Hurricanes devastated Florida’s East Coast – then seagrass made an unexpected comeback
Hurricanes devastated Florida’s East Coast – then seagrass made an unexpected comeback
Publish Date: 2026-04-21 09:01:00
Source Domain: theconversation.com
- The Indian River Lagoon, including Mosquito Lagoon, experienced a significant decline in seagrass, a foundational ecosystem component, primarily due to harmful algal blooms since 2011.
- The loss of seagrass resulted in economic and ecological impacts, such as undermining fisheries and tourism, and causing the starvation of over 1,200 manatees between 2020-2025.
- Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole in fall 2022 exacerbated the decline, pushing seagrass cover to near zero in Mosquito Lagoon.
- Using satellite imagery and machine learning, researchers documented a remarkable seagrass recovery beginning in March 2023, reaching over 20% coverage by July 2023.
- The return of seagrass demonstrated an unexpected resilience of the system, though the complete recovery remains at a cautious level considering seasonal fluctuations and algal blooms.
- This recovery suggests that hurricanes may have altered conditions beneficial for seagrass, but further research is required to confirm this mechanism.
- The study highlights the value of satellite remote sensing and machine learning in monitoring ecosystem changes and responding to marine ecological issues.
