Category: Water

Oh, Poop! Is that what I think it is?!

by Kate Rose
July 14, 2023

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
Tags: Algae, Charlotte Harbor, Florida Sea Grant, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, Harmful Algal Blooms, Nuisance, Seagrass, Water, Water Quality

Vibrio, Vibrio Everywhere!

by Kate Rose
June 6, 2023

It has been 8 months since Hurricane Ian, which came with an elevated number of cases of Vibrio vulnificus, or “flesh eating bacteria”, in Lee and Collier Counties. A new study from Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, Research, SFYL Hot Topic, Water
Tags: Disease, Environment, Florida Sea Grant, Plastics, Saltwater, Water

The State of Charlotte Harbor Estuary Following Hurricane Ian

by Kate Rose
October 28, 2022

It has been a month since Hurricane Ian made landfall in the state of Florida and as some of the adrenaline starts to wear-off people have begun asking, “What impacts is the storm going to have on water quality going forward? Are we doomed ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Bacteria Monitoring, Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Fish Kill, Florida Sea Grant, Hurricane Ian, Red Tide

Macroalgae in Estuaries

by Betty Staugler
September 10, 2020

Macroalgae are large species of algae often referred to as seaweeds. When not attached to bottom sediments, they are commonly called drift algae. Macroalgae come in colors of red, green, brown and black, and they randomly wash up on beaches ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Algae, Drift Algae, Florida Sea Grant, Nutrients, Seaweed, Water Quality

Looking at algae in the earth’s oceans from space

by Betty Staugler
April 7, 2020

Being a marine biologist, I’ve always looked at the oceans and estuaries from the water – in, on, under – my marine biology world has been one of close contact, until last year. Last year is when I started working with a small group of ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Research, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Algae, Florida Sea Grant, HAB, NOAA, Ocean, Oceanographer, Satellite

Red tide respiratory forecasts help ensure enjoyable days at the beach!

by Betty Staugler
January 8, 2020

With red tide in southwest Florida giving us a reprieve, it’s a good time to think about the future. Red tides have occurred in Florida 57 of the last 66 years, so we should expect future events. But a red tide shouldn't mean we have to avoid ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, Research, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Algae, Brevotoxin, Florida Sea Grant, HAB, HABscope, Karenia Brevis, Red Tide

The Basics of Florida Red Tide

by Betty Staugler
November 25, 2019

Red tide is an example of a harmful algal bloom, or HAB. The majority of HAB species are phytoplankton (floating algae, mostly single-celled). However, they also include some tiny microalgae that live attached to plants or other substrates as ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Algae, Florida Sea Grant, HAB, Harmful Algae, Red Tide

Vibrio in Florida – Know the Facts!

by Holly Abeels
August 6, 2019

Authors: Holly Abeels, UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant Extension; Gabby Barbarite, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, FL Atlantic University; Betty Staugler, UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant Extension; L Scott Jackson, UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant Extension Recent ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Environment, Florida Sea Grant, UF/IFAS Extension, Water

Meet the bivalves

by Betty Staugler
July 27, 2019

Bivalves are mollusks that have a two-part hinged shell which hides the soft-bodied animal inside. Clams, oysters, scallops and mussels are all considered bivalves. Let’s take a closer look at a couple. Bay Scallop Bay scallops (Argopecten ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Bay Scallops, Bivalves, Citizen Science, Filter Feeders, Florida Sea Grant, Hard Clams

Treating nutrients with algae

by Betty Staugler
July 12, 2019

With all the bad press about algae, we often forget that it really can be beneficial. In fact, algae are responsible for much of the air we breathe, and they form the base of the food web upon which all life depends. Beneficial algae I suspect ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Algae, Algae Turf Scrubber, Ats, Florida Sea Grant, Nutrients, Water Quality

UF/IFASExtension Charlotte County

Subscribe For More Great Content

UF/IFAS
Extension Charlotte County