Cohort Level: Cohort - III

Career Goal: With the completion of my education I seek to mature as an environmental professional ideally by working with a government agency in their environmental departments, working on implementation of environmental planning strategies, conservation and restoration, or ideally working with NOAA departments in Coastal and Oceanic sciences, Fisheries and Climate division which engage and perform scientific research to address environmental problems

Expected Graduation Date: August 31, 2021

Degree: M.S Biology-Ecology

Research Title: Measuring carbon flux in a sub tropical mangrove ecosystem in Bahia Magdalena Baja California, Mexico

Research Synopsis: Mangrove forests are considered among the most productive intertidal ecosystems providing a wide array of important ecological and socioeconomic services, however despite their importance; at least 50% of the world’s mangrove forests have been lost over the past half century due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. In order to understand and predict changes in response to climate change and management of coastal and marine resources, my research focuses on quantifying net CO2 exchange over multiple seasonal in a sub-tropical mangrove ecosystem in Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Through the use of the eddy covariance tower and meteorological sensors, we can quantify this ecosystem’s atmospheric carbon footprint and the key environmental variables regulating those seasonal fluxes. By understanding this system’s behavior in sequestering carbon in addition to economic and environmental services mangroves provide, we can then apply appropriate management and conservation programs that will strengthen and enrich our ability to economically, socially and environmentally depend on these systems.