Category: Coasts & Marine

Bloom to Brine: Planted Oyster Gardens

by Dr. Megan Moore
May 5, 2025

Aren't plants amazing? They add beauty to any setting, bring joy to those around them, help to clean our air, and can provide a great meal! Did you know that they have a lot in common with oysters as well! Oysters are amazing animals that ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Sea Grant, Oysters, Plants, Restoration, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Vog
Blades of seagrass on the left and drift macroalgae on the right

Algae vs seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon

by Carolyn Kovacs
May 3, 2025

During the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz, one of the questions we ask is "Is there macroalgae present?"  But what is macroalgae, and how can I tell it apart from seagrass?   What is the difference between seagrass and algae?   Seagrass is ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Algae, Estuary, Eyes On Seagrass, Eyes On Seagrass Blitz, Florida Sea Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Macroalgae, Seagrass, Water Quality

In the Details: Reflections on Cleaning Storm Drains and the Quiet Impact of Public Service

by Monica Wilson
April 22, 2025

Written by Mary Schneider, Operation TRAP's Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Gulf Scholar Thoughts from Operation TRAP's UF Undergraduate Gulf Scholar: Mary Schneider During my internship, my primary role was cleaning out storm drain traps—an ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Aquatic Preserves, Litter Interceptor Devices, Marine Debris
Alligator in water, close-up in its natural environment

La mayoría de las mordeduras de caimanes se deben a conductas humanas riesgosas, no a caimanes agresivos

by Luz Bahder
April 17, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Las conductas humanas riesgosas, no la agresión de los caimanes, es la principal causa de mordeduras, según un estudio ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Alligators, Ataques, Caimanes, Centre College En Kentucky, Centro De Investigación Y Educación De UF/IFAS En Fort Lauderdale (FLREC), Comportamientos De Riesgo, Comportamientos Riesgosos, Conductas De Riesgo, CrocAttack.org, Depredador, Español, FLREC, Frank Mazzotti, Lagartos, Mark Teshera, Mordeduras, Spanish, Territorio De Caimanes, Vida Silvestre

Vertical Oyster Gardens and You!

by Dr. Megan Moore
April 16, 2025

Vertical Oyster Gardens (VOGs) VOGS are oyster restoration structures composed of recycled oyster shells strung together and suspended in coastal intertidal zones. The VOGs recruit new oyster growth, expanding oyster reef habitats and promoting ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Sea Grant, Oyster Reefs, Oysters, Restoration, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Vog, Vogs

Citizen scientists help researchers protect keystone species

by Megan Winslow
April 16, 2025

Range maps for diamondback terrapins – a type of vulnerable turtle species – highlight the entire United States East Coast and Gulf Coast. Until a few years ago, however, the shading hiccupped between Port St. Joe, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Apalachicola County, Baldwin County, Bay County, Bycatch Device, CITES, Citizen Science, Conservation, Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora, Crab Trap, Environment, Escambia County, Florida Sea Grant, Gulf Coast, Habitat, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Keystone Species, Marsh, Mathilda Ravine, Megan Winslow, Mollusks, Okaloosa County, Orientation, Panhandle, Panhandle Terrapin Project, Pensacola And Perdido Bays Estuary Program, Rick O'Connor, Santa Rosa County, Survey, Threatened, U.S. Geological Survey, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, USGS, Volunteer, Wakulla County, Walton County
seagrass

Calling all volunteers, May 1-31: Join the Indian River Lagoon Eyes on Seagrass Blitz

by Lourdes Mederos
April 15, 2025

The Indian River Lagoon is a vibrant ecosystem full of important seagrasses. Those seagrasses act as habitats and nurseries for marine species like manatees, sea turtles, fish, crabs and more, and the seagrasses also serve as their critical ... READ MORE

Category: , Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Events, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, Water
Tags: Banana River, Brevard, Ecosystem, Eyes On Seagrass, Florida Sea Grant, Good Water Quality, Habitats, Indian River, Indian River Lagoon, Lisa Krimsky, Martin County, Mosquito Lagoon, Nurseries, Seagrass, Seagrass Health, St. Lucie, Volusia, Water Resources

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