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Abstract Climate change is altering species’ range limits and transforming ecosystems. For example, warming temperatures are leading to the range expansion of tropical, cold-sensitive species at the expense of their cold-tolerant counterparts. In some temperate and subtropical coastal wetlands, warming winters are enabling mangrove forest encroachment into salt marsh, which is a major regime shift that has significant ecological and societal ramifications. Here, we synthesized existing data and expert knowledge to assess the distribution of mangroves near rapidly changing range limits in the southeastern USA. We used expert elicitation to identify data limitations and highlight knowledge gaps for advancing understanding of past, current, and future range dynamics. Mangroves near poleward range limits are often shorter, wider, and more shrublike compared to their tropical counterparts that grow as tall forests in freeze-free, resource-rich environments. The northern range limits of mangroves in the southeastern USA are particularly dynamic and climate sensitive due to abundance of suitable coastal wetland habitat and the exposure of mangroves to winter temperature extremes that are much colder than comparable range limits on other continents. Thus, there is need for methodological refinements and improved spatiotemporal data regarding changes in mangrove structure and abundance near northern range limits in the southeastern USA. Advancing understanding of rapidly changing range limits is critical for foundation plant species such as mangroves, as it provides a basis for anticipating and preparing for the cascading effects of climate-induced species redistribution on ecosystems and the human communities that depend on their ecosystem services. 

Abstract Understanding the diffusion of innovative ideas, behaviors, and technologies could reduce disconnects between conservation science and management, such as the science‐practice gap between biodiversity research and restoration practice. To assess knowledge uptake as an indicator of diffusion of innovation in restoration practice, we conducted an online survey of two organizations focused on coastal habitat restoration: Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) and International Coral Reef Society (ICRS). We evaluated experience restoring particular habitats, along with perceptions of the purpose of restoration, the metrics used to evaluate restoration success, and the challenges to successful restoration. We then examined the perceived importance of genetic diversity for restoration success as an indicator of knowledge‐practice transfer in conservation strategy. The practice of coastal habitat restoration diverged by organization and habitat: a higher percentage of CERF members had restored oysters, marshes, and seagrasses compared to ICRS, whereas the reverse was true for corals. Views of the purpose of restoration, the site selection process, and the challenges to successful restoration were similar. Despite similarities in perceptions of the restoration process, the two organizations had variable indications of knowledge‐practice transfer: ICRS respondents ranked the importance of genetic diversity as a restoration strategy higher than did CERF respondents. The perceived importance of genetic diversity also differed by habitat, with both CERF and ICRS respondents ranking diversity as more important for corals. The more successful transfer of knowledge to practice in the coral community indicates that the disconnect between genetic diversity research and restoration practice is surmountable. In addition, it serves as a potential strategy for promoting the spread of innovative restoration practices to achieve long‐term recovery of ecosystems.