Climate Change Erases Entire Plant Species
Greetings to you! Here’s some more sobering news on how rising sea levels and climate change eradicated a rare and unique plant species, the only one of its kind in the United States, living in the Florida Keys.
According to the Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the Key Largo Tree Cactus was discovered in 1992. In June of this year, it did not survive due to rising salt water and extreme storms.
George Gann, co-author of the study and Executive Director and President of the Institute for Regional Conservation said, “This is just one example of what’s happening to dozens of species, and people need to understand that if we don’t do something, this loss is just going to accelerate.” Gann continued and said, “The Key Largo tree cactus still exists in parts of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, but the chances of it re-establishing naturally in the Florida Keys is basically zero.”
“Around 150 Key Largo Tree [Cacti] existed in 2011 on a tidal rock barren atop a small limestone outcrop among a plethora of mangroves in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. But by 2015, researchers noticed the cactus dying at an alarming rate, a consequence of a one-off animal attack, but also its location on the low-lying Florida Keys, most of which is just 5 feet above sea level.”
Scientists explained, “The plant’s habitat was being swamped by saltwater from storms and high tides worsened by the rising sea. As fossil-fuel pollution heats up the planet, it also heats up and expands the oceans and melts ice sheets and glaciers, inching up water levels. Sea levels around the Florida Keys have been rising by around an average 0.16 inches a year, or just over 8 inches since 1971.”
John Lange, study co-author and research botanist at Miami’s Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden said, “Too much salt is just a stressful environment for most plants. Plants can tolerate salty seawater for a few days, but when the timeline extends into weeks or longer, their structures are just not set up to deal with it because they’re no longer getting any freshwater – they can’t feed their bodies.”
Gann continued and said, “The loss of the species in the US is an indicator of a bigger problem. Sea levels are projected to rise up to 7 feet by the end of the century around the Florida Keys, bringing even worse tides and ocean water intrusion – an existential threat to many other species.”
“Unfortunately, the Key Largo tree cactus may be the bellwether for how other low-lying coastal plants will respond to climate change,” said Jennifer Possley, lead author of the study and director of regional conservation at Fairchild.
Possley said, “More than 1-in-4 native plant species are critically threatened with regional extinction in South Florida. They include the rare flowering plant Garber’s spurge, the smallflower lilythorn, smallfruit varnishleaf and the Grisebach’s dwarf morning glory.”
“And it’s not just plants. The intruding saltwater is depriving local wildlife of fresh drinking water and forcing them to consume moisture-retaining plants like the cacti, only worsening the problem for the threatened plants. Biologists had to create small pools of freshwater to help keep animal and plant alive.”
The good news is that researchers “rescued the last remaining cacti from the wild, wrapping them with towels for protection, and whisking them away to a greenhouse off site to ensure the plants’ survival.”
Introducing an Excellent Way to Talk to Kids with “Soft Facts” about Climate Change
One awesome tool for talking to kids about climate change is to read my fourth installment in the award-winning Kobee Manatee® Children’s Educational Picture Book series. It’s titled, Kobee Manatee® Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard. It’s about climate change and plastic pollution in our oceans.
When you read this award-winning educational picture book to children, you’ll discover it’s a fun and fictional adventure loaded with weaved in facts on climate change and plastic pollution. This helps children learn about this serious subject in a fun and entertaining way. Here’s a brief synopsis …
Kobee Manatee®, the protagonist and his seafaring pals, Tess the seahorse and Pablo the hermit crab swim from the Cayman Islands to Belize. Kobee wants to help his cousin Quinn clean up plastic litter at her new, all-veggie underwater bistro called Quinn’s Seagrass Café.
On their Caribbean journey they encounter harmful effects of climate change and plastic pollution. As if that wasn’t enough, several other unforeseen problems occur with a distressed loggerhead turtle, a giant Portuguese man-of-war, and a venomous scorpionfish. They’re all amazed when they discover the extraordinary Great Blue Hole. Then their adventure takes another crazy turn when Pablo plunges into its huge abyss!
Each page includes in-depth, scientific details on climate change and plastic pollution in our oceans with Dr. Tracy Fanara, NOAA Scientist (aka Inspector Planet). Tracy can be seen on The Weather Channel as a visiting expert and she’s also seen on their “Weird Earth” segments.
We already have Fantastic Reviews on our Newest Release!
“A well-crafted, thoughtful, and well-illustrated addition to a noteworthy educational book series.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Robert Scott Thayer presents an important environmental message in an engaging story with wonderful characters. Anyone who loves the ocean and wants to help save it should read Kobee Manatee: Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard. I’m looking forward to the next Kobee Manatee adventure.” —Readers’ Favorite
For young readers who enjoy imaginative tales surrounding affable and heroic sea creatures, as well as parents and/or teachers looking for a way to introduce youngsters to the importance of marine conservation, Kobee Manatee® Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard offers a perfect blend. Highly recommended! – Chanticleer Book Reviews
If you see any sick or injured manatees, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC). They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.
Here’s the Save the Manatee Club link to learn more about manatees …
Here’s a cool link for you to learn more about how manatees are rescued and brought into rehabilitation …
~ Robert Scott Thayer
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