Sea Secrets Lecture Series with Gabriel Reygondeau, Ph.D.

Advances in ecological modeling are transforming the way scientists understand where marine species live, how they respond to shifting oceans, and which regions hold the greatest conservation value. This installment of the 2026 Sea Secrets Lecture Series features marine ecologist Gabriel Reygondeau, Ph.D., whose work maps global biodiversity patterns with unprecedented resolution.

The free lecture, taking place Tuesday, April 7 at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, will trace the progression of marine biodiversity research from early tools like FishBase to the development of AquaMaps 2.0. This next-generation modeling platform integrates machine learning, high-resolution environmental data and ensemble forecasting to project the distributions of more than 30,000 marine species. The result is a set of global maps that illuminate species richness, rarity and phylogenetic diversity, revealing hidden hotspots and helping scientists evaluate how climate change is reshaping life across the world’s oceans.

A reception follows the program, inviting attendees to continue the conversation and explore the broader implications of these advances for conservation and science-policy efforts.