Scientists at Work: The Art and Science of Saving Mangroves

Podcast June 21, 2019

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Stat: 50 percent. Half of the world’s mangroves have been lost over the past five decades.

Story: Mangrove forests are natural protectors, shielding coasts from storms, sheltering species, and soaking up carbon. Reversing the decline of these habitats isn’t just a science—it’s an art, says marine biologist Octavio Aburto. He uses his camera along with high-resolution satellite imagery to assess real-time changes in mangrove coverage—and to reveal the amazing hidden marine life of these critical ecosystems.

An intricate tangle of a mangrove root system provides a perch for a resident of Isla Concepción, at La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. These complex forests of trees and shrubs that grow in tropical and subtropical climates serve crucial functions: They protect coastlines, provide habitat for an abundance of species, filter water, and sequester carbon. But 50 percent of global mangrove coverage has been lost over the past 50 years.

Octavio Aburto

Sometimes, a new perspective goes a long way toward solving a problem. Octavio Aburto, a 2018 Pew marine fellow and scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has long used photography to share the beauty and importance of marine ecosystems. His latest project applies high-resolution satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to assess real-time changes in mangrove forests, providing data that will help guide conservation efforts.

Astrid Hsu

Marine biologist Octavio Aburto’s “David and Goliath” image went viral after he entered it in a National Geographic contest in 2012. The photo depicts his fellow diver, David, before a swarm of mating jackfish in Cabo Pulmo National Park. After the larvae spawn, the young fish find refuge in coastal habitats such as mangrove forests. Aburto says compelling photos can help captivate audiences and encourage better understanding of the science behind marine conservation.

Octavio Aburto

Coastal communities rely on healthy marine ecosystems for food and livelihood. To help protect critical fish and oyster stocks, the fishing village of Boca de Camichin on the north coast of Nayarit, Mexico, has renovated fishing gear and refined farming techniques to advance sustainability. The town recently joined other indigenous communities to formally request that the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources not authorize any project that would affect Mexico’s mangroves.

Octavio Aburto

A fisherman bat (Noctilio leporinus) flies through the nocturnal waters of La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve, home to Mexico’s tallest mangroves. Bats are an essential pollinator for mangroves, which provide important habitat for a multitude of species—including many that can be found nowhere else on Earth.

Octavio Aburto

Mexico’s La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve protects over 144,000 hectares of habitat. Its mangrove forest shelters many endangered species such as the American crocodile.

Octavio Aburto

A gray heron keeps watch atop the leaves of a red mangrove tree in the Galapagos while yellowtail surgeonfish swim below. Mangrove roots provide habitat and serve as a nursery for a wide range of species, including commercially valuable fish.

Octavio Aburto Octavio Aburto

A seal frolics through the kelp forests surrounding Mexico’s San Benito Island. Once heavily hunted for furs and meat, many seal populations have recovered. But some species, like the Guadalupe fur seal, are struggling to rebound. Understanding how seals survive and adapt, as well as the role they play as a top predator in marine ecosystems, is key to preserving the islands and the species that call them home. Octavio Aburto hopes his photography will help communicate the value of marine conservation.

Octavio Aburto

Related resources:

A New Perspective on Mangroves

Four Types of Coastal Habitats and Why They Matter

Octavio Aburto-Oropeza

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