Coastal Areas
Narrower Topics
Aquatic Ecosystems
Interaction of living organisms with the physical or chemical environment in a body of water.
Related Topics: Coastal Areas, Water Resources
Related Topics: Coastal Areas, Wildlife
Mangroves
Tropical trees, or deciduous conifers, or shrubs which produce many prop roots and grow in swamps, coastal saline or brackish water.
Related Topics: Coastal Areas, UF/IFAS Extension Initiative 4: Sustainable Communities
Publications
Climate Change: Effects on Salinity in Florida’s Estuaries and Responses of Oysters, Seagrass, and Other Animal and Plant Life
SG138/SGEF-218 by Ashley R. Smyth, H. Dail Laughinghouse, Laura K. Reynolds, Edward V. Camp, and Karl HavensApril 15, 2024Florida’s economically important estuaries could be heavily impacted by sea-level rise and altered river flow, both caused by climate change. The resulting higher salinity, or saltiness of the water, could harm plants and animals, alter fish, and bird habitat, and reduce the capacity of estuaries to provide such important services as seafood production and the protection of shorelines from erosion. This publication contains information for stakeholders, students, scientists, and environmental agencies interested in understanding how changes in salinity impact Florida’s estuaries.
Related IFAS Blog Posts
Study reveals growing interest in natural shorelines
Megan WinslowJune 26th, 2024Promoting the idea of installing a living shoreline was once a losing battle. Savanna Barry recalls a colleague who attempted to introduce the concept during a gathering of marine contractors about a decade ago. “He was asked to leave,” said Barry, a Florida Sea Grant (FSG) regional Extension agent for the Nature Coast. “Late last […]
Ten Plants to Know in our Florida Sand Dunes
Carolyn KovacsJune 21st, 2024Our coastal sand dunes are important as they protect our land and buildings from wave energy, erosion, and flooding. They also protect inland habitats and buildings from salt spray and are an important habitat for many plants and animals. Plants are a key component to coastal sand dunes. The leaves of dune plants capture wind-blown […]
Xeniid soft corals: the latest news
Ana ZangronizApril 15th, 2024What has happened: There have been new developments with the Xeniid soft coral invasion in the Caribbean. The inspiration for my February 2023 original blog post was the confirmation of Unomia stolonifera in northern Cuba, which is quite close in proximity to Florida. Prior to being found in Cuba, Unomia had been confined to Venezuela, […]
