Category: Natural Resources

Learn about Invasive Species: Florida Master Naturalist Program

by Martin Main
February 25, 2026

This is National Invasive Species Awareness Week, which was established to raise awareness about invasive plants and animals and the damage they cause to the environment, our economy, and in some cases threats they pose to public health. There ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Communications, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Conservation, Environment, Extension, Florida, Florida Master Naturalist Program, Invasive Species, Natural Resources
Photo of Ironwood Tree

A Nearly Perfect Tree

by Donna Corbelli Castro
February 25, 2026

Is there a perfect tree? I think this question has fueled much of historic plant exploration and discovery.  Sometimes it is beauty that draws us, like the Jacaranda tree native to Brazil, with its beautiful lavender blooms each spring.  ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Black Ironwood, Broward County, Ironwood, Krugiodendron Ferreum, Urban Trees, Water Matters Day
Una variedad de la planta nandina. Plantas ornamentales, de paisajismo, invasoras y no invasoras no nativas.

Para evitar plantar especies invasoras en su jardín, consulte primero este sitio web de UF/IFAS

by Luz Bahder
February 25, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Aspectos destacados ¿Alguna vez se preguntó si las plantas que elige para su jardín, especialmente las ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Alto Riesgo, Comision De Conservacion De Pesca Y Vida Silvestre De Florida, Ecosistemas, Español, Evaluación Gratuita, Evaluaciones, Invasoras, ISI, Jardín, La Evaluación De UF/IFAS Sobre Plantas No Nativas En Áreas Naturales De Florida, Luke Flory, Maestros Jardineros Voluntarios, Plantas, Plantas Invasoras, Semana Nacional De Concientización Sobre Especies Invasoras, Seokmin Kim, Sitio Web, Spanish, UF-IFAS, Vida Silvestre
This water hyacinth is considered an invasive aquatic plant in Florida. petals are light lavender with lush green leaves.

Want to avoid planting invasives in your yard? Check this UF/IFAS website first

by Lourdes Mederos
February 24, 2026

Highlights Ever wonder whether the plants you choose for your yard, especially non-native ones, might harm Florida’s natural areas? The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) offers a free website ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Biodiversity, Conservation, Detection, Floridians, Invasion Science, Invasion Science Institute, Invasive Plants, Invasive Species, ISI, Luke Flory, Master Gardener Volunteer, Natural Areas, News, Non-native Plants, Ports, Ports Of Entry, Risk, Safeguard Ecosystems, Seokmin Kim, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Assessment Of Non-Native Plants In Florida's Natural Areas, Wildlife
Vista en primer plano de la cabeza y la parte superior del cuerpo de una anguila de pantano asiática, con piel lisa, alargada y de color marrón con pequeñas manchas oscuras, sobre un fondo blanco.

Investigadores crean una nueva herramienta de detección de ADN para detener la propagación de la anguila asiática de pantano y el pez cabeza de serpiente cobra

by Luz Bahder
February 24, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Aspectos destacados Investigadores de University of Florida han desarrollado un método basado en ADN ambiental, ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: #ivegot1.org, ADN, ADN Ambiental, Anguilas Asiáticas De Pantano, Brian Bahder, Canales, Ciénagas, Controlar, Crípticos, Croc Docs, Detectar, EADN, Ecosistema, Español, Especies Acuáticas Invasoras, Especies Invasoras, Everglades, Florida, FLREC, Frank Mazzotti, Herramienta, Identificar, Invasores Crípticos, IveGot1, Laboratorio De Investigación De Vida Silvestre Croc Docs, Marismas, Melissa Miller, Muestras De Agua, Pantanos, PCR Digital, Peces, Pequeños Rastros Genéticos, Pez Cabeza De Serpiente Cobra, Propagacion, Publico, Restauración De Los Everglades, Señales Genéticas, Sergio Balaguera-Reina, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Spanish, Support For Emerging Enterprise Development Integration Teams, Sur De Florida, Técnica De Laboratorio, Trazas Geneticas, U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, UF SEEDIT, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Vías Fluviales, Vida Silvestre
Primer plano de varias anguilas de pantano asiáticas húmedas y viscosas entrelazadas sobre una superficie blanca. Sus cuerpos son largos, lisos y cilíndricos, con tonalidades marrones, amarillas y verde oscuro. La cabeza de una anguila es claramente visible cerca del centro.

Researchers create DNA detection tool to stop spread of invasive Asian swamp eels, bullseye snakeheads

by Lourdes Mederos
February 24, 2026

Highlights University of Florida researchers have developed a DNA-based test that detects invasive species using only the genetic traces left behind in water. The newly published breakthrough gives wildlife conservationists a powerful ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Amphibian Decline, Aquatic Invasives, Asian Swamp Eel, Bahder Vector Ecology Lab, Brian Bahder, Bullseye Snakehead, Croc Docs Wildlife Research Lab, Crustacean Decline, DNA, Ecological Threat, EDDMaps, EDNA, Environmental DNA, Everglades Restoration, Grant, Invasion Ecology, Invasive Species, IveGot1, Melissa Miller, National Invasive Species Awareness Week, SEEDIT, SEEDIT Grant, Sergio Balaguera-Reina, South Florida Water Management District, Support For Emerging Enterprise Development Integration Teams, U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Wildlife Conservationists

Researchers create DNA detection tool to stop spread of invasive Asian swamp eels, bullseye snakeheads

by Lourdes Mederos
February 24, 2026

Highlights University of Florida researchers have developed a DNA-based test that detects invasive species using only the genetic traces left behind in water. The newly published breakthrough gives wildlife conservationists a powerful ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Amphibian Decline, Aquatic Invasives, Archive, Asian Swamp Eel, Bahder Vector Ecology Lab, Brian Bahder, Bullseye Snakehead, Croc Docs Wildlife Research Lab, Crustacean Decline, DNA, Ecological Threat, EDDMaps, EDNA, Environmental DNA, Everglades Restoration, Grant, Invasion Ecology, Invasive Species, IveGot1, Melissa Miller, National Invasive Species Awareness Week, SEEDIT, SEEDIT Grant, Sergio Balaguera-Reina, South Florida Water Management District, Support For Emerging Enterprise Development Integration Teams, U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Wildlife Conservationists

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