Mosquito Lagoon

Coastal areas worldwide are most at risk from the disastrous impacts of overdevelopment and climate change, and none more so than eastern Florida's Mosquito Lagoon, part of the Indian River Lagoon system. The Environmental Protection Agency deems this the most diverse estuarine ecosystem in North America, supporting over 4,300 species of plants and animals. It also plays an outsized role in the state's economy, as an economic engine valued at $7.6 billion annually. Unfortunately, as the local population has continued to increase, the ecosystem of the Mosquito Lagoon and the larger Indian River Lagoon system has experienced a steady decline. Fish die-offs due to lack of oxygen and manatees starved due to vanishing seagrass have become commonplace; by any metric-bird and insect numbers, gamefish, mollusk, and crustacean populations-the ecosystem is threatened. Although we generally accept that human activities stress our environment, many of us remain unaware of how dire these problems are locally and the enormity of our potential losses. Most importantly, we tend to think there is little as individuals we can do to reverse course. Written for the non-scientist, this book is a wake-up call on both themes. It first reviews important lagoon ecosystems, their interdependence, and their typically rapid and recent declines. It then moves on to more hopeful notes, introducing some of the many organizations dedicated to restoring a healthy lagoon environment, and new technologies being deployed to assist that effort. It concludes with a call to action, listing organizations to support and activities to engage in, allowing all concerned citizens to do their part in saving an incredible ecological treasure