First Case of Local Extinction Due to Sea Level Rise

Scientists have recorded the first case of local species extinction caused by rising sea levels. On the Florida Keys archipelago in the USA, the tree cactus Key Largo has disappeared. It was the only population of the plant in the country. Originally, it consisted of about 150 stems, but by 2021 it had dwindled to six sick fragments. The main causes of the species' disappearance were the intrusion of saltwater, soil depletion, and herbivorous mammals. The situation was exacerbated by Hurricane Irma, which flooded large parts of the island in 2017.