Between a Rock and a Wet Place: Analyzing Mangrove Expansion on Intertidal Oyster Reefs

Authors

Lindsay Dolan, University of Central FloridaFollow
Andre Wicks, University of Central FloridaFollow
Lina Souza, University of Central FloridaFollow
Jenna Hodgson, University of Central FloridaFollow
Gabriella Zigler, University of Central FloridaFollow
Ethan Gau, University of Central FloridaFollow
Meagan Pack, University of Central FloridaFollow
Antonia Ferguson, University of Central FloridaFollow
Gwyn Kirby, University of Central FloridaFollow
Mako Rosario, University of Central FloridaFollow
Lee Nguyen, University of Central FloridaFollow
Dwartney Wortham, University of Central FloridaFollow
Jack Budd, University of Central FloridaFollow
Michelle Ganuza, University of Central FloridaFollow
Abby Greene, University of Central FloridaFollow
Cori McWilliams, University of Central FloridaFollow
Dyllon Thompson, University of Central FloridaFollow
Emma Quade, University of Central FloridaFollow
Dani Andrews, University of Central FloridaFollow
Jessie Shaffer, University of Central FloridaFollow
Abigail Bond, University of Central FloridaFollow
Julia Murray, University of Central FloridaFollow

Streaming Media

Files

Course Code

BSC

Course Number

4312

Faculty/Instructor

Dr. Linda Walters

Faculty/Instructor Email

linda.walters@ucf.edu

About the Author

We would like to thank Dr. Linda Walters, our course instructor, Katherine Harris, our GTA, and Paul Sacks for their assistance with research on the reefs.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

As global temperatures rise due to climate change, tropical mangroves have spread poleward and now impact many other ecosystems, including salt marshes and oyster reefs in central Florida. A recent study documented a 198% increase in mangrove numbers on intertidal reefs of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) since 1984 in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Our field research project had two goals. First, to collect 2025 data as part of a long-term study to understand the current dimensions, densities, and spatial distributions of red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon (north IRL), and second, to compare our results to earlier surveys to determine the rate of change. Data was collected across 10 reefs in Mosquito Lagoon in the spring of 2025 and compared to the same reefs surveyed in spring 2023 and spring 2024. Previous results indicate a 6% annual increase in the number of mangroves per reef per square meter. As climate change continues to cause ecosystem shifts within the IRL, it is important to understand the relationships among foundational species so resource managers can better predict and protect the future of these vital ecosystems.

Keywords

mangroves; oyster reefs; tropicalization; climate change; estuary

Recommended Citation

Dolan, Lindsay; Wicks, Andre; Souza, Lina; Hodgson, Jenna; Zigler, Gabriella; Gau, Ethan; Pack, Meagan; Ferguson, Antonia; Kirby, Gwyn; Rosario, Mako; Nguyen, Lee; Wortham, Dwartney; Budd, Jack; Ganuza, Michelle; Greene, Abby; McWilliams, Cori; Thompson, Dyllon; Quade, Emma; Andrews, Dani; Shaffer, Jessie; Bond, Abigail; and Murray, Julia, "Between a Rock and a Wet Place: Analyzing Mangrove Expansion on Intertidal Oyster Reefs" (2025). High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025. 12.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hip-2025spring/12