Trying to Help the Sewage Problem
For almost a decade we have been trying to help with the sewage problems some of our area waterways have faced. You cannot always see the problems, but we do hear about them. We hear… Read More
Category: Coasts & Marine
Sturgeon in the Florida Panhandle
This is one strange, primitive, dinosaur-looking fish. They have large scutes embedded in their skin that give them an armored look. They are big – reaching 14 feet in length and 800 pounds (though the… Read More
Weekly “What is it?”: Mermaid’s Purse
Sailors have a long and creative history of exaggeration when it comes to describing unusual marine organisms. From the terrifying kraken and sea monsters to the alluring mermaids and sirens, too much sun, salt, and… Read More
Weekly “What is it?”: Whelk Egg Cases
The text came through on a late May afternoon—a college friend was camping at Ft. Pickens with her kids. They’d spent the afternoon beachcombing and were curious. Her text read, “Here is your marine biologist… Read More
Rays of the Florida Panhandle
In our continuing series on the biogeographic distribution of island vertebrates, this week we look at a creature that, for some, is as scary as sharks – the rays. The term stingray congers up stinging… Read More
Sharks of the Florida Panhandle
With this article we are going to begin a short series on the biogeography of panhandle vertebrates. Biogeography is the study of distribution of life and why species are found where they are. Many are… Read More
Youth Science Lessons – Marine Ecology – Lesson 4 Oyster Reefs
Most ecosystems are named for the dominate plant in the system – marsh, meadow, swamp, forest, etc. But reefs are typically named by the dominate animal – coral, oyster, etc. Everyone knows the oyster. You… Read More
Youth Science Lessons – Marine Ecology – Lesson 3 Seagrasses
In the last lesson we discussed the ecology of the emergent grass community the salt marsh. This lesson we go beneath the waves to the submerged community of the seagrass meadow. But, like the salt… Read More
Youth Science Lessons – Marine Ecology – Lesson 2 Salt Marshes
In our first lesson in ecology we mentioned that the type of sediment plays a big role in determining which plants will live in a particular community. If you visit a local salt marsh you… Read More
Youth Science Lessons – Marine Ecology – Lesson 1 Beach & Dunes
Some basics on ecology Let’s begin this unit by defining ecology. Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with their environment and with each other. For example, you can take the ecological community… Read More