Joanne Preston is a leading expert in coastal restoration ecology, based at the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth.

Her Seascape Ecology and Restoration Lab group focuses on understanding relationships between biodiversity, structure and function of temperate coastal habitats, (such as oyster reefs, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes) and the ecological connectivity that occurs between them.

Beyond increasing our understanding of ecological connectivity across the temperate seascape, this research hopes to advance the effective practice and scientific monitoring of ecological restoration of temperate seascapes, whilst informing policy.