About This Project

Salt water is slowly intruding inland in the Big Cypress and Everglades communities. Some effects, such as, mangrove encroachment and freshwater marsh collapse, are predictable, but the amount of damage is unknown. With the amount of freshwater fluctuating, the area of unusable habitat for wildlife may be vast. The study will determine the effects in the local ecology and create proposals to improve conditions for wildlife.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Vast areas of land between coastal and freshwater wetland communities are dramatically effects by changing levels of salinity. Wide buffer zones between the communities is uninhabitable to most wildlife and the continue to expand from reasons ranging from climate change to poorly managed hydrology projects. The study will determine how much land is effected and propose how to minimize the dead zones.

What is the significance of this project?

The interchange area of fresh and salt water areas is largely unsuitable to the native flora and fauna, and considering how much endangered plant and animal life thrives in the overly developed south Florida region, we need to protect as much land from becoming unsuitable.

What are the goals of the project?

The study will determine how much land is effected and propose how to minimize the dead zones. With better knollege and understanding of the uninhabitable buffer zones, we may be able to reduce the size and better stabalize the areas affected.