American Conservation Experience wildlife monitoring member Jacob Baker, who is working with J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge biological science technician Avery Renshaw, recently reported on extreme heat events and their impact on the refuge’s wildlife.

Hot summers are a part of the Southwest Florida experience, and though we can get into a nice air-conditioned house when the heat gets too much for us, you may wonder how the plants and wildlife that inhabit our refuge deal with the extreme temperatures. Over thousands of years, species in Southwest Florida have evolved to deal with the region’s heat and humidity. However, due to climate change we are seeing a rise in global temperatures and an increase in extreme heat events, which are defined as “a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days,” according to Ready — a national public service campaign by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Both rising temperatures and extreme heat events can negatively impact the health of humans, plants and animals.

TEMPERATURE AND SEAGRASSES

Let us look at one specific example close to home. While our local seagrasses are declining due to multiple factors, rising water temperatures and extreme heat play a role. One primary impact is the direct toll the heat takes on a given plant or animal. For seagrasses, higher temperatures can inhibit growth and cause die-offs.

In addition, warmer temperatures are contributing to the proliferation of macroalgae, allowing it to outcompete and shade out other submerged aquatic vegetation such as seagrass. In some of our local water bodies, we are seeing a conversion from seagrass-dominated habitats to algae-dominated habitats. The loss of seagrass habitats in Florida has led to a decline in the manatee populations, which rely on seagrass for their primary food source.

Extreme heat events, which are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change, have many impacts on human and natural environments. It is important to understand how rising temperatures can impact our area, not only for human health, but for the plants and wildlife with whom we share our home.