Looks like a Typical Year for the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
What is the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone you ask? Well…it’s a layer of hypoxic water (low in dissolved oxygen) on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. It was first detected in the 1970’s… Read More
Shark Safety Tips
Pregnant Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) cruses the sandy seafloor. Credit Florida Sea Grant Stock Photo Shark Safety Tips UF/IFAS Extension – Florida Sea Grant By L. Scott Jackson (Bay County) and Rick O’Connor (Escambia County)… Read More
What Caused the Fish Kill Along the Florida Panhandle This Week?
This past week hundreds of dead fish washed ashore between Escambia and Okaloosa counties. Most were of one species but there were others who died and it appeared they had been in the water for… Read More
It is One Goliath of a Fish… the Goliath Grouper
For many who are seafood lovers there is nothing like a good grouper sandwich; makes me hungry just to write that. Groupers are members of the one of the largest families of fish in the… Read More
Cnidarians: Stinging Nettles of the Animal Kind
Life Stages of the True Jellyfish: Photo: By Matthias Jacob Schleiden (1804-1881) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons “Ouch, something just stung me.” This is a common phrase to hear someone say (I’ve heard myself say… Read More
April Shows DO Bring May Flowers – Discovering the Panhandle – Barrier Islands
This month there were many more plants flowering… it is true that April showers do bring May flowers. May not only brings more flowers but more tourists. Everyone is out enjoying the weather, including… Read More
3 Ways You Can Help Keep Our Bays Healthy
Following a previous article on the number of ways you can help sea turtles, this week we will look at ways that local residents can help keep our waterways clean. Poor water quality is a… Read More
Identify Cogongrass Now – Look for the Seedheads
Cogongrass seedheads are easily spotted this time of year.Photo Credit: Mark Mauldin We are well into spring and a wide variety of plants are showing off their colorful blooms. As lovely as most of the… Read More
5 Things You Can Do to Help Sea Turtles During Nesting Season
It is May and this is the official beginning of the sea turtle nesting season. These ancient creatures have followed this nesting cycle for centuries traveling the open ocean, feeding and resting on reefs, then… Read More
Does your pond need fertilization?
Photo by Jennifer Bearden These days many ponds are just backyard recreational ponds. Management goals vary from owner to another. Some pond owners want very little productivity (very little fish removed). They want little vegetation… Read More