Victor H. Rivera-Monroy, Associate Professor
Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Louisiana State University

In this seminar, Rivera-Monroy will analyze how lacking of explicit identification of spatiotemporal scales characterizing distinct structural and productivity mangrove forests patterns have contributed to some of the ill-applied generalizations about the quantity and quality of ecosystem services. These generalizations have informed mangrove forest economic assessments in regional coastal management programs.

The explicit characterization of how distinct mangrove ecotypes regulate and provide local and regional ecosystem services is illustrated by study cases in Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the USA (Florida and Louisiana); particularly, in the context of major future changes in coastal ecosystems and compounded mangrove vulnerability  (i.e., sea level rise, hurricane frequency) as result of climate change.