshes. In EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023Copernicus GmbH.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-12459, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64473
http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-12459

Supervision

Navigating the Politics of Cross-border Conservation of Coastal habitat (C3) (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Rhian Hedd Meara

Taught Modules

GEG133 Natural Hazards and Society

This module investigates hazardous aspects of Earth¿s natural environment and how society relates to them. Introductory principles include the definition of natural hazard, disaster, risk and loss, and approaches to reducing risk and managing disasters. Major types of natural hazard are studied in order to understand how they operate, where, and how frequently they are likely to occur. Hazardous consequences are explored, as well as how society can respond to hazardous events. Key aspects include discussion of primary and secondary hazards, prediction, forecasting and monitoring of hazards, and understanding how their harmful effects can be minimised. Natural hazards considered during this module include volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, landslides, extreme weather events, flooding, avalanches and Mega Hazards. Lecture material considers general principles as well as case studies. The module is compulsory for students taking BSc Environmental Geoscience.
GEG252SI Geographical Fieldwork Skills: Isles of Scilly

The module is concerned with identifying and defining climate and environment change questions within the Isle of Scilly, which serves as an example of a region with unique habitats and climate in the UK and applying relevant environmental and climate science skills, knowledge and techniques to these questions. The general aims are to observe, analyse and achieve an understanding of the varied micro-climates and habitat features of the Isle of Scilly. Students taking this module will gain experience in research design, methodologies, data analysis and presentation methods, including seminars, posters and reports. Students taking this field course focus on both climate change, sustainable living and the environment and conduct project work appropriate to their specialism. The module comprises preparatory sessions in Swansea during teaching block 2 and one week field course, which typically runs in the last week of teaching block 2.
GEG276 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based technology for solving problems of a geographical nature ¿ i.e. involving spatial relationships between people, places and objects. It can be applied to a wide range of disciplines within geography and has developed to provide a means to quickly and professionally produce maps from geospatial data. This module provides a basic grounding in GIS from the nature of spatial information, through the use of GIS in social and physical geography contexts, to the application of computers to solving complex geographical problems. Most importantly, it allows hands-on experience in using Quantum GIS (QGIS), the leading open-source GIS software package, and therefore provides a valuable skill for research and the for workplace.
GEG284 Coasts

More than a third of the world's population now live within 100 km of the coast. This population growth and development pressure is transforming coastal landscapes at a phenomenal pace. In only a few generations: processes that shape coastlines have been altered; coastal habitats have been fragmented and lost; the way we use and value coasts as resources has changed. New pressures from climate change (notably sea level rise and greater storminess) are compounding the transformation of coasts, increasing both the vulnerability of human and natural systems and innovation in finding sustainable ways of using our coasts. This module is an introduction to coasts and the communities that rely on them. There are three themes to the module. The first `Coastal Processes¿ theme covers the processes that shape coastal landscapes, the role of coastal wetlands in sustaining livelihoods, and the methods used to track coastal change. The second `Coasts in the Anthropocene¿ theme examines how unsustainable practices are damaging coasts. The third `Coasts for the Future¿ theme explores the steps society can take to safeguard coasts for future generations. The module will also include a field trip to the WWT Steart Marshes rewilding project to see coastal adaptation in action. The module is suitable for geography students interested in how interaction between social, economic, and ecological factors shape landscapes.

Key Grants and Projects

Community-Led Enhancement and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems in the Cumbrian Solway Firth 2022 - 2025

, with Solway Firth Partnership, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, £175,977

Career History

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Biogeomorphology , University of Glasgow

March 2020 - September 2023
Postdoctoral Researcher, Bangor University

March 2019 - March 2020
Lecturer in Physical Geography, Swansea University

September 2017 - March 2019

Dr Cai Ladd

Email address

Welsh language proficiency

LinkedIn Account

Research Institutes

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Conference Contributions

Supervision

Navigating the Politics of Cross-border Conservation of Coastal habitat (C3) (current)

Taught Modules

GEG133 Natural Hazards and Society

GEG252SI Geographical Fieldwork Skills: Isles of Scilly

GEG276 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

GEG284 Coasts

Key Grants and Projects

Community-Led Enhancement and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems in the Cumbrian Solway Firth 2022 - 2025

Career History

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Biogeomorphology , University of Glasgow

Postdoctoral Researcher, Bangor University

Lecturer in Physical Geography, Swansea University