Impacts of Sea Level Rise:

• Change in type and extent of seagrass due to increased water depth affecting sunlight penetration
• Decreased salinity in Florida Bay as more mixing occurs
• New areas for migration of seagrass and oyster reefs

Impacts of Salinity Shifts:

• Increased habitat for species with broad osmoregulatory adaptations
• Increased habitat in Florida Bay, as salinity decreases with increased water depth, for species sensitive to hypersaline conditions

Impacts of Warmer Summer Temperatures:

• Increased cyanobacteria blooms
• Increased coral mortality due to loss of coral zooxanthellae and bleaching
• Expansion of harmful algal bloom season and persistence
• Less dissolved oxygen in the system

Impacts of Warmer Winter Temperatures:

• Increased local extirpations of species at the southern extent of their range
• Expansion of harmful algal blooms season and persistence

Impacts of Increased Extreme Heat Events:

• Increased cyanobacteria blooms
• Increased coral mortality due to loss of coral zooxanthellae and bleaching
• Expansion of harmful algal bloom season and persistence
• Less dissolved oxygen in the system
• Altered abundance and species composition of seagrasses
• Increased mortality – heat stress
• Reduced reproductive success – coral and mollusk reefs
• Altered growth/biomass
• Increased competition – conditions favoring algae and epiphytes

Impacts of Increased Extreme Cold Events:

• Increased mortality of cold temperature sensitive species
• Increased occurrence and severity of cold kill events
• Limit northern extent of exotic species range (potentially beneficial change)

Impacts of Increased Precipitation:

• Nearshore vegetation mortality increase due to salinity decrease
• Increased coral mortality due to decreased light penetration (increased turbidity)
• Increased coral mortality due to increased nutrient loads
• Increased coral mortality due to disease outbreaks
• Increase in frequency/severity of harmful algal blooms
• Altered runoff and buffering ability of the system

Impacts of Decreased Precipitation:

• Decreased freshwater flow and runoff into coastal systems
• Decreased nursery and juvenile habitat
• Increased mortality of vegetation due to increased salinity

Impacts of Changes in Timing of Precipitation:

• Increased mortality of vegetation due to increased salinity as water chemistry in bays and estuaries change

Impacts of Changes in Frequency and Severity of Extreme Events:

• Alteration of longshore transport process
• Increased sedimentation and turbidity (decreased light penetration)
• Decreased stability of systems
• Direct physical damage
• Increased runoff into coastal waters with increased storm intensity
• Disruption of the interspecies dynamics due to varying spatial and temporal changes

Impacts from Increased Floods:

• Altered sediment build-up patterns in coastal marshes and estuaries
• Habitat degradation at various temporal and spatial scales
• Loss of habitat integrity due to issues such as sediment transport

Impacts from Increased Droughts:

• Changes in habitat distribution
• Increased erosion due to reduced effectiveness of dune stabilizing plants
• Altered salinity levels and seasonal salinity profiles
• Increased of pollutants in runoff due to lack of regular flushing of build-up
• Reduction in habitat quality and area (volume)

Impacts of Altered Water Chemistry:

• Decreased coral reef health/productivity due to reduced calcification and/or enhanced dissolution
• Decreased oyster reef health/productivity due to reduced calcification and/or enhanced dissolution
• Decreased coral reef recruitment processes (fertilization, settlement, and post-settlement growth)
• Decline in primary productivity
• Shifts in range of seagrass species
• Increased harmful algal blooms, especially when coupled with increased nutrient inputs
• Increased seagrass production
• Increased production and biomass of epiphytic algae on seagrass leaves
• Increased competition (seagrass and algae)

---

What's next?

Learn about impacts and adaptation strategies for conservation assets and habitats in marine and estuarine ecosystems.

Learn about climate-related impacts to terrestrial ecosystems in Florida.