Adapting to Change

LSU’s Study of Black Mangroves and Their Role in Louisiana’s Coastal Future

(Photo Credit: LSU CCE Media Center) Louisiana’s coastline is changing, and a new player is moving in—black mangroves. These salt-tolerant trees, once found mainly in Florida and Texas, are now spreading north due to rising temperatures. Unlike Louisiana’s traditional salt marshes, mangroves trap more carbon, grow deeper roots, and offer unique habitats for marine life. Scientists are studying how this shift affects local ecosystems, as well as how mangroves could be used to combat coastal erosion and strengthen flood protection. As climate change reshapes coastlines, Louisiana’s landscape is evolving, bringing both challenges and opportunities for conservation.

Two people walking through a grassy field with trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Four children and an adult playing in a shallow pond, stacking cups with plastic scoops and containers, surrounded by tall reeds under a clear blue sky.

Three people in purple LSU College of the Coast and Environment T-shirts working in a green shrubbery field under a clear blue sky. One person is kneeling and examining the plants, holding a tool, while the other two stand observing.

Map showing the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans, Louisiana, with a blue marker indicating a location in the water south of Louisiana.