Monday, December 23, 2013

Two Florida species on group’s list of those most threatened... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Click title for link to article about the impact sea level rise on already threatened species. There is a link to inundation maps that is revealing. From the article:
 "Sea-level rise will also swallow beaches where loggerhead sea turtles nest along Florida’s east coast — the densest nesting beaches in the southeast United States. Loggerheads have had prolific nesting seasons recently. During this year’s 8-month nesting season that ended in November, 44,810 nests were recorded statewide, down from 2012’s near-record count of 58,172. On Palm Beach County beaches, there were 6,564 loggerhead nests.
However, modest increases in sea levels would shrink nesting beaches, forcing the turtles to move farther inland, where seawalls and beach development will prevent them from nesting.
At Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge near Melbourne, 42 percent of loggerhead nesting beaches are expected to disappear with just 1.5 feet of sea-level rise."