by Rick O'Connor | Nov 3, 2025
Each year Florida Sea Grant conducts a summer survey of selected invasive species of concern in the coastal area of Pensacola Bay.
Below are the results of the 2025 survey.
Beach vitex
Beach vitex is an invasive vine that grows in the sands of our beaches and dunes. Our records currently show 108 sites in the bay area where the plant exists.
| Location |
Number of sites |
Surveyed in 2025 |
| Gulf Breeze |
3 |
No |
| Pensacola Beach |
68 |
Yes |
| Perdido Bay |
2 |
No |
| Perdido Key |
3 |
No |
| Gulf Islands National Seashore – Naval Live Oaks |
24 |
No |
| Gulf Islands National Seashore – Ft. Pickens |
1 |
No |
| Navarre Beach |
8 |
No |
| Location |
Private property |
Public property |
Status |
| Gulf Breeze |
1 |
2 |
One of the public sites HAS been removed. |
| Pensacola Beach |
42 |
26 |
25 sites have had the plant removed and it has not returned.
26 sites have had the plant removed BUT it has returned.
16 sites have never been treated. Most of these are private properties.
1 site status unknown (construction currently ongoing). |
| Perdido Bay |
1 |
1 |
Status unknown. |
| Perdido Key |
2 |
1 |
Private property is being treated. Status of public site is unknown. |
| Gulf Islands National Seashore – Naval Live Oaks |
0 |
24 |
Unknown. |
| Gulf Islands National Seashore – Ft. Pickens |
0 |
1 |
Status unknown. |
| Navarre Beach |
? |
? |
Status of all is unknown. |
Vitex beginning to take over bike path on Pensacola Beach. Photo credit: Rick O’Connor
Tilapia
We estimate there are about 60 Blue and Nile tilapia living in the upper “right arm” of Bayou Chico east of “W” Street (could be under estimated). There was a collection effort this year and 25 of those fish were removed. Surveys west of “W” street have not shown in evidence of tilapia invasion. We encourage waterfront residents of Bayou Chico to report any sightings of this fish.
Tilapia found in Pensacola.
Photo: Molly O’Connor
Lionfish
It is well known that lionfish exist in the Gulf. Whether, and how many, exist within the bay is unknown. Since we began monitoring (2013) we know of 3 records within Big Lagoon – all were removed. In the last five years there have been reports of lionfish near the fishing pier at Ft. Pickens. Volunteer removals have removed at least 10 fish from this location. No surveys or removals occurred in 2025. Surveys were conducted at the snorkel reef near Park West, and the artificial reefs near the Grand Marlin in 2025 – no lionfish were found.
Photo courtesy of Florida Sea Grant
Cogongrass
Cogongrass has been found on Perdido Key. No surveys were conducted in 2025, and status is unknown.
Cogongrass shown here with seedheads – more typically seen in the spring. If you suspect you have cogongrass in or around your food plots please consult your UF/IFAS Extension Agent how control options.
Photo credit: Mark Mauldin
Cuban Treefrogs
Several reports of additional Cuban treefrogs were submitted in 2025. According to the national database EDDMapS, there are 18 records from the Pensacola Bay area – 1 from Gulf Shores.
| Location |
Number of CTFs reported |
| Perdido Key |
3 |
| Downtown Pensacola |
3 |
| Ensley area |
3 |
| Near UWF |
1 |
| Near Scenic Heights |
1 |
| Pensacola Beach |
2 |
This is most likely underreported. If you believe you have a Cuban treefrog, please contact the Escambia County Extension and/or report to the EDDMapS database. If you are interested in setting up a Cuban treefrog trap – contact the Extension Office to learn how.
Cuban Treefrog.
Photo by: Dr. Steve Johnson
Giant salvinia
This invasive plant has been found in several locations within Bayou Chico. We will be removing a small portion of the problem near “W” Street this year. We encourage waterfront homeowners on Bayou Chico to assist with removal, and destruction, of this plant.
Active growing Giant Salvinia was observed growing out of the pond water on to moist soils and emerging cypress and tupelo tree trunks. Photo by L. Scott Jackson
Green mussels
There was one UNCONFIRMED report of this invasive mussel in Pensacola Bay. If you believe you have seen this – please contact the Escambia County Extension Office.
This cluster of green mussels occupies space that could be occupied by bivavles like osyters.
Nutria
There is a small population of nutria living on Perdido Key. At this time, they seem to be contained in a small location. If you believe you have seen this animal in your neighborhood, please contact the Escambia County Extension Office.
A dead nutria found along a roadside in Escambia County.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
Tiger shrimp
The invasive tiger shrimp were reported in Pensacola Bay around 2013. We have had no reports since. EDDMapS shows 9 records from Pensacola Bay and 1 record from Milton.
The nonnative Asian Tiger Shrimp – also known as the Black Tiger Shrimp
Thrush Cowries
This is a new invasive species first reported this summer. The snail has been found on the pilings of the snorkel reef at Park East, Navarre snorkel reef, Pensacola Beach fishing pier, Casino Reef, and along the beach near the Flora-Bama. If you see this snail, please contact the Escambia County Extension Office.
The thrush cowrie.
Photo: FWC.
by Rick O'Connor | Nov 3, 2025
In Part 1 of this series, we mentioned many of the issues that mankind is facing, but climate change may be the largest. In this series we have taken a journey on how humans got to this point. We began with our origins and how we dispersed across the planet. Our need for resources, such as food, water, space, and energy. And how our uncontrolled population growth has led to a greater need for these resources and the environmental impact obtaining them has caused. So, here we are… a planet of 8 billion people all seeking and competing for needed resources. Our methods of obtaining them have actually led to something unfathomable… we are actually changing the climate – and this could have several negative impacts for us.
Our fragile Earth
Photo: NOAA
Much of the change in climate is due to the increased production of carbon dioxide, methane, and other “greenhouse gases”. Most of the greenhouse emissions are from industrial processing and the burning of fossil fuels. These gases act as a greenhouse layer for the planet – allowing solar radiation through the atmosphere to heat the surface – but blocking rising heat from escaping – causing a rise in global temperatures.
The greenhouse effect.
Image: NOAA
Everyone has seen the graphs of both carbon emissions and global temperature changes over the last couple of centuries. The acceleration of this warming began during the industrial revolution and continued to increase during the 20th century.
Changes in carbon dioxide levels up to 2019.
Image: NOAA
Our planet actually functions well under a natural form of greenhouse. Carbon dioxide released by photosynthetic plants, volcanic eruptions, and other natural processes, provides a layer in the atmosphere that creates a climate system that allows creatures to survive. The equatorial portion of our planet receives the greatest amount of solar energy and the heat produced from this is moved towards the poles by the ocean and wind currents – dispersing heat to places that would otherwise be colder than they are. However, the increased production of greenhouse gases has escalated the warming.
The oceans have been described as “heat sinks” – collecting heat near the equator and dispersing it further north via the ocean currents. These currents rotate clockwise in the northern hemisphere carrying the warmer water along the western shores of the oceans – eastern Asia and North America – creating wetter, more humid climates – dissipating much of the heat by the time it reaches the poles. The cooler currents then pass the eastern shores of the oceans – western North America, Europe, and Africa – where humidity and rainfall are less. Warm ocean currents provide warm humid air over the land creating rainfall and densely vegetated ecosystems – such as the southeastern United States, and southeast Asia. Cool ocean currents do the opposite – creating arid ecosystems.
Climate models have suggested that a warmer ocean could intensify this process. Warmer land and water will cause a warmer air mass above them. Warm air rises, which decreases the air pressure over that portion of the earth’s surface creating what we call low pressure cells-low pressure systems. As many of us know, low pressure cells create storms, and we have experienced more intense storms all over the country. In the last few years these intense storms have created intense flooding events and tropical storms. One community in the Big Bend of Florida has experienced 3 tropical storms in 13 months. The drier conditions of the cold current coasts have intensified wildfires. All of these changing climatic effects have come at a great cost – both in property damage and in human lives. They have also increased the cost of trying to manage them and will most likely increase cost of insurance to rebuild from these disasters.
This squall line formed early in the morning. One of many morning thunderstorms formed over a period of a week in the summer of July 2023.
Photo” Rick O’Connor
There are also the impacts of climate on the rest of the planet. Warmer months could cause, and have caused, changes in the local biology. There are reports of lobsters moving north from Maine to Canada; this could happen for other fisheries as well. You will (have) seen the same in agriculture. Planting zones have slowly migrated north forcing farmers to re-think what they are growing on their land – what crops can they support. We could see similar impacts on aquaculture, timber, and more.
Another impact that is already playing out is the lack of water in the drier areas of the planet. The American southwest has already experienced “water wars” and it will continue to be a problem – possibly escalating in the future.
The basic solution to this problem is simple – either reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we are releasing (re-think how we obtain our energy needs), develop methods of removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (and before we release), or both.
Easier said than done…
Our investments, and comfort, with fossil fuels are very deep. Many energy companies have been developing new energy technologies for the last few decades – but it is expensive to convert an entire energy system – it will take time and money – both that seem to be in short supply at this time. That said, this issue is not going away and our communities need to move closer to solving them. The University of Florida, and many other universities, have been experimenting and developing methods to help turn this thing around. If your community, business, or agency has questions, or need more information, on this topic – reach out to your local county Extension office.
by Rick O'Connor | Oct 29, 2025
In 2011 many scientists, and executives from the oil and automobile industries, believed the energy source for the future was hydrogen. Most of the attention was focused on fuel cells that combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and emit water vapor into the atmosphere. As long as you did not use fossil fuels in the production of hydrogen, there would be no CO2 released. Another feather in it’s cap is that it produces more energy per gram than any other source of fuel – which would make it an excellent choice for aviation fuel. But there are challenges…
- it is found combined in other compounds – such as water, methane, and gasoline. So, it will take a lot of energy to produce it. More so than oil or coal.
- The electricity is produced in fuel cells, which can also be expensive.
- Whether this form of energy actually decreases CO2 levels would depend on how the hydrogen is extracted.
In 2011 there were several methods of storing hydrogen that were considered safe. Some were in operation, some were in development. It could be stored in a liquefied form or within compounds. Each of these methods posed no threats to catching fire, making their storage safer than fossil fuels. The automobile industry had developed prototypes of cars, trucks, and buses at the time. One engineer was working on a system that used pellets of aluminum-gallium alloy in water that could produce hydrogen. This could be done with the current gasoline tanks and would only require switching the fuel injector with a hydrogen injector and off we go. Large fuel cells could be used to heat and power buildings and homes. So, what happened? Why, in 2025, do we not see more of this source of energy in our lives?
Atomic Structure of Hydrogen & Periodic Table Listing
Several fossil fuel industries, such as ExxonMobil, Shell, and others, continue to state that hydrogen is in their future. The U.S. Energy Information Administration mentions that it is currently being used in industrial processing. They also mention fuel cells are currently being used to produce electricity for buildings and facilities – but as a backup source. Most of the fuel cells are using natural gas as the source of hydrogen – but some use biofuels generated from wastewater treatment plants, or landfill gas. In 2022, hydrogen still produced less than 1% of the country’s energy.
The high cost of fuel cells, and the limited number of hydrogen refueling stations, have hampered the development of fuel cell vehicles. It has been stated that people are reluctant to buy fuel cell cars if there are no refilling stations. And companies are reluctant to build refueling stations if there are no customers to use them. There are currently 60 hydrogen refueling stations in the country, all are in California. So, there has not been much movement towards the use of hydrogen since 2011.
At this point in the series on Our Environment, we have discussed the origin of humans, our dispersal across the planet, our need for resources such as food, space, and water, and our need for energy. We have discussed how these needs have stressed the environmental systems that support us – and all other creatures, and some solutions to many of these problems. But we began the series because our actions have led us to climate change – and it is time to come full circle and discuss this – which we will do in our next article.
New advancements in hydrogen fuel cells.
Photo: University of Central Florida.
References
Miller, G.T., Spoolman, S.E. 2011. Living in the Environment. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning. Belmont CA. pp. 674.
ExxonMobil. Low Carbon Solutions. https://lowcarbon.exxonmobil.com/about-us/real-world-progress?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1ELC_GAD_TRAF_OT_Non-Brand_Broad_Real+World+Progress_P3197SW&utm_content=OT_Non-Brand_General&utm_term=fuel+cell+systems&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21259280553&gbraid=0AAAAAp6NmRES_fRZTtbe44iCDN-OswsAJ&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8KrFBhDUARIsAMvIApbo-IZv3CmrxjiZR0r0ao9rMoFUPOtnwat2vbufe5fGKJbynITQk8oaAh5FEALw_wcB.
Hydrogen Explained; Use of Hydrogen. 2024. U.S. Energy Information Administration. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydrogen/use-of-hydrogen.php.
by Rick O'Connor | Oct 21, 2025
Many who have snorkeled or dove in the Florida Keys have most likely encountered nurse sharks there – they are quite common. But here in the northern Gulf – though present – encounters are not as frequent. In the Keys you can don a mask, swim along a seawall, bridge piling, or over limestone bottom in shallow water and found one – maybe several. In the northern Gulf encounters are more offshore by SCUBA alone, and I would say – still not that common.
All this to say that one was seen off a dock recently in Escambia County inside the bay. It was swimming along the edge of the dock in a seagrass bed searching for something to eat. Again, this would not be abnormal if in south Florida, but a cool event in our area.
Nurse sharks are docile fish recognized by their brownish copper coloration, two large dorsal fins set back on their dorsal side, and barbels extending from their upper jaw similar to catfish. These barbels indicate they are more bottom feeders, and they spend a lot of time lying on the bottom. Though they can reach lengths of 14 feet, nurse sharks are not considered a threat – unless you mess with them – and exciting to see.
They are considered a tropical species – hence the lower number of encounters in our area. They prefer hardbottom – such as coral reefs and limestone shelves – higher salinities, dissolved oxygen levels, and clear water. Over this summer local water temperatures have increased, and the lack of rain has increased salinities across the area. The lower amount of rain has reduced stormwater runoff from land and allowed the water to become clearer. Everything that a nurse shark would want.
As mentioned, encounters with this species are not considered threatening and a very cool memory. We do not know how long the current conditions will last but maybe you too will see one. It would be pretty exciting.
Nurse shark inside bay in Escambia County.
Photo: Angela Guttman
by Rick O'Connor | Oct 21, 2025
Geothermal is one source of energy that has been explored, and utilized, in recent decades. It is heat which is stored beneath the earth – either in the soil, rocks, or the fluid portion of the mantle. It has been used primarily in heating our homes and producing electricity. The amount of geothermal energy within the crust leads to it having great potential for us.
How Geothermal Energy Works – EPA
Many around the world are using a geothermal heat pump system where pipes in a closed system filled with water, or another antifreeze type fluid, buried between 10-20 feet in the yard can move heat from the ground into the home during winter, and reverse the process during summer. If the house is insulated properly, the US EPA considers this method the most efficient one for heating and cooling your home.
Iceland is famous for their use of geothermal energy. Drilling pipes beneath the earth, they are using hot steam and water to heat buildings, provide hot water, grow vegetables in greenhouses, raise fish in aquaculture ponds, and spin turbines to produce electricity. The island is, of course, an active volcano – and that helps.
In 2011 over 40 countries had developed geothermal districts which were producing about 1% of the world’s electricity. The amount of electricity generated was equal to 104 nuclear power plants. In 2022 the United States had 3,965 geothermal plants in operation – the most in the world. The majority of these are in California, Nevada, Utah, and Hawaii.
In general, geothermal has less environmental impact than fossil fuels. If located near a good source, the cost is much lower to produce. However, there are two main problems. One, the cost of tapping into the system from locations far from the sources is high. Second, we could actually remove the dry or wet steam faster than the earth can replace them. Below are additional pros and cons.
| Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Very high efficiency |
Scarcity of suitable sites |
| Moderate net energy at suitable sites |
CO2 emissions |
| Lower CO2 emissions than fossil fuels |
Moderate to high local air pollution |
| Low cost at favorable sites |
Noise and odors (hydrogen sulfide gas) |
| Low land use and disturbance |
High cost except at suitable sites |
There is one more source of energy to look at – hydrogen – and we will explore that one in the next article.
References
Geothermal Energy Fact Sheet. The Center for Sustainable Systems. University of Michigan. https://css.umich.edu/publications/factsheets/energy/geothermal-energy-factsheet.
Miller, G.T., Spoolman, S.E. 2011. Living in the Environment. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning. Belmont CA. pp. 674.
