Coastal Carnivores

On the southern tip of the Florida Everglades, the Shark River meets the Gulf of Mexico. This estuary is home to a number of predators, including the alligator and the bull shark. But despite its wild nature, the Everglades ecosystem is in trouble. Humans have greatly reduced water flows across the famed “River of Grass.” Now, a large scale restoration project aims to re-direct some of the fresh water back into the Everglades.

Scientists from Florida International University have been studying predators in the estuary. Their goal is to understand how these animals will respond to the changes in water flows, to ensure they continue to fulfill their critical ecological role in the food web.

This film, part of the Changing Seas series, is a co-production of Symbio Studios and WPBT2.