How will sea level rise and climate change impact different habitats in Tampa Bay? TBEP is seven years into a study to find out just that. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is in the process of surveying different areas to see if visible changes have occurred between marsh, mangroves, oysters, wooded uplands, and more. Scientists spend a few long days at each of the nine sites to map exactly where different habitats occur along a predetermined transect. They use visual clues like the identification of plants and growth measurements of individually marked trees across the years.
Early results suggest that mangrove habitat is expanding inland. While mangroves are an important habitat, there is concern that other less adaptable habitats are being crowded out.
Estuaries like Tampa Bay require a diversity of habitat types to support thriving wildlife populations. This expansion brings other questions: Will these other important habitat types be lost for good, or will they be able to adapt? At what point will warming temperatures and rising seas prove too much even for mangroves?
This long-term study is ongoing, so stay tuned as results continue to come in!
