Impacts on Florida's Fish and Wildlife

Florida's wildlife communities are likely to be greatly impacted by rising sea levels, warmer temperatures on land and in water, and changes in seasonal rainfall patterns and storm events as the climate changes.  Species distributions, life cycles, and interactions (e.g. predator-prey relationships) will shift in response to accelerating climate change.

Climate change is also expected to increase dissolved carbon dioxide concentrations in the water, making seawater more acidic.  This change will likely cause harm to Florida's coral reefs and the ability of marine organisms to build their shells or exoskeletons.

While some species will thrive in a changing climate, others could decline to the point of becoming imperiled or endangered. 

The following lists of anticipated impacts on wildlife and habitats are based on climate change research and basic knowledge of how fish and wildlife are affected by change.