Eyes on Seagrass was built with two goals in mind: Generate meaningful scientific data that can be used by researchers and natural resource managers Build a community of people who understand and care about seagrass ecosystems enough ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Research
By Elizabeth “Betty” Straugler and Kate Rose A recent detection of the microscopic alga Margalefidinium polykrikoides in Charlotte Harbor has drawn the attention of harmful algal bloom scientists throughout Florida. While this species ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research
Grass clippings may seem harmless, but when they wash into storm drains, canals, ponds, and other waterways, they can contribute excess nutrients to the water. As grass clippings decompose, they release nitrogen, which can encourage unwanted ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, WaterBy Kate Rose, Tori Guarino & Carter Oleckna What’s Eyes on Seagrass’s biggest secret? We’re really a macroalgae monitoring program! Turns out it’s harder to recruit volunteers for a program called Eyes on Algae…. Although, we ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, ResearchBy Kate Rose, Tori Guarino & Carter Oleckna Before we get into results, it’s important to understand how Eyes on Seagrass observations are collected and what makes them meaningful. The program uses a study design based on methods ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, ResearchBy Kate Rose, Tori Guarino & Carter Oleckna Eyes on Seagrass is not the only seagrass monitoring effort in the Charlotte Harbor and Caloosahatchee Estuaries. How does it compare to the other state-sponsored efforts in the area? Can ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, WaterWhen people think of Charlotte Harbor, they often look at the surface… and may or may not be disappointed by the often-brown water they see. Although this color is natural and results from staining by plant material (think tea), it may give ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Research
If you've ever taken a stroll along the shoreline in Charlotte Harbor, you may have noticed dozens or even hundreds of clear, gelatinous organisms drifting just beneath the water's surface. During certain times of the year, they can appear in ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Looking for an easy way to conserve water, reduce stormwater runoff, and keep your landscape healthy? A rain barrel is one of the simplest and most effective tools available for homeowners. Rain barrels collect rainwater from your roof through ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping
In recent years, Charlotte Harbor (and the Southwest coast of Florida in general) has seen the periodic episodes of floating grey and brown carpet-like blobs. Their appearance, and the fact that they sometimes have a strong smell, gives the ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water