The ecosystem service of property protection and exposure to environmental stressors in the Gulf of Mexico.

Environmental stressors such as sea-level rise, erosion, and increased storm frequency and intensity are exposing coastal properties to greater amounts of damage. Coastal habitats like beaches, dunes, seagrasses, and wetlands can help reduce exposure and property damage. Using InVEST's Coastal Vulnerability Model, an exposure index value was calculated for every 250 m2 segment along the coastline in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, USA. Nineteen sea level-by-habitat management scenarios were evaluated for a suite of shoreline segments across multiple exposures that can be used to inform local decision making as part of larger strategies for coastal management. Overall, a rise in sea level and degradation of coastal habitats could decrease the number of lower exposed shoreline segments and increase the number of higher exposed shoreline segments. These results were used to identify changes in the amount of potential residential property damage among different scenarios. Under high sea levels, additional protection to coastal habitats could reduce the amount of residential property damage resulting from one tropical cyclone event by $50.4 million (2018 US dollars (USD)) (by the year 2050) and by $71.8 million (2018 USD) (by the year 2100) in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. This research demonstrates the effects that habitat type/abundance and sea-level rise could have on vulnerable coastlines. The results of the modeled scenarios can be incorporated into several recent community resiliency planning initiatives in the region to develop more robust management plans and preparations for a changing environment.

COASTAL HABITAT CHANGE AND MARINE MEGAFAUNA BEHAVIOR: FLORIDA MANATEES ENCOUNTERING REDUCED FOOD PROVISIONS IN A PROMINENT WINTER REFUGE.

A decline in submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) within Florida's spring-fed, thermal refuges raises questions about how these systems support winter foraging of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). We analyzed telemetry data for 12 manatees over seven years to assess their use of Kings Bay, a winter refuge with diminished SAV. After accounting for the effect of water temperature, we hypothesized that the number of trips out of Kings Bay would increase and the time wintering manatees spent in Kings Bay would decrease. Trips out of and into Kings Bay also were compared to assess potential influences on exiting or entering. There were no detectable differences in the number of trips out of the bay or overall time manatees spent in Kings Bay across winters. The percentage of time water temperatures were below 20°C was the single best predictor of increased time spent in Kings Bay. Trips out of Kings Bay were more likely to occur after 12:00 h and during a high but ebbing tide, compared to trips into the bay. Nine manatees tracked for longer than 75 days in winter spent 7-57% of their time in the Gulf of Mexico, and three of these manatees spent 7-65% of the winter >80 km from the mouth of Kings Bay. Results suggest the low amount of SAV in Kings Bay does not obviate its use by manatees, though there are likely tradeoffs for manatees regularly foraging elsewhere. Accounting for movements of Florida manatees through a network of habitats may improve management strategies and facilitate desirable conservation outcomes.

Linking People to Coastal Habitats: A meta-analysis of final ecosystem goods and services on the coast.

Coastal ecosystem goods and services (EGS) have steadily gained traction in the scientific literature over the last few decades, providing a wealth of information about underlying coastal habitat dependencies. This meta-analysis summarizes relationships between coastal habitats and final ecosystem goods and services (FEGS) users. Through a "weight of evidence" approach synthesizing information from published literature, we assessed habitat classes most relevant to coastal users. Approximately 2,800 coastal EGS journal articles were identified by online search engines, of which 16% addressed linkages between specific coastal habitats and FEGS users, and were retained for subsequent analysis. Recreational (83%) and industrial (35%) users were most cited in literature, with experiential-users/hikers and commercial fishermen most prominent in each category, respectively. Recreational users were linked to the widest diversity of coastal habitat subclasses (i.e., 22 of 26). Whereas, mangroves and emergent wetlands were most relevant for property owners. We urge EGS studies to continue surveying local users and identifying habitat dependencies, as these steps are important precursors for developing appropriate coastal FEGS metrics and facilitating local valuation. In addition, understanding how habitats contribute to human well-being may assist communities in prioritizing restoration and evaluating development scenarios in the context of future ecosystem service delivery.