Abstract
Background: Mangroves are woody trees and shrubs that live along tropical and subtropical shorelines in both marine and brackish environments. There are 80 species found worldwide, with three species historically found in south Florida. However, coupled with environmental factors and warming in the northern Gulf of Mexico, there has been an increase in observations of mangroves in recent decades. Therefore, a baseline survey was needed to provide data on mangrove recruitment. The public was also educated about this emerging coastal shoreline topic through survey volunteerism. Purpose/Methods: Multiple agencies in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida collaborated on this project with training and oversight from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Mangrove Sighting Network Initiative Team. These agency professionals then trained and coordinated interns and volunteers to assist surveys that provided identification and mangrove locations in their respective states and counties. Trainings were conducted on monitoring protocols, basic mangrove biology, as well as identification of plants that could be mistaken for mangroves. Surveys were conducted in 100 meter transect lengths within each participating county and undertaken from spring to late summer, beginning in 2018. Results /Conclusion: Over 30 participants conducted surveys along the coast of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle. Though zeros were recorded for many transects, the wide search area and public education was valuable. During the last three years, over 500 mangroves were reported from the Florida panhandle, and one was found on Horn Island in Mississippi. There are plans to continue the survey effort.
