Invasive plants are making a surprising return across Sanibel and Captiva, prompting a new alert from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, reported Sanibel Captiva, Island Reporter, Islander, and Current.
After hurricanes temporarily suppressed many non-native species, several aggressive plants have begun reappearing with unexpected speed and spreading into areas where they had not previously established themselves.
Their resurgence is worrying land managers and residents who have been working to support the islands’ slow ecological recovery following multiple seasons of damaging storm activity that reshaped the landscape.
What’s happening?
According to the foundation, Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton pushed saltwater deep onto the islands, killing the root systems of both native and non-native plants…