Within the Mosquito Lagoon refuge of tiny islands and sea water saltier than the ocean is a battle of natural Florida’s titans. The lagoon’s reigning guardians are oysters. The invaders are mangroves. Scientists think mangroves may be winning, thanks to a new ally in the rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, trapping more of the sun’s heat and rapidly warming the planet. Mangroves are aggressive but can’t tolerate freezing weather and they haven’t had to lately. Cold snaps have all but vanished in the past couple of decades in the Mosquito Lagoon.
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