Category: Water

Invasive caiman may pose new challenges for Everglades restoration

by Lourdes Mederos
June 4, 2026

UF researchers pieced together the first comprehensive review of the spectacled caiman, a small invasive crocodile-like reptile. Introduced into South Florida more than 45 years ago, researchers have suspected caimans compete ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Colombia, Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Crocodilians, EddMaps, Environmental DNA Tools, Espanol, Exotic Pet Trade, Guayana, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive Species, Native Wildlife, News, Research, South Florida, Spectacled Caiman, The Croc Docs, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Wetland

From curiosity to conservation: How citizen science is teaching children and adults to see, experience nature

by Lourdes Mederos
April 13, 2026

It often starts with something small, such as a new bird in a branch, a vibrant butterfly in a yard, a colorful plant growing through a crack in the sidewalk or as part of a lawn. Suddenly, you are engaged and can’t help but snap a ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Beneficial Wildlife, BioBlitz, Brittany Mason, Changes, Changes In Ecosystems, Changes In Environment, Citizen Science, Citizen Science Month, Coexistence With Wildlife, Community, Corey Callaghan, Crowdsource, Curiousity, Department Of Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, EBird, Environmental Shifts, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Global Ecology, Habitat, Habitat Removal, Habitat Restoration, INaturalist, Learning, Observations, Seasonal Changes, Smartphone, Species Distributions, Urbanization, Water Quality, Wildlife, Wildlife Monitoring

Study uses AI, citizen science to show perceptions of access to Broward County parks

by Lourdes Mederos
April 9, 2026

A new study from the University of Florida paired artificial intelligence and citizen science to measure whether parks in Broward County provide access and the same experiences across communities. Rather than focusing solely on where ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife
Tags: #AI, Artificial Intelligence, Broward County Parks And Recreation, Citiizen Science, Dog Parks, Dog-friendly Parks, Green Space, Haojie Cao, Homogeneous Neighborhoods, Jiangxiao Qiu, Kid-friendly, Lakefront Park, Make America Beaur, Make America Beautiful Again Commission’s Mission, Parks, Playgrounds, Pool, Recreational, Reviews, Splash Pads, Urban Green Space, Urban Parks, Walking Paths

Be an invader detector: UF scientists call on public to help track elusive Asian Swamp Eels

by Lourdes Mederos
April 7, 2026

University of Florida researchers are urging South Floridians to help stop the spread of an invasive fish now secretly moving through canals, marshes and wetlands across the region’s most vulnerable environments. Visitors, residents, ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: 1-888-IVEGOT1, Archive, Asian Swamp Eel, Canals, Citizen Science Month, Conservation, CROC Docs, Fish, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Frank J. Mazzotti, Frank Mazzotti, Invasive Species, IVEGOT1 Mobile App, South Florida, Southeast Asia, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, USGS, Wetlands

Seeding the future: UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant secure $250K NOAA grant to cultivate seaweed aquaculture in Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
November 12, 2024

Atlantic subtropical seaweed is making waves among scientists who are exploring its potential for economic and environmental benefits for the Sunshine State. The University of Florida and Florida Sea Grant have secured a $250,000 grant from ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: And Ecosystem Sciences, Angela Collins, Aquaculture, Aquaculture Farming, Aquaculture In Florida, Ashley Smyth, Business, Climate Change, Cultivation Of Seaweed, Dail Laughinghouse, Enterprise, Extension, Farmable Products, Florida Sea Grant, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Grant, Kelp, NOAA, Nori, Seaweed Farming, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Subtropical Seaweed, Tropical Research And Education Center, Tropical Seaweed, UF/IFAS, Water

Looking to build a citywide compost program? Policy makers, others invited to UF/IFAS Compost Consortium on March 27

by Lourdes Mederos
March 6, 2024

Federal agencies are investing millions of dollars to support innovative compost plans and programs that divert food waste from landfills. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is leading the charge ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Climate Change, Compost, Compost Business, Compost Consortium, Economic Development, Environmental Impacts, Florida Composting Council, FLREC, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, IFAS, Landfills, Liz Felter, Mica McMillan, Sustainability, Sustainable, Sustainable Recycling, UF, UF News, UF/IFAS Compost Consortium, UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Usda

UF/IFAS study offers critical insights to encourage sustainable agriculture, protect Florida grasslands, wetlands

by Lourdes Mederos
January 31, 2024

The term ‘sustainable agriculture’ involves boosting food production while conserving habitats and natural resources and reducing reliance on pesticides and fertilizers. While experts agree there is still much to learn to support ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Forests, Livestock, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Agroecology, Archbold Biological Station Buck Island Ranch, Climate Change, Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Ecosystem Services, Everglades, FLREC, Food Insecurity, Food Security, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Grasslands, Jiangxiao Qiu, Ranch, Sustainable Agricultural, Sustainable Agricultural Intensification, Sustainable Agriculture, Wetlands, Yuxi Guo

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