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Miami Dade College, Miami *

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3201

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Geography

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Dec 6, 2023

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2.05 Alternate How Severe Weather Events Impact Ecosystems Background Informa on- Mangroves Mangrove forests are an important inter dal habitat found along tropical and subtropical shorelines. The dense tangle of prop roots makes mangrove trees appear to be standing on s lts above the mud and water. The shallow inter dal zone around the mangroves plays a central role in transferring organic ma er and energy from the land to marine ecosystems. Organic ma er from fallen leaves and branches forms the base of important marine food chains. When bacteria break down the detritus, nutrients are released into the water to be used by marine animals. This makes mangrove forests an excellent habitat for juvenile fish and other marine creatures. Their roots shelter vibrant, hidden ecosystems. There are more than 50 species of mangrove trees around the world, with varying degrees of tolerance to soil salinity, ﬂooding, and nutrient availability. Most mangroves have adapta ons that allow them to thrive in different zones. We will be examining three species that are found together in the southern United States. The red mangrove, with its mul ple prop roots, grows closest to the open water. The black mangrove grows at eleva ons slightly higher than the red mangrove, where dal changes expose the roots to air. The least salt-tolerant of the three species is the white mangrove. It lives farther inland, where it is less exposed to dal waters. Mangroves are an important habitat for both human and ecological communi es because they provide: ● Habitat for marine organisms such as mollusks, crabs, and shrimp ● Protected nes ng for birds and nursery area for juvenile fish ● Carbon withdrawal and storage ● Protec on against erosion ● Stabiliza on for shorelines ● A buffer against hurricanes and tropical storms ● Nutrients for neighboring ecosystems, such as coral reefs and seagrass beds Hurricanes: Hurricanes are intense rota ng oceanic weather systems that have maximum sustained winds exceeding 74 mph. They form and intensify over tropical ocean regions. As they approach land, strong winds and storm surges can have a major impact on local ecosystems. On land, hurricanes cause habitat loss and destruc on. Plant life can easily be swept away by ﬂoods and severe winds. Excessive rain can cause plants to drown, and it also causes soil erosion. Mudslides o en take plants down with them, ripping up their roots and killing the plants. Near shore and in the ocean, hurricanes are responsible for sediment erosion and deposi on, which o en affects oyster beds and coral reefs. Saltwater intrusion in freshwater lakes and streams causes massive fish kills and affects the lakeside habitat. The hurricane ﬂood water o en carries many toxic substances (heavy metals, pes cides, ammonia, phosphate, untreated sewage). These toxic substances can cause degrada on of water quality, phytoplankton blooms, a decrease in dissolved oxygen, and harm to many organisms. Mangrove forests provide a natural storm barrier for inland areas. The dense network of branches buffers the wind and absorbs the force before it can reach inland communi es. In the process, these complex ecosystems can sustain significant damage. In this ac vity we will explore the damage created during a major hurricane, and the impacts of the recovery efforts.

Before Hurricane Irma A er Hurricane Irma NASA images by the Goddard Lidar, Hyperspectral and Thermal Imager (G-LiHT) science team. Following Hurricane Irma, an es mated 60% of the mangrove study area was damaged due to hurricane force winds and storm surge. Mangrove forests are resilient ecosystems, but due to the importance of these environments, researchers are developing methods to accelerate ecosystem restora on. For this study, we will examine two hypothe cal areas. Sample site A will be part of the restora on team effort . Three species of mangroves will be planted and monitored over a five-year period. Sample site B will have natural regrowth and serve as a control group. Data will be recorded and analyzed to evaluate the success of the recovery efforts. In your own words, what was the purpose of this lab? (2pts) To see if researchers can restore mangrove ecosystems faster. Iden fy the independent and dependent variables in your inves ga ons. (2pts) Independent: Restora on Methods Dependent: Recovery Success State your hypothesis. (1pt) If the restora on methods are implemented, then they will accelerate the recovery of mangroves compared to their natural regrowth. Data Collected: Percentage of Mangrove Coverage Sample Site A Sample Site B Before hurricane 75 75 Immediately a er hurricane damage 15 10 6 months post hurricane 20 30 1 year post hurricane 30 50

2 years post hurricane 45 60 3 years post hurricane 55 65 4 years post hurricane 70 60 5 years post hurricane 80 65 Number of Species Sample Site A Sample Site B Before hurricane 49 44 Immediately a er hurricane damage 20 11 6 months post hurricane 24 15 1 year post hurricane 27 21 2 years post hurricane 32 26 3 years post hurricane 35 29 4 years post hurricane 39 34 5 years post hurricane 45 41 Average Mangrove Height A er Five Years (in meters) Sample Site A Sample Site B Red Mangrove 6.1 5.2 Black Mangrove 5.4 4.7 White Mangrove 4.7 4 Analysis: (10 points)

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