Where Fresh Meets Salt: A Living Laboratory
The Indian River Lagoon is a complex tapestry of interconnected habitats that support one of the most diverse collections of plants and animals in North America.
Key Habitats:
Seagrass Beds: Underwater meadows providing essential nurseries for young fish and feeding grounds for manatees. One acre of seagrass can support up to 40,000 fish!
Mangrove Forests: Nature’s shoreline protectors, these remarkable trees…
- Filter pollution from water
- Prevent erosion
- Provide nursery areas for fish
- Support countless species of birds
- Protect our coast from storms
Salt Marshes: These productive wetlands…
- Filter pollutants from water
- Provide feeding grounds for wading birds
- Protect against flooding
- Support essential fish habitats
Oyster Reefs: Living water filters that…
- Create complex habitats for marine life
- Protect shorelines from erosion
- Improve water clarity
- Support local fisheries
Marine Life Spotlight:
Manatees:These gentle giants can live up to 60 years and graze on seagrass for up to 8 hours daily
Dolphins: Highly intelligent mammals that live in family groups called pods, using sophisticated echolocation to hunt
Sea Turtles: Including loggerhead and green turtles that can weigh up to 700 pounds
Tarpon: Known as the “living dinosaur” fish, these ancient creatures can grow over 8 feet long
Skipjack Tuna: They are known to jump out of the water hence the name ‘Skipjack’
Spotted Eagle Rays: These beautiful creatures love to crunch into crustaceans, snails, and mussels with their hard teeth
Johnson’s Sea Grass: The Indian River lagoon is home to the endangered Johnson’s seagrass, found nowhere else on Earth
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