• Once widespread across Florida’s reefs, elkhorn and staghorn corals are now considered “functionally extinct” following a series of extreme heat events. When corals are stressed by high temperatures, they expel the symbiotic algae that give them color and energy, leaving behind ghost-white skeletons. An estimated 98% of these colonies died after an unprecedented 2023 marine heat wave. Though natural recovery is no longer possible, there is a small chance that with deliberate and sustained human intervention, these corals may yet have a chance to rebound. 
• Researchers have detected a dozen different PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in the Everglades, including for the first time on the Miccosukee Tribe’s reservation, raising concerns about health risks and the need for expanded restoration efforts. PFAS, linked to cancer, developmental issues, and other health harms, persists in the environment and accumulates in water, wildlife, and humans. While PFAS levels on the reservation were lower than in nearby Miami canals and below safety thresholds, their presence still signals contamination and potential unidentified upstream sources. Higher concentrations were linked to urban discharge points like hospital wastewater and airport runoff. With the increase in hurricanes, it is likely huge runoff events will continue to increase. What this means is that restoration plans may need to be adapted to address additional contaminants in the area. Researchers want to emphasize that this is not something to worry about yet, but that open discussion should be had to discuss potential restoration solutions that remove more than just phosphorus. 
• The shells on the beach can tell scientists far more than one might imagine—especially when it comes to understanding seagrass, both past and present. Because many mollusks preferentially live in seagrass habitats, their shells serve as a reliable proxy for evaluating the long-term health and distribution of seagrass meadows. Through conservation paleobiology, researchers can analyze old shells and skeletal remains to reconstruct ecosystems from before major human influence. Radiocarbon dating reveals that many coastal shells predate the Industrial Revolution, some by thousands of years. By comparing living and ancient mollusk communities, scientists can assess how species composition and distribution have shifted over time. Remarkably, studies show that mollusk communities have remained nearly unchanged, indicating that seagrass meadows in these areas have persisted in a stable state for centuries, which is a powerful reason for their continued protection. 
• Mosaic, a mining company, plans to extend its phosphogypsum waste stack at its Riverview, Florida facility, adding 140 acres and 48 million tons of storage, potentially extending operations for 20 more years. The waste, a radioactive fertilizer byproduct, must be stored in engineered stacks due to cancer risk. The expansion requires federal, state, and local permits, including approval to fill 16 acres of wetlands, and is estimated to cost $260 million under a fast-tracked federal permitting program. The permit for this operation is still in the initial phases, and the application to the state oversight officials is anticipated by mid-December. Mosaic has begun buying nearby land and plans community outreach, but environmental groups warn the expansion increases storm surge and pollution risks to Tampa Bay. If approved, construction would begin in 2028, and the expanded gypstacks would be operational in about two years after that. 
• Cogongrass, an invasive plant species spreading across the Southeastern United States, is increasing tick survival. Lone star ticks found in cogongrass patches survive about 50% longer (about 100 days more) than ticks in native vegetation. This indirect consequence of plant invasion creates more opportunities for ticks to spread diseases to both people and wildlife. Researchers considered whether differences in host activity, particularly white-tailed deer, might explain the higher tick abundance. However, deer activity was similar between invaded and native plant communities. This means the extended tick longevity in cogongrass stands, not differences in host presence, is driving the overabundance of ticks in these invaded areas. 
• Florida’s oysters are disappearing, with many estuaries having lost up to 90% of their reefs. To guide restoration, scientists are turning to historical oyster shells to estimate what sustainable populations once looked like, drawing on how Indigenous communities managed these resources for millennia. However, eastern oyster shells from ancient middens are notoriously difficult to measure because their irregular shapes and frequent breakage leave many fragments unusable in traditional analyses. Earlier studies measured only intact shells, but this introduced major bias because broken pieces make up more than half of the assemblage. A team of researchers in Florida addressed this issue by developing a method to estimate the size of broken shells alongside whole ones. At one site, their analysis revealed that oyster sizes actually decreased over time, signaling unsustainable harvesting; whereas relying only on whole shells would have incorrectly suggested the opposite trend. This is a new study aimed at guiding restorative conservation for oyster reefs. 
• Birds along the Sarasota coastline are struggling to move, showing symptoms typically associated with red tide, despite no red tide being present. Species such as red knots and laughing gulls appear to be affected by a mysterious toxin that impairs their ability to stand or walk. While it’s possible that some birds are simply exhausted from long migration journeys, the exact cause remains unknown. Wildlife officials will need to test the affected birds to determine what is making them sick. 
• The ghost orchid, celebrated for its beauty by the public and valued by scientists as a sensitive indicator of environmental change, continues to be aggressively targeted by poachers. Poachers brave dangerous treks through Florida’s swamps to steal the rare plant, of which fewer than 1,000 remain in the U.S. Its steep decline has led to a proposal for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Mike Owen, a former park biologist, recalls tracking mature ghost orchids through waist-deep water in alligator territory, and witnessing multiple thefts over his decades in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. The plants are worth hundreds on the black market, and because mature wild orchids often don’t survive once removed, poachers are targeting them for their bloom. In response, park staff have installed hidden trail cameras and purposely keep the locations of mature orchids secret. The ghost orchid is long-lived and takes upwards of 15 years to reach adulthood. Only the adult plants are capable of reproducing to save the species, but these are the most wanted by poachers. Only a small fraction of wild ghost orchids are old enough to reproduce, making them extremely vulnerable to poaching. 
• The golden oyster mushroom may be delicious, but it is also an invasive fungus that may be dangerous to Florida’s environment. The mushroom has become popular in grocery stores and in grow-it-yourself kits, but now researchers have discovered that it has been found growing in the wild in over 20 states. While it hasn’t made it to Florida yet, it is steadily spreading south, and should it make it across our border, it is likely to dominate native fungal communities. This is a problem because the golden oyster mushroom accelerates wood decay much faster than Florida’s native fungi. This is both a safety hazard for humans and a threat to the many species that call dead, but standing, trees home.  

The Good News 

After suffering major damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s manatee rehabilitation center was forced to close. The facility, named after the late manatee researcher James “Buddy” Powell, is now reopened and has welcomed its first three patients: Sabel, Orchid, and Vora. Manatees are vulnerable to boat strikes, cold stress, and a range of other threats, and as Florida’s human population grows, so does the number of animals in need of medical care. The demand has become so high that rehabilitation centers must now be selective about which manatees they can admit, simply because space is limited. The renovated Powell Center marks an important investment in meeting this rising need and reaffirms a long-term commitment to protecting Florida’s marine wildlife. 

Things You Can Do 

Florida’s manatees are beginning their seasonal migration to warmer waters as winter approaches. November is Manatee Awareness Month, a reminder to be especially mindful on the water and watch for these slow-moving animals. Manatees can be difficult to spot, but wearing polarized sunglasses, traveling at slower speeds, and obeying all manatee protection zones greatly reduces the risk of harming them. This time of year is particularly dangerous for manatees, as cold water already puts them under stress, and boat strikes add another serious threat. If you encounter an injured, distressed, sick, or dead manatee, report it to FWC at 888-404-3922.