Species on the Move: Invasions and Expansions from Texas to Maine
Join coastal ecologis Janelle Goeke for an exploration of how species invasions and expansions are reshaping coastal ecosystems.
Reservations
Not Required
Pricing
- Suggested Donation: $5.00
Location
Mather Auditorium
Where species live is dependent on a huge number of factors; dispersal methods, local climate, food availability, and more. Changes in any of these factors can result in the movement of species to new ecosystems, especially in today's increasingly dynamic ecosystems. Dr. Janelle Goeke will discuss species invasions, range expansions, the differences between the two, and how both are reshaping coastal ecosystems from Texas to Maine. Join her on a tour of her work along the coast from the salt marshes of Texas, to the Florida Everglades, and ending on the coast of Maine to learn about migrating mangrove trees, invasive freshwater fish, and colorful crabs, and how their presence is changing the systems where they live.
About the Presenter
Dr. Janelle Goeke is a coastal ecologist who barely ever saw the ocean until her 20s, and hasn't looked back since. Growing up near the Great Lakes she was fascinated by the complexity of aquatic environments, and the associated challenges with sustainably managing aquatic systems. From the lakes of western New York she spent some time splashing in the mountain streams of the Rocky Mountains, before eventually landing in the Gulf of Mexico in coastal Texas, where she earned her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. For the last decade, she has been working to understand how environmental shifts related to climate change and human activities are affecting coastal ecosystems, the plants and animals that live in them, and the people that rely on them. In early 2024 she finally escaped the southern tropics and came to Maine to serve as the Staff Scientist for the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, where she has been drawing on her past experience to work throughout the Casco Bay watershed and help communities monitor and understand their natural resources. As a relatively recent transplant to Maine, she's enjoying exploring the wilderness of the state in her free time and would love to get recommendations for your favorite hikes, paddles, or camping spots.