What the study found
The study found that seagrass in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, recovered rapidly after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. It was still in significant decline until March 2023, then returned to pre-collapse levels in summer 2023 and later.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say the findings raise awareness that Mosquito Lagoon needs constant seagrass monitoring to support conservation of the ecosystem. They also suggest the hurricane events may have contributed to the recovery, though they say more research is needed to determine why.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used Random Forest Classification, a machine-learning method that combines many decision rules, with Harmonized Landsat Sentinel imagery collected semi-monthly from September 2022 to January 2024. They built a separate model for each date in that period to track seagrass change over time.
What worked and what didn't
The method was successful in identifying seagrass in limited quantities. The models had an average accuracy of 84%, with performance depending on how much seagrass was present. Seagrass density varied across dates, from 0% at the lowest observed level to 20.32% at the peak.
What to keep in mind
The abstract says more research is necessary to determine exactly why seagrass recovered to this extent. It also notes that model accuracy varied with seagrass amount, so the results depend on the conditions present at each date.
Key points
- Seagrass was almost non-existent in Mosquito Lagoon before the 2022 hurricanes.
- The study found seagrass was still declining until March 2023.
- Seagrass returned to pre-collapse levels in summer 2023 and beyond.
- A Random Forest Classification model was used with semi-monthly Landsat and Sentinel imagery.
- Model accuracy averaged 84% and varied with the amount of seagrass present.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Seagrass in Mosquito Lagoon recovered to pre-collapse levels
- 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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