Tag: Harmful Algal Blooms

A top view of a sea sponge in water.

EPA grant to help UF/IFAS scientists restore sea sponges, improve water quality in South Florida


October 15, 2025

Hidden beneath South Florida’s waves, sponges quietly clean the waters by filtering out nutrients, supporting seagrass and sustaining the region’s vibrant marine life. But after years of environmental stress and water quality decline, ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Crops, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Algae, Ana Zangroniz, Aquaculture, Ashley Smyth, Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Bacteria, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay Pilot Nursery, Biscayne National Park, Classifications, Coastal, Coastal Environments, Coastal Habitat, Coastal Health, Cycle Nutrients, Ecosystem, Ecosystem Services, Filter, Florida Keys Aquaculture Research, Florida Sea Grant, Genetic Advances, Habitat, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lower Keys, Marine, Marine Life, National Park Service, Nature’s Water Filters, Organisms, Restore Ecological Services, Restore Sponge Populations, Sea Sponge, Seagrass, Shelly Krueger, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, South Florida, Southeast Florida, Sponge Restoration Aquaculture, Sponge Restoration Species, Tropical Research And Education Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, UF/IFAS Extension Monroe County, UF/IFAS Researchers, Viruses, Water Clarity, Water Quality, Water Quality Benefits

Oh, Poop! Is that what I think it is?!


July 14, 2023

In recent years, Charlotte Harbor (and the Southwest coast of Florida in general) has seen the periodic episodes of floating grey and brown carpet-like blobs. Their appearance, and the fact that they sometimes have a strong smell, gives the ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Algae, Charlotte Harbor, Florida Sea Grant, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Harmful Algal Blooms, Nuisance, Seagrass, Water, Water Quality

UF Researchers Find a Strong Correlation Between Liver Cancer and Cyanobacterial Toxins


July 18, 2019

When researchers in the UF Center for Emerging Pathogens analyzed U.S. public health data from 1999-2010, they determined that contamination from cyanobacterial blooms is a potential risk factor for non-alcoholic liver disease. They superimposed ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Blue-green Algae, Climate Change, Climate Tools, Cyanobacteria, Emerging Pathogens, HABs, Harmful Algae, Harmful Algal Blooms, Health, Health And Safety, Liver Cancer, Medical Science, Nutrient Impact, Oceans, Pollution, Public Health, Red Tide, Satellite Imagery, Toxins, UF Research Discoveries, UF/IFAS Research, Water Quality

UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant Researchers Test Water Quality Following Harmful Algal Blooms Using Wild Sponges


July 18, 2019

UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant researchers have tracked over a 15-20 year period how wild sponge populations in Florida Bay recover from harmful algal blooms. Healthy sponge populations in the Florida Keys maintain good water quality and ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Blue-green Algae, Climate Change, Cyanobacteria, FL Sea Grant, Florida Bay, Florida Keys, HABs, Harmful Algae, Harmful Algal Blooms, Nutrient Impact, Oceans, Red Tide, Sea Sponge, UF Research Discoveries, UF/IFAS Research, Water Quality, Wild Sponge

New Tools and Approaches to Better Manage Nutrient Impact


July 18, 2019

Growing Algae to Remove Excess Nutrients With all of the press regarding harmful algal blooms, it is sometimes easy to forget that most algae are good – in fact crucial for the health of our aquatic food webs. Algae also help us breathe, ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Blue-green Algae, Caloosahatchee, Climate Change, Climate Tools, Cyanobacteria, Estuaries, Gulf Coast, HABs, Harmful Algae, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Nutrient Impact, Oceans, Red Tide, Satellite Imagery, St. Lucie Estuary, UF Research Discoveries, Water Quality

Florida Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative Announced


July 18, 2019

Florida’s farms, ranch and forest industries are taking a lead and calling for deeper exploration of farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners as suppliers of environmental protection as well as of food and fiber. The Florida Climate-Smart ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Blue-green Algae, Climate Change, Climate Smart Solutions, Climate Tools, Cyanobacteria, Estuaries, HABs, Harmful Algae, Harmful Algal Blooms, Nutrient Impact, Oceans, Red Tide, UF Research Discoveries, Water Quality

The Causes of Harmful Algal Blooms: What We Know


July 18, 2019

Florida's Big Questions As Floridians look for solutions to the state's growing harmful algal bloom problem, a few major questions regarding the causes of these blooms can arise: What are the current sources, fate and transport ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Blue-green Algae, Caloosahatchee, Causes, Cyanobacteria, Estuaries, HABs, Harmful Algae, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Oceans, Red Tide, St. Lucie Estuary, Water Quality

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