Andrew Balder

Bio

Advisor and Program

Christopher Anderson
Forestry, Auburn University

About

I am entering my first year as a Ph.D. student in the Wetland and Riparian Ecology Lab at Auburn University. My aim throughout this program is to increase my expertise in coastal ecology, ecological conservation, and climate resilience. I am especially motivated to apply ecological knowledge to guide land management decisions that address climate-induced ecosystem loss. I aim to contribute to adaptive strategies that support the long-term sustainability of vulnerable coastal ecosystems.

Research Interests

My research focuses on the ecology and resilience of coastal forests along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, how salinity intrusion, sea level rise, and altered hydrology impact forest health, composition, and function. A key objective is to identify early ecological indicators of environmental change that precede large-scale forest decline. Additionally, I aim to understand how changes in forest structure influence broader watershed processes, including nutrient loading to downstream estuaries.