Mangroves in Georgia?

[NC_Palms]

According to Wikipedia, black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) is found in coastal Georgia but outside of that, I have never found solid proof of its existence in the state. So is anyone familiar with native, naturally occurring populations of this species in Georiga? 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avicennia_germinans

[palmsOrl]

I would believe it, as this is the most cold hardy of the three Florida native mangrove species.  Even red mangrove is found in North Florida, usually as small, shrubby individuals.

The first map depicts the FL Counties in which red mangrove is vouchered and the second map, where black mangrove has been vouchered.  Based on this, it is certainly plausible that black mangrove could be found in coastal GA.

Also, according to Wiki, black mangrove is common in coastal Texas and Florida and ranges as far north as Southern Louisiana and Coastal Georgia.

Edited July 6, 2019 by palmsOrl

[palmsOrl]

I should have paid closer attention, sorry for the repeat on the Wiki info!

The article below is an interesting read related to this topic.

https://shadetreeexpert.com/mangroves-are-moving-north-along-the-florida-coast/

Edited July 6, 2019 by palmsOrl

[RedRabbit]

I've never seen them. The 'Golden Isles' in Georgia are called that because of their spartina grass marsh; no mangroves are there. 

[NC_Palms]

According to iNaturalist, the northernmost recorded black mangrove is growing at the Timucuan Ecological Preserve in North Florida, which I think is less than 40 miles from the southern end of Cumberland Island, GA. 

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21182729

[Jcalvin]

I do a lot of fishing on the Satilla and have been to Jekyll and Saint Simone a thousand times. Unless it’s in some of the ponds on the islands, I have t seen any in SE Georgia. But, then again, the rivers and marshes of Georgia are expansive; the Georgia coast supplies the Atlantic with a lot of fresh water, and the marshes and swamps that are on the coast of Georgia cover the largest area of any other state along the Atlantic. So it’s possible.  

Edited August 31, 2019 by Jcalvin

[Jcalvin]

"Chapman thinks warming could push the uppermost range of mangroves into Georgia within a decade. Pointing to evidence that “hurricanes push mangroves northward,” she said recent storms mean individual mangroves may already be taking root even further north on Florida’s coastline."

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/protectors-of-the-coast-what-the-northward-march-of-mangroves-means-for-fishing-flooding-and-carbon

 

[BrunswickGuy]

Red and Black mangroves have officially been growing along the extreme SE coast of Georgia for a few years now.  It's evidence that the last several years (or couple of decades) have generally had warmer than normal winters (justifying the recent 9b designation of areas just along the immediate coastline).

Climate change helps mangroves migrate from Florida to Georgia (savannahnow.com)

Mangroves are creeping into Georgia | Local News | thebrunswicknews.com

Mangroves Move North as the Climate Heads South | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

[Silas_Sancona]

3 hours ago, BrunswickGuy said:

Red and Black mangroves have officially been growing along the extreme SE coast of Georgia for a few years now.  It's evidence that the last several years (or couple of decades) have generally had warmer than normal winters (justifying the recent 9b designation of areas just along the immediate coastline).

Climate change helps mangroves migrate from Florida to Georgia (savannahnow.com)

Mangroves are creeping into Georgia | Local News | thebrunswicknews.com

Mangroves Move North as the Climate Heads South | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Looks like White Mangrove isn't all that far behind the northward expansion of Red and Black either. 




Now if only we can get any of them to start creeping up the west coast..  Tougher due to the terrain of Baja, but ..we'll see what the future brings.

Looks like Beach Morning Glory,  Ipomoea pes - caprae  is pioneering new territory on the East Coast.   Observations of the species in the northern Gulf of CA / Sea of Cortez are recent also:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/60879-Ipomoea-pes-caprae

[The7thLegend]

Yes, red and black have been confirmed near Cumberland Island, GA.

 

"Eventually, they identified a new northernmost point for mangroves, discovering a small group of both red and black mangroves in the marsh near Cumberland Island, just north of the Florida border."

https://www.wokv.com/news/local/unf-biologist-finds-mangrove-trees-georgia-farthest-north-theyve-ever-been-recorded/U25EI2GOGZCYFI36KMQZOI64AU/