Peer Reviewed Publications

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49. Edwards, G.E., Filbee-Dexter, K., Schwoerbel, J.,  Starko, S., Hurd, C. & Wernberg, T. In press. Temperature and nutrient source drive population-specific patterns of dissolved inorganic nitrogen uptake in a common kelp. Marine Ecology Progress Series.

48. Cornwall, C., Berbece, D.M., Blain, C., Johnson, M.D. & Starko, S. (2025), Editorial: Impacts of Climate Change on Seaweeds. Frontiers in Marine Science.

47. Lindstrom, S.C., Lemay, M.A., Janusson, C., Starko, S., Hind, K. & Martone, P.T. (2025). New and interesting seaweed records of the Hakai area of the Central Coast of British Columbia: Phaeophyceae. Botany. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2025-0003*pdf

46. McHenry, J. et al. (22 authors incl. Starko, S.). (2025). A blueprint for national assessments of the blue carbon capacity of kelp forests applied to Canada’s coastline. NPJ Ocean Sustainability 4:30. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.04.05.586816 †Media coverage in multiple outlets

45. Edgeloe, J., Starko, S., Pessarrodona, A., Batley, J., Coleman, M.A., Wernberg, T. & Wood, G. (2025). Strong genetic differentiation in Cystophora racemosa across 850km of its range. Journal of Phycology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.70023

44. Pinero-Corberra, C. et al. (13 authors total incl. Starko, S.). (2025). The Habitat Dependency Index: A new tool for quantifying species-habitat relationships. Ecological Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113612

43. Bringloe, T.T., Zaparenkov, Grant, W.S., Starko, S., Fort, A., Inaba, M., Sulpice, R., Saunders, G.W. & Verbruggen, H. (2025). Emerging opportunities and challenges to defining species using genome-wide data: a case study in Northeast Pacific ribbon kelp lineages (genus Alaria). Journal of Phycology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.70040

42. Starko, S., Epstein, G., Chalifour, L. et al. (11 authors total). Ecological responses to extreme climatic events: a systematic review of the 2014-2016 Northeast Pacific marine heatwave. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. Accepted for 2025 volume. *pdf

41. Bemmels, J., Starko, S., Weigel, B. et al. (11 authors total). (2025). Population genomics reveals strong impacts of genetic drift without purgining and guides conservation of bull and giant kelp. Current Biology. *pdf

40. Starko, S., Allchurch, A. & Neufeld, C.J. (2025). Asynchronous shifts in the demographics of two wave-swept kelp species after four decades. Journal of Phycology. *pdf

39. Pessarrodona, A., Wood, G.V., Kendrick, G., Goldberg, N., Starko, S. & Wernberg, T. Long-term stability of marine forests facing moderate gradual warming in a remote biodiversity hotspot. Diversity & Distributions. 30(11): 1-17. *pdf

38. Starko, S., van der Mheen, M., Pessarrodona, A., Wood, G.V., Montie, S., Neufeld, C.J., Coleman, M., Filbee-Dexter, K. & Wernberg, T. (2024) Impacts of marine heatwaves in coastal ecosystems depend on local environmental conditions. Global Change Biology 30(8): e17469. *pdf

37. Starko, S., Timmer, B., Reshitnyk, L., Csordas, M. et al. (20 authors total). (2024). Local and regional variation in kelp loss and stability across coastal British Columbia. Marine Ecology Progress Series 733: 1-26. *pdf **Conversation article 

36. Li Shing Hiung, D. et al. (41 authors including Starko, S.). (2024). Ocean weather, biological rates and unexplained global ecological patterns. PNAS Nexus 3(8): pgae260. *pdf

35. Wachmann, A., Starko, S., Neufeld, C.J. & Costa, M. (2024). Validating Landsat analysis ready data for nearshore sea surface temperature monitoring in the Northeast Pacific. Remote Sensing 16(5), 920. *pdf

34. Csordas, M., Starko, S., Neufeld, C.J., Thomson, S.A. & Baum, J.K. (2024). Multi-scale stability of an intertidal kelp (Postelsia palmaeformis) near its northern range edge through a prolonged heatwave. Annals of Botany. 133(1): 61-72. *pdf

33. Starko, S. (2024). Unusual morphologies raise questions about the evolution of branching in kelps (Laminariales). Ecology & Evolution. 14: e70109. *pdf

32. Filbee-Dexter, K., Starko, S., Pessarrodona, A., Wood, G., Norderhaug, K.M., Pineiro-Corbeira, C. & Wernberg, T. (2024). Marine protected areas are not a silver bullet for kelp conservation. Journal of Phycology 60(2): 202-213. *pdf

31. Eger, A. et al. (79 coauthors, incl. Starko, S). (2024). The Kelp Forest Challenge: a collaborative global movement to protect and restore 4 million hectares of kelp forests. Journal of Applied Phycology 36: 951-964. *pdf ‡WoS Highly Cited Paper

30. Wood et al. (30 authors incl. Starko, S.). (2024). Upscaling marine forest restoration: challenges, solutions and recommendations from the Green Gravel Action Group. Frontiers in Marine Sciences 11: 1364263. *pdf

29. Wernberg, T., Thomsen, M.S. et al. (17 authors total, including Starko, S.) (2024). Impacts of climate change on marine foundation species. Annual Reviews of Marine Science 16: 247-282. *pdf ‡WoS Highly Cited Paper

28. Starko, S., Fifer, J., Claar, D.C., Davies, S.W., Cunning, R., Baker, A.C. & Baum, J.K. (2023). Marine heatwaves threaten cryptic coral diversity and erode associations among coevolving partners. Science Advances 9: eadf0964. *pdf **Radio-Canada **The Conversation **Globe & Mail

27. Maucieri, D., Starko, S. & Baum, J.K. (2023). Tipping points and interacting effects of chronic human disturbance and acute heat stress on coral diversity. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 290 (1996): 20230209. *pdf

26. Whalen, M., Starko, S., Lindstrom, S.C. & Martone P.T. (2023). Heatwave restructures marine intertidal communities across a stress gradient. Ecology 104 (5): e4027. *pdf ‡Top cited paper in 2024

25. Bringloe, T.T., Fort, A., Inaba, M., Sulpice, R. et al. (12 authors total, including Starko, S.). (2022). Whole genome population structure of North Atlantic kelp confirms high latitude glacial refugia. Molecular Ecology 31 (24): 6437 – 6488. *pdf

24. Starko, S., Neufeld, C.J., Gendall, L., Timmer, B., Campbell, L., Yakimishyn, Druehl, L.D. & Baum, J.K. (2022). Microclimate predicts kelp forest extinction in the face of direct and indirect marine heatwave effects. Ecological Applications 32(7): e2673. **Hakai Magazine **National Observer **CTV News *pdf ‡Top cited paper in 2023

23. Hollarsmith, J. A., Andrews, K., Naar, N., Starko, S., Calloway, M., Obaza, A., Buckner, E., Tonnes, D., Selleck, J. & Therriault, T.W. (2022). Towards a conceptual framework for managing and conserving marine habitats: A case study of kelp forests in the Salish Sea. Ecology and Evolution 12: e8510. *pdf

22. Bringloe, T.T., Zaparenkov, D., Starko, S. et al. (13 authors total). (2021). Whole-genome sequencing reveals forgotten lineages and recurrent hybridizations within the kelp genus Alaria (Phaeophyceae). Journal of Phycology 57(6): 1721 – 1738. *pdf

21. Epstein, H.E., Hernandez-Agreda, A., Starko, S., Baum, J.K. & Thurber, R.V. (2021). Inconsistent patterns of microbial diversity and composition between highly similar sequencing protocols: a case study with reef-building corals. Frontiers in Microbiology 12. *pdf

20. Lindstrom, S.C., Lemay, M.A., Starko, S., Hind, K.R. & Martone, P.T. (2021). New and interesting seaweed records from the Hakai area of the Central Coast of British Columbia: Chlorophyta. Botanica Marina 64(5): 343-361. *pdf

19. Higham, T., Ferry, L., , Irschick, D. , Anderson, P.S.L., Starko, S. et al. (20 authors total). (2021). Linking ecomechanical models and functional traits to understand phenotypic diversity. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 36(9): 860-873. *pdf

18. Starko, S., Bringloe, T.T., Soto Gomez, M., Darby, H., Graham, S.W. & Martone, P.T. (2021). Genomic rearrangements and sequence evolution across brown algal organelles. Genome Biology and Evolution 13(7): 860-873. *pdf

17. Starko, S., Wilkinson, D., Bringloe, T.T. (2021). Recent global model underestimates the true extent of Arctic kelp forest habitat. Biological Conservation 57: 109082. *pdf

16. Lemay, M.A., Chen, M.Y., Mazel, F., Hind, K.R., Starko, S., Keeling, P.J., Martone, P.T., Wagner Parfrey, L. (2021). Morphological complexity affects the diversity of marine microbiomes. The ISME Journal 229: 2311-2323. *pdf

15. Demes, K.W., Starko, S. & Martone, P.T. (2021). Multiple stressors drive convergent evolution of unique performance properties in marine macrophytes. New Phytologist 229: 2311-2323. *pdf

14. Campbell, J., Starko, S. (2021). Allometric models effectively predict Saccharina latissima wet weight on local scales. Journal of Applied Phycology 33: 491-500. *pdf

13. Claar, D.C., Starko, S., Tietjen, K.L., Epstein, H.E., Cunning, R., Cobb, K.M., Baker, A.C., Gates, R.D., Baum, J.K. (2020). Dynamic symbioses reveal pathways to coral survival through prolonged heatwaves. Nature Communications 11: 6097. **Science Magazine **In Brief Article – Nature Reviews Microbiology *pdf

12. Bringloe, T., Starko, S., Wade, R.M., Vieira, C., Kawai, H., De Clerck, O., Cock, J.M., Coelho, S.M., Destombe, C., Valero, M., Neiva, J., Pearson, G.A., Faugeron, S., Serrao, E. & Verbruggen, H. (2020). Phylogeny and evolution of the brown algae. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 39 (4): 281-321. *pdf ‡WoS Highly Cited Paper

11. Starko, S., Demes, K.W., Neufeld, C.J. & Martone, P.T. (2020). Convergent evolution of niche structure in Northeast Pacific kelp forests. Functional Ecology 34: 2131-2146. **Highlight article *pdf 

10. Hind, K.R., Starko, S., Burt, J.M., Lemay, M., Salomon, A.K. & Martone, P.T. (2019). Trophic control of cryptic coralline algal diversity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116.30: 15080-15085. **Press release. *pdf 

9. Starko, S., Soto Gomez, M., Demes, K., Darby, H., Kawai, H., Lindstrom, S.C., Keeling, P., Graham, S., & Martone, P.T. (2019). A comprehensive kelp phylogeny sheds light on the evolution of an ecosystem. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 136: 138-150. *pdf

8. Starko, S., Bailey, L.,  Creviston, E., James, K., Warren, A., Brophy, M.K., Danasel, A., Fass, M.P., Townsend, J.A. & Neufeld, C.J. (2019). Environmental heterogeneity mediates scale-dependent declines in kelp diversity on intertidal rocky shores. PLOS One. *pdf

7. Starko. S., Boo, G.H., Martone, P.T., & Lindstrom, S.C. (2018). A molecular investigation of Saccharina sessilis from the Aleutian Islands uncovers the existence of a species complex and necessitates the new combination Saccharina subsessilis. Algae 33(2): 157-166. *pdf

6. Starko, S., Mansfield, S.D., & Martone, P.T. (2018). Cell wall chemistry and tissue structure drive shifts in material properties of a perennial kelp. European Journal of Phycology 53(3): 307-317. *pdf

5. Neufeld, C.J. , Starko, S., & Burns, K.C. (2017). Disturbance and diversity in a continental archipelago: a mechanistic framework linking area, height and exposure. Ecosphere 8(10). *pdf

4. Starko, S. & Martone, P.T. (2016). An empirical test of “universal” biomass scaling relationships in kelps: evidence of convergence with seed plants. New Phytologist 212(3): 719-729. **Science Magazine. **Behind the Cover. *pdf

3. Starko, S. & Martone, P.T.. (2016). Evidence of an evolutionary-developmental trade-off between drag avoidance and tolerance in wave-swept kelps (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae, Heterokontophyta). Journal of Phycology 52(1): 54-63. *pdf

2. Starko, S., Smyth, C., & Kucera, H. (2016). Attachment strength of the herbivorous rockweed isopod, Idotea wosnesenskii (Isopoda, Crustaceae, Arthropoda) depends on properties of its seaweed host.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 477: 1-6. *pdf

1. Starko, S., Claman, B. & Martone, P.T. (2015). Biomechanical consequences of branching in flexible wave-swept macroalgae. New Phytologist 206: 133-140. **Globe & Mail *pdf

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