Tag: ecosystem

UF/IFAS FNGLA Palm Quest 2026 to unveil next generation AI drone research tools for a changing industry on April 21-22

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

From artificial intelligence that can diagnose palm diseases to drone technology tracking tree health from above, the Palm Quest 2026 Conference will spotlight the future of palm science when it returns to Fort Lauderdale April 21 to 22. Hosted ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Conservation, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: AI, AI-driven Palm Diagnostics, Artificial Intelligence, Disease, Drones, Ecosystem, Environmental Stressors, Florida, Florida's Ecosystem, Fungal Diseases, Fungal Pathogen, Mica McMillan, Native Palms, Palm Quest 2026, Palm Trees, Palm Varieties, Pests, Plant Health, Soil, Sustainability, UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research Education Center, Urban Environments

UF research shows a step toward restoring sea urchins: ‘The lawnmowers of reefs’

by Brad Buck
May 15, 2026

Coral reef ecosystems are severely threatened by pollution, disease, overharvesting and other factors. For thousands of years, long-spined sea urchins helped keep reefs intact. They eat seaweed, which can kill or seriously damage coral. Without ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Coral Reefs, Ecosystem, Fish, Florida Aquarium, Josh Patterson, Long-spined Sea Urchins, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, Seaweed, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

Wildlife Watch: Florida’s burrowing owls are back! Get wise about living with them using Ask IFAS’ bilingual guide

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

About this series As residential and commercial development continues to expand across Florida, wildlife is adapting to live closer to people. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) shares ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Adapting, Ask IFAS, Breeding Season, Burrowing Owl, Burrows, Coexistence With Wildlife, Ecosystem, Edis, Factsheet, Land Use, Native Birds, Nature, Nesting Season, Nonmigratory, Predators, Prey, Protected Birds, Protected Species, Protected Wildlife, Spanish, Sustained Residential Growth, Urban Sprawl, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Habitat, Wildlife Watch

Study reveals growing interest in natural shorelines

by Megan Winslow
May 15, 2026

Promoting the idea of installing a living shoreline was once a losing battle. Savanna Barry recalls a colleague who attempted to introduce the concept during a gathering of marine contractors about a decade ago. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Bulkhead, Cedar Key, Coast, Coastal, Conservation, Ecosystem, Extension, Florida Master Naturalist Program, Florida Sea Grant, FSG, Hurricane, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Living Shoreline, Marine Contractor, Megan Winslow, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Native Vegetation, Natural, Oyster, Savanna Barry, Seawall, Shore, Shoreline, Stabilize, Storm Surge, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Vegetation, Water, Wave Break

UF study reveals environmental impact of artificial sweeteners

by Megan Winslow
May 15, 2026

The human body’s inability to break down sucralose, an artificial sweetener found in many zero-calorie food and drink products, is well established by scientific research. The compound is so stable that it escapes wastewater treatment processing ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Algae, Amelia Westmoreland, Aquatic Biology, Aquatic Environment, Artificial Sweetener, Bacteria, Biology, Cyanobacteria, Diatom, Ecosystem, Envionrmental, Environment, Environmental Impact, Environmental Impacts, Food Chain, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Marine, Megan Winslow, Microbial Communities, Microbial Respiration, Nutrient, Photosynthesis, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Sucralose, Tracey Schafer, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Wastewater, Water And Ecosystem Sciences Department, Whitney Laboratory For Marine Bioscience, Zero-calorie

Want to attract hummingbirds? Registration open for free hummingbird feeder education workshop on Jan. 23

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

Hummingbirds are getting a lot of love from Florida consumers these days, according to experts at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Experts at UF/IFAS Extension offices regularly provide guidance, ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Birders, Birdwatcher, Birdwatching, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Ecosystem, Enthusiasts, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Hummingbirds, Ken Gioeli, Landscape, Master Naturalist, Nectar, Ornithology, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Twitchers, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

National Science Foundation awards University of Florida $300K to reduce phosphorus in South Florida ecosystems

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

University of Florida scientists have secured a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to address one of South Florida's most pressing environmental challenges: excess phosphorus in freshwater ecosystems such as the Everglades. The ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Farm Management, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Arizona State University, Ecosystem, Everglades, Everglades Research And Education Center, Grant, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jehangir Bhadha, National Science Foundation, National Science Foundation-Science And Technology Center, News, North Carolina State University, NSF, Nutrient, Phosphorus, Sandra Guzmán, Science And Technologies Of Phosphorus Sustainability, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, South Florida, South Florida Water Management District, Sustainability, Treatment Technologies For Phosphorus Mitigation, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Indian River Research And Education Center, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Water

Behind the scenes: How UF/IFAS risk assessments sustain Florida’s $191M aquaculture industry

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

From vibrant tropical fish for aquarium enthusiasts to succulent shellfish served as the center of the plate, Florida’s aquaculture industry serves as an economic powerhouse and a national leader. In 2022, the state’s tropical fish ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Alligator Farming, Aquatic Environment, Aquatic Invasives, Aquatic Plant Production, BMP, Ecosystem, FDACS, Fish Tanks, Florida Aquaculture, Invasives In Florida, Jeffrey Hill, News, Ornamental Fish Farming, Risk Assessment, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Shellfish Cultivation, Species, Succeulent Shellfish, Sustainability, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Tropical Fish, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

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

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

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

UF/IFAS scientists discover sea-level rise threat to Florida’s endangered pine rocklands

by Lourdes Mederos
May 15, 2026

Pine rocklands are home to plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. They are also one of the world's most endangered habitats. Unique to South Florida, the Florida Keys and some islands in The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, these upland ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Forests, Horticulture, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Beneficial Fungi, Caicos, Conservation, DNA, Droughts, Ecosystem, Elena Karlsen-Ayala, Endangered Habitat, Florida, Florida Keys, Forest, Fungi, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Limestone Forest, Matthew Smith, Miami-Dade, Molecular Ecology, Mycorrhizas, News, Pine Rocklands, Plant Pathology, Reforestation, Regeneration, Rising Temperatures, Romina Gazis, Salinity, Salt Intrusion, Sea Level Rise, Slash Pines, Symbiotic Associations, The Bahamas, Tropical Research And Education Center, Turks, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

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