The University of North Florida (UNF) student body voted the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) as their mascot in the late 1970’s. Located in Jacksonville, the UNF campus is prime osprey territory, and the birds are frequently seen flying overhead. ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Written by Madison Konash, 2026 Undergraduate Summer Intern My Summer as a Nature Coast Biological Station Intern This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Dr. Carrie Adams and her graduate student, Tori Guarino, ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS Research
Quick Facts Organism: Vibrio vulnificusType: Gram-negative, curved, rod-shaped bacteriumHabitat: Warm saltwater and brackish coastal waterCommon sources: Open wounds exposed to coastal water, raw or undercooked shellfishHighest risk: People ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS, Water
College football chants and cheers are always great fun. From University of Arkansas fans “calling the hogs” to Ole Miss’s throwback “Hotty Toddy” cheer, these decades-old crowd participation rituals serve to fire up the fans and ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Wildlife
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
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
A hurricane seems like an obvious and ideal football mascot. A storm like that implies power, strength, and intensity running roughshod over anything in its way. I have discussed hurricanes in this blog before—and Florida is the most ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Wildlife
We all love taking new plants home, but they often come in plastic nursery pots that aren't ideal for long-term plant health (plus, they aren't always the best to look at!). With increasing plastic pollution, keeping this debris out of ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
National Estuaries Week is celebrated every year during the last full week of September. In 2026, it takes place September 20-26. This special week recognizes the important role estuaries play in supporting wildlife, local economies, and coastal ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Written by Ella Gerace, 2026 Undergraduate Summer Intern This summer, I had the privilege of interning with Dr. Marc Hensel at the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS) based in Cedar Key, Florida. Throughout the summer I spent ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources