Abstract:
Mangroves are expanding beyond their historical range limits in the northern Gulf of Mexico as winters warm, reshaping coastal ecosystems and human–environment interactions. This talk examines mangrove range expansion through a coupled social-ecological lens, combining ecological data on mangrove distribution, structure, and ecosystem function with insights into how coastal residents and managers perceive and respond to these changes. By linking climate-driven ecological change with human attitudes, shoreline use, and management contexts, the talk highlights both the opportunities and challenges mangrove expansion presents for coastal resilience and decision-making in the Gulf of Mexico.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Jahson Alemu I is an ecosystem services specialist and coastal ecosystem scientist whose research focuses on tropical and subtropical wetlands and associated ecosystems, with particular emphasis on seagrass, mangroves, blue carbon, and climate-driven ecosystem change. His work integrates field ecology, remote sensing, and social science to evaluate how shifts in coastal habitats affect ecosystem functions, ecosystem services, carbon storage, and human perceptions. He has worked extensively in the Gulf of Mexico, SE Asia and the wider Caribbean region and is especially interested in translating interdisciplinary science into tools that support coastal management and climate resilience.