Tag: Sea Sponge

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

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

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