FL - Pines, Palms, More Species Dying On Big Palm Key As Rising Seawater Levels Infiltrate Aquifer

[hatrack]

Big Pine Key takes its name from the pine forests that cover the island, about 30 miles from Key West. Rare plants and endangered animals — such as the Key deer — live in those forests. But now the forests and hammocks are threatened by the rising seas around and beneath them.

Robert Ehrig points to a piece of land that was hardwood hammock when he came to live here 35 years ago.

“All the palms in here are dead,” Ehrig said. “The last one died about the time of Hurricane Wilma, about seven, eight years ago, maybe right after. Those palm trees were eight, 10-feet tall, which means they were 70 to 100 years old because they’re a very slow growing species and they died simply because of the prolonged tides.”

Big Pine Key has pine forests and hardwood hammocks because it sits on a freshwater lens. They need that freshwater to survive. The island is made of limestone, which holds rainwater -- almost like a sponge. But that sponge is porous to all kinds of water.

EDIT

http://wlrn.org/post/sea-level-rise-taking-pines-out-big-pine-key

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. I actually lived on Big Pine Key for a year in the 80's.

I have lived in alot of places...but it's my absolute favorite...Yes the soil is very lime...you also have to be careful of infections from that soil because of the aforementioned tendency to absorb while never getting a hard frost to kill it.

There used to be a large alligator that lived in that fresh water noted above. And if you have never seen Key Deer...you have missed something. They are the cutest deer about the size of a big dog with full racks of antlers that just walk almost right up to you...

I would hate to see Big Pine Key gone forever...