Prediction of Suitability of Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) in North America with MaxEnt

Mangroves are essential intertidal species that play a critical role in ecosystems, serving as carbon sinks, protectors against tsunamis, and habitats for valuable and endangered species. Species distribution models (SDMs), such as MaxEnt, are effective tools for predicting habitat suitability, but their application to red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) in North America has been limited. This research addresses this gap by using MaxEnt to model red mangrove distribution based on occurrence data and environmental variables (geographical and bioclimatic). The findings contribute valuable data for future research on mangrove SDMs and provide insights for conservation decision-making in North America. Results show that the most suitable habitats for red mangroves are along the eastern Gulf of California, the southern coast of Florida in the U.S., Yucatn, Tabasco, and Quintana Roo in Mexico, eastern Nicaragua, and western Cuba. Key environmental variables influencing the model are elevation, minimum temperature of the coldest month, isothermality, and maximum temperature of the warmest month.