UF/IFAS GLOBAL BLOGS
The Southeast Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area (Coral ECA), a stretch of Florida’s reef tract from the northern boundary of Biscayne Bay National Park to the St. Lucie Inlet, is in need of conservation. A public meeting will… Read More
Marine habitats Marine habitats such as seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and sponge beds are some of the most threatened on the planet. UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant Extension agents in the Nature Coast work a lot on marine… Read More
Echinoderm means “spiny skin” and some members of this phylum are very spiny. The sea urchin is almost like a round shaped roaming cactus on the seafloor. Many think the spines are venomous, and some are, but not… Read More
The Gulf Shellfish Institute (GSI) works with industry, research and regulatory partners throughout Florida and the Gulf region to improve and increase the production of bivalve shellfish for both ecological and economic benefit. Key to their mission is… Read More
The crustaceans belong to the most successful group of animals on the planet – the arthropods. The phylum Arthropoda has an estimated 800,000 species, some say almost one million, which equates to about 90% of all animals on… Read More
A protected estuary in north Florida comprised of the Guana Lake and Guana River is showing signs of pollution. Home to incredibly rich marshes, mounds of mussels and live oyster reefs, scientists are hoping shellfish might be a… Read More
In 2018, we worked with Duke Energy’s Mariculture Center in Crystal River to establish a large salt marsh nursery in one of their culture ponds. We needed the donor marsh because habitat restoration requires access to plant material…. Read More
Based on diversity and species richness, at 80,000 species (maybe more) mollusk are one of the most successful animal phyla on the planet. These creatures are bilateral/coelomates meaning they have a distinct head region and a coelomic cavity. … Read More
When I joined the Escambia County Extension office as the Sea Grant Agent in 2012, my advisory committee told me that water quality in the Pensacola Bay System was one of their largest concerns. When I asked what… Read More
It’s February and for many, our thoughts turn to romance and other things that make the heart happy, like seafood! There is a strong “love” connection between consuming seafood and heart health. Fish and shellfish are low in… Read More
