Protecting Coastal Ecosystems Against a Backdrop of Change

Sea turtles have adapted over millions of years to disturbances such as storms and predation by laying multiple nests per season, significantly increasing the survival of their offspring. Birds have developed an internal barometer, allowing them to sense approaching storms and react before they arrive. Even the shoreline itself is dynamic, shifting naturally in response to the rhythms of the seas.

Yet shorebirds, sea turtles, and the habitats they depend on are being profoundly impacted by humans. Our climate is warming, pollution is affecting ecosystems, and coastal habitat is being altered at unprecedented rates.

“Climate change is quickly becoming the biggest threat to wildlife in North America and many places around the world. Rising temperatures affect habitat, food availability, access to water, and countless other aspects of survival,” said SCCF Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan. “We are already grappling with the reality that ecosystems may become uninhabitable for certain animals, forcing wildlife to migrate in search of food and livable conditions.”

OVER 1/3 OF THE PLANET’S PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES ARE PROJECTED TO BECOME EXTINCT BY 2050 ON THE CURRENT EMISSIONS TRAJECTORY, ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

To successfully manage and conserve the imperiled wildlife that share our shoreline, the SCCF Coastal Wildlife team is addressing fundamental questions about the biology and ecology of these species.

CLIMATE CHANGE & BIODIVERSITY LOSS

• The SCCF Sea Turtle Program leads multi-year research projects investigating the impacts of higher incubation temperatures and moisture on hatchling sex ratios, embryonic development, and hatching success of loggerhead sea turtles. The results contribute to statewide datasets that allow scientists to better understand the impacts of climate change on sea turtles at a population level.

• The SCCF Shorebird Program works with regional, state, and nationwide partners to assess large-scale patterns of habitat use and reproductive success for nesting and migrating shorebirds on Sanibel and Captiva. This information can be used when managing for climate change and many other challenges.

RISING SEAS & DESTRUCTIVE STORMS

The rate and magnitude of rising seas are also a threat to Florida’s coasts and the wildlife that rely on them. Additionally, destructive storms are likely to become more frequent and intense as our planet warms.

Development often occurs close to dunes that buffer the coast from storms, interrupting the natural cycle of erosion and rebuilding, Sloan explained. This can result in an expensive cycle of beach renourishment and seawall construction.

ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA FISH & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION, SEAWALLS NOW EXTEND ALONG AN ESTIMATED 14% TO 20% OF SANDY BEACHES IN THE STATE, ELIMINATING VITAL WILDLIFE HABITAT.

• SCCF provides monitoring services during beach construction projects to minimize impacts to nesting sea turtles and shorebirds.

• The sea turtle team is conducting research on the impacts of sand-placement projects on the incubation environment of sea turtle nests and hatching success.

Harmful Algal Blooms

Harmful algal blooms are a significant and persistent threat to wildlife that use the Gulf of Mexico as foraging, migrating, breeding, and nesting grounds. On Florida’s west coast, red tide conditions have been documented every year in at least one county since 2000.

• SCCF is wrapping up a four-year research project characterizing the long-term impacts of red tide exposure on immune function, overall health, and reproductive success in nesting and hatchling loggerheads.

• The shorebird team is working with The International Osprey Foundation, which is based on Sanibel, to identify factors contributing to lowfledging success in ospreys during bloom events.

• SCCF helps rescue sick and injured wildlife and provides transportation to rehabilitation facilities.

• The Sea Turtle Program participates in the national Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network by collecting stranding data.

Habitat Loss

Habitat loss and degradation are among the most significant threats to wildlife in Florida. The population of Florida’s coastal counties is predicted to double from 12.3 million to more than 26 million by 2060, resulting in increased pressure on sea turtles and shorebirds.

• SCCF documents sea turtle disorientations due to artificial lighting — data that are used by local and state agencies to address and correct lighting violations.

• Resorts, condos, and realty agencies are supplied with educational materials for guests detailing the threats of artificial lighting on sea turtles.

• Hundreds of beachgoers are educated each year about the life history and conservation challenges of nesting shorebirds, including the negative impacts of off-leash dogs and overenthusiastic photographers.

Poor water quality and other human-driven impacts have also degraded foraging grounds for wildlife in Florida. Seagrass beds provide important food for green sea turtles and manatees but are declining at an alarming rate.

• SCCF’s satellite tagging project has identified important seagrass habitat in the Florida Bay for green sea turtles that nest in Southwest Florida. Identifying these foraging grounds and migratory pathways provides conservation opportunities, including the expansion of national marine protected areas, federal critical habitat designations, and limiting boat traffic in these areas.

“SCCF and our many conservation partners are working towards a Florida where beaches and oceans are thriving habitats that can support our wildlife into the future,” SCCF Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan said.