Dr. Julio Lorda is a marine ecologist specializing in coastal ecosystems, with a focus on the Baja California and California regions. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and has dedicated his career to studying long-term environmental changes, species interactions, and conservation strategies. He is a faculty member at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) and a co-founder of Managing Ecosystems across the Californias (MexCal), a research consortium based in Ensenada, Baja California. Additionally, he is an adjunct scientist at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR), contributing to international coastal monitoring initiatives. Dr. Lorda’s research spans a variety of ecological topics, including population and community ecology, biogeography, long-term coastal monitoring, invasive species ecology, climate change impacts, and ecological parasitology. Currently, Dr. Lorda is leading efforts in kelp and abalone restoration programs, emphasizing participatory science, conservation aquaculture, and scenario planning to address ecosystem shifts. His work integrates academic research with applied conservation, aiming to develop sustainable solutions for marine resource management.