Coastal wetlands are among the most valuable and threatened ecosystems across the globe. The functions and services provided by wetlands are numerous and include food production, disturbance regulation, and cultural uses and values. Given their threatened status, significant effort has been devoted to the conservation and restoration of these dynamic coastal landscapes. However, traditional conservation practices are conducted under a historical paradigm that focuses on but a few components of wetland ecosystems (e.g. the plant-soil interface) with little consideration of how the broader ecological community or the practices and culture of local communities may influence conservation and restoration outcomes. This talk describes research that challenges our traditional understanding of how wetlands are maintained and provides insight on new directions in wetland conservation and restoration practice.
Dr. Alexandria Moore is an NSF Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History. She recently completed her PhD at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, where her research focused on how predator-prey interactions impact the health and functioning of wetland ecosystems. At AMNH, she is expanding on the work she did at Yale by branching out into new wetland ecosystems while exploring the cultural implications of habitat restoration and conservation. Outside of academia and research, she loves spending time with friends and family, traveling the world, and addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.