Over the last 15 years, studies have increasingly shown the importance of top-down factors in regulating coastal wetland ecosystems. However, these studies overwhelmingly occur in salt marshes with very few exploring the role of consumer species and trophic dynamics in other coastal systems, such as mangrove forests and seagrass beds (Moore et al. 2020, Ecosphere).
Additionally, studies with direct conservation applications rarely consider the role of traditional ecological knowledge and local environmental stewardship practices in maintaining these systems. These biases limit our ability to understand these dynamic ecosystems and identify inclusive and sustainable conservation practices. Thus, I am building a collaborative research program that addresses this ecological knowledge gap for mangrove forests in American Samoa and incorporates the cultural values and environmental stewardship practices of the local communities affected by these efforts.