Sea level Rise Shifts Habitat for Endangered Florida Keys Species
Published:23 Aug.2023 Source:University of Florida
The silver rice rat, an endangered species endemic to the Florida Keys, makes its home as close to the shoreline as possible for easy access to its low-tide marine species diet. It is this proximity to the water that prompted a team of scientists at the University of Florida to examine the rats' movement in correlation with historical tidal data over 17 years. The sea level rose 0.142 meters between 2004 and 2021, and the researchers also found that the rats moved to higher ground. In fact, the rats shifted at a slightly greater rate than the observed rise in sea level.
In that study, the rats were trapped and fitted with telemetry collars, which allowed researchers to track their movements. In revisiting this data, Taillie and McCleery used a similar approach in 2021 to track rats on three of the islands. They then compared each data set's elevation with the sea level at the time the information was collected.
Fortunately for the researchers, silver rice rats keep to a fairly predictable routine. They nest under bushes or shrubs at very low elevation, taking advantage of low tide to reach their below-sea-level prey, which include small crabs and snails. The study showed that while animals can adapt to sea level rise, there are limits to their resilience.