Mangrove Systems
Mangroves are a halophytic species of tree, providing numerous ecosystem services such as coastal protection, blue carbon storage, and nursery development. Although they live in saline environments, mangroves die off after a certain soil stressor concentration threshold is met.
We study how net evaporation (i.e. evaporation - precipitation), hydraulic conductivity and outer edge salinity alters soil stressor concentration in mangrove islands, through remote sensing and numerical modeling efforts.
As net evaporation increases, mangroves undergo species zonation and die off within island interiors.
The Caribbean provides a spatial distribution of net evaporation rates,
making it an ideal location for our work.
Primary Researcher: Isamar Cortés
Exploring the Role of Evaporation and Precipitation Rates on Mangrove Island Morphology
Read Isamar Cortés’ thesis here.