First US Species Lost To Rising Sea

In a sobering development for conservationists, scientists have confirmed that the Key Largo tree cactus has become the first plant species in the United States to vanish from its natural habitat due to climate change.

A groundbreaking study, published this week in the Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, reveals that a lethal combination of rising sea levels, higher tides, and intensifying storms – all hallmarks of climate change – has driven the wild population to extinction in its sole known US location in the Florida Keys.

“This extinction is the canary in the coal mine for biodiversity loss,” warns George Gann, co-author of the study and executive director of the Institute for Regional Conservation. “Without immediate action, we’re likely to witness an acceleration of such losses.”

The cactus’s decline was precipitous. In 2011, researchers documented approximately 150 plants thriving in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. By 2015, the population was rapidly dwindling due to saltwater intrusion in its vulnerable low-lying habitat. Records show sea levels around the Florida Keys have surged over 8 inches since 1971.

James Lange, a research botanist at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, elucidates the problem: “Excessive salinity creates an inhospitable environment for most plants, effectively starving them of essential nutrients.”

By 2021, the situation had become critical, with only a handful of cacti remaining. Researchers faced the heart-wrenching decision to remove these last specimens rather than witness their inevitable demise. The final wild plant was extracted in 2023, marking the end of an era.

While the species persists in parts of the Caribbean, experts consider its natural reestablishment in Florida highly improbable. Scientists fear this extinction may portend a grim future for other coastal plant species.

Jennifer Possley, the study’s lead author, highlights the broader threat: “Over a quarter of native plant species in South Florida are now critically endangered, facing regional extinction.”

Despite valiant conservation efforts, including ex-situ preservation in greenhouses, the challenge of finding suitable habitats for reintroduction looms large, given the rapid pace of climate change. This loss serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive action to address climate change and safeguard vulnerable ecosystems.

Re-reported from the article originally published in CNN.