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Tag: Florida Keys

Photo of boats at a mooring

Making the case for managed moorings

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November 17, 2023

The Florida Keys, with their turquoise waters, vibrant marine life, and stunning coral reefs, have long been a haven for boaters and sailors. This unique and fragile ecosystem holds a treasure trove of natural beauty and wonders. However, ... READ MORE

Category: , Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Boat Access, Boater Safety, Boating, Boca Chica Basin, Buoys, Coral Reefs, Economic Sustainability, Ecosystem Preservation, Ecotourism, Environmental Impact, Environmental Protection, Florida Keys, Infrastructure Development, Key West, Marine Biodiversity, Marine Conservation, Marine Ecology, Marine Resources Management, Maritime Conservation, Monroe County Commission, Mooring Fields, Revenue Generation, Seagrass Beds, Sustainable Boating, Sustainable Development, Tourism, Water Quality

The Impact of Food Waste and Strategies to Reduce It

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October 26, 2023

Food waste is a significant global issue with far-reaching economic, environmental, and social consequences. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Home Management, Money Matters, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Climate Change, Family Hot Topic, Florida Keys, Food Waste, Green Living, Impact Of Food Waste, Reduce Food Waste, Saving Money, Sustainability, Vegetable Gardening

Cane toads (Bufo Marinus) and your pets.

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October 19, 2023

South Florida's lush landscape and subtropical climate make it a paradise for both humans and a diverse range of wildlife. However, in recent years, an invasive species has become a growing concern for the region, especially concerning ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Home Management, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Cane Toad, Family Hot Topic, Florida Keys, Hazardous, Invasive Species, Landscape, Pets

UF scientists find good places to grow long-spined sea urchins, a starting point to restore ‘the lawn mowers of the reefs’

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September 12, 2023

Scientists call long-spined sea urchins “the lawn mowers of the reefs” because they eat algae that could otherwise smother reef ecosystems and kill corals. That’s why researchers affiliated with the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Aaron Pilnick, Caribbean, Coral Reefs, Florida Aquarium Conservation Campus, Florida Keys, Florida Sea Grant, Josh Patterson, Juvenile, Larva, Long-spined Sea Urchins, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, Settlement, Substrate, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

Study: Sea level rise shifts habitat for endangered Keys species


August 1, 2023

A newly published study in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation describes the response to sea level rise by an endangered species only found in the Florida Keys. The silver rice rat moved to higher elevations at a greater ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Department Of Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, Endangered Species, Endemic Species, Florida Keys, Rats, Robert McCleery, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation

Pass the Torch – Plant Torchwood

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December 19, 2022

Torchwood is a very unique and under-utilized native tree that occurs mostly in South Florida and the Florida Keys. It also occurs in Mexico and the Caribbean.  It can also grow on the East Coast of Florida to 9B, around St. Augustine. Torchwood ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Amyris Elemifera, FANN, Florida Association Of Native Nurseries, Florida Keys, Fragrant Trees, Giant Swallowtail, Newsletter, Newsletter2, Schaus Swallowtail, Small Trees, Torchwood, Underutilized Tree

Proposed Rule to list Queen Conch as Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act

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November 22, 2022

Queen Conch (current scientific name Alger gigas, formerly Strombus gigas) is such an iconic animal in the Florida Keys that local born residents are called “conchs,” especially those living near Key West, Florida.  Most locals have ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Endangered Species Act, Florida Keys, Florida Sea Grant, Queen Conch
Mexican petunia with gall mites

What is This? Gall Mites!

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August 30, 2022

Visiting different properties around the Keys, I’ve noticed an increased number of Mexican petunia plants, Ruellia simplex, covered in white patches. These aren’t mealybugs or whiteflies, it is caused by gall mites and it's the plants ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Tags: Florida Keys, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gall Mites, Invasive Species, IPM Florida, Native Plants, Ruellia

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