On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico’s southeastern coast. The category five hurricane decimated the island’s people, wildlife and infrastructure. Though the initial death toll numbers were controversially low, current estimates indicate that approximately 4,645 perished during the event and its aftermath; making Hurricane Maria the deadliest natural disaster in recent US history [Harvard University]. In addition to the unfortunate casualties, the island’s landscape also took a major hit as the lush green that coated its surface, turned into dark brown hues. Out of the many species impacted by Hurricane Maria, mangroves have been able to make a particularly spe...