What the study found
Seagrass in Mosquito Lagoon was nearly absent before the 2022 hurricanes, then declined further after the storms and later recovered to pre-collapse levels by summer 2023. The study also found that seagrass density varied across dates, ranging from 0% to 20.32%.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that constant seagrass monitoring is needed in Mosquito Lagoon to support conservation of the ecosystem. They also suggest the hurricane events may have helped redistribute seagrass fragments and changed water conditions, although they say more research is needed to determine why the recovery happened.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a Random Forest Classification model, a machine-learning method, on Harmonized Landsat Sentinel satellite imagery collected semi-monthly from September 2022 to January 2024. They built a model for each date in that period to track seagrass change over time in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida.
What worked and what didn't
The models showed that seagrass remained in significant decline until March 2023, then returned to pre-collapse levels in summer 2023 and later. The method was successful in identifying seagrass in limited quantities, and the average model accuracy was 84%, although accuracy varied depending on how much seagrass was present.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe a definitive cause for the recovery. It also does not provide detailed limitations beyond noting that more research is necessary to explain why seagrass recovered to this extent.
Key points
- Seagrass in Mosquito Lagoon was almost non-existent before the 2022 storms.
- After Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, seagrass stayed in significant decline until March 2023.
- Seagrass returned to pre-collapse levels in summer 2023 and beyond.
- The study used semi-monthly satellite imagery from September 2022 to January 2024.
- Model accuracy averaged 84% and varied with seagrass abundance.
- The authors say ongoing monitoring is needed for conservation.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Seagrass in Mosquito Lagoon recovered after 2022 hurricanes
- Authors:
- Stephanie A. Insalaco, Hannah V. Herrero, Hailey F. Vickich, Dominic B. Mashak
- Institutions:
- Southwestern University, Southwestern University, Southwestern University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-21
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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