Sea level rise driven by climate change “may have wiped out an entire species in the U.S. for the first time.” The only known stand of Key Largo tree cactus, which can grow as high as 20 feet, was discovered in 1992 in a State of Florida park in the Florida Keys. The cacti researchers began to monitor the cacti in 2007 and noticed the beginning of a decline in 2015 when they found a 50% drop in the cacti population. The loss of this only known tree cactus stand in the U.S. was because of sea level rise, tides and storm surges bringing in more salt water and washed away the soil, and the changing the environment of the cacti.
People should reflect on the plight of the Key Largo tree cactus. Rising seas will no doubt affect other vulnerable coastal ecosystems and we may see the decline and possibly extinction of other plants and animals living in coastal environments. The Key Largo tree cactus should be are minder that effects of climate change are already being felt, and climate change is not some future danger we will have to address in fifty years. It’s happening now.
Photo: Susan Kolterman
