Responding to Mangrove Migration: Prioritizing Science for Research and Management

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET | Sunday, 9 November | Room E11-C

No Need to Register | Free Informal Discussion

In North America, the boundary between mangroves and salt marshes is shifting northward due to warmer winters, raising concerns among coastal managers. While this phenomenon has long been documented, observations of this change are increasing. There is limited guidance on where mangroves may continue to expand, over what timeframes, and how ecosystem functions may respond. Critical knowledge gaps remain, including which studies best support effective management of ecological and human dimensions. This session will bring together researchers, managers, and practitioners for an open and collaborative conversation to share insights, identify regional priorities, and explore opportunities for advancing actionable science for coastal ecosystems and communities.

Speaker(s)

Loraé Simpson

Dr. Loraé T. Simpson is an estuarine ecologist whose research explores the intersection of ecosystem processes and the abiotic and biotic factors that shape them. With over a decade of experience studying the saltmarsh–mangrove ecotone, her work has advanced the understanding of ecosystem structure, function, and resilience. She currently serves as a Supervisory Environmental Scientist at the St. Johns River Water Management District, where she leads efforts to preserve and restore vital water resources and the habitats they support.

Scott Jones 

Dr. Scott F. Jones is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of North Florida.His lab group, WE ~ ECO, explores coastal and wetland ecosystems with a particular focus on resilience to global change. Dr. Jones has worked to understand these ecosystemsfor more than a decade across the West, Gulf, and East Coasts of the United States.