Category: Coasts & Marine

Nov. 3 Photo Opportunity: Miami-Dade youth use school holiday to reel in sea learning with Florida Sea Grant

by Lourdes Mederos
October 27, 2025

What: Dozens of students from TERRA Environmental Research Institute and the  Mahogany Youth Corporation will spend a day offshore learning about reef fisheries and responsible angling with Florida Sea Grant. Aboard the 60-foot vessel, “Reward ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, EVENTS, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water
Tags: Ana Zangroniz, Conservation, Fishing, Florida Friendly Angler, Florida Sea Grant, Marine Conservation, Media Alert, Michael Sipos, Natural Resource, Natural Resource Conservation, Ocean Reef Stewardship
Sponge restoration project. Photo by Sea Grant

EPA otorga una subvención a los científicos de UF/IFAS para apoyar la restauración de esponjas marinas y la mejora de la calidad del agua en el sur de Florida

by Luz Bahder
October 22, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Ocultas bajo las olas del sur de Florida, las esponjas limpian silenciosamente las aguas al filtrar nutrientes, fortaleciendo ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Acuicultura De Restauración De Esponjas, Agencia De Protección Ambiental De Los Estados Unidos, Agentes De Extension, Aguas Costeras Poco Profundas, Ana Zangroniz, Ashley Smyth, Bahia De Biscayne, Beneficios De La Calidad Del Agua, Billy’s Point, Biscayne, Biscayne Bay, Calidad De Agua, Calidad Del Agua, Cayos De Florida, Centro Tropical De Investigación Y Educación, Denominación Común, Deterioro En La Calidad Del Agua, Ecosistemas Marinos, EPA, Espanol, Espojas, Esponja De Lana De Oveja, Esponjas, Estrés Ambiental, Filtradores, Filtrar, Filtros, Floraciones De Algas Nocivas, Florida, Florida Keys, Hábitat Costero De Florida, Identificación Científica, Identificación De Especies De Esponjas, Lisa Krimsky, Los Cayos De Florida, Nombre Cientifico, Nombre Comun, Parque Nacional Biscayne, Poliferos, Praderas Marinas, Proliferacion De Algas, Restauracion, Sea Grant, Servicio De Parques Nacionales, Servicios Ecosistémicos, Sheepwool Sponge, Shelly Krueger, Spanish, Taxonomía, TREC, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Vida Marina

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

by Lourdes Mederos
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, Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Crops, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, 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

Is your landscape ready for a major storm? UF experts provide top tips to maintain a resilient landscape

by Lourdes Mederos
September 10, 2025

Hurricane season is part of life in Florida, but the damage isn’t limited to roofs and windows. Trees, lawns and landscapes also can take a major hit that may lead to costly repairs. After hurricanes Milton and Helene in 2024, residential ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Lawn, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Arborist, Coastal, Commercial Horticulture, Flying Debris, Garden Tools, Hurricane, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, International Society Of Arboriculture, ISA, ISA Trees Are Good.org, Landscape, Michael Orfanedes, Outdoor Furniture, Patio, Potted Plants, Prune, Pruning, Saltwater Intrusion, South Florida Landscape, Storm Season, Storms, Tree Damage, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, Tree Treimming, Trees, Tropical Storms, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, University Of Florida, Unpruned, Wind Damage, Yard
seaweed pulled from Tampa Bay for a seaweed aquaculture project.

Is seaweed aquaculture the next big crop for Florida?

by Lourdes Mederos
August 27, 2025

Florida’s coastline may one day host more than oysters, clams, fish and shrimp. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Florida Sea Grant are asking whether seaweed could be the ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Andrew Ropicki, Angela Collins, Aquaculture, Ashley Smith, Dail Laughinghouse, Economics, Extension, Florida, Florida Sea Grant, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Gabrielle Foursa, Growers, Harvest, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Lourdes Mederos, Macroalgae, News, NOAA National Sea Grant, NOAA National Sea Grant Aquaculture Program, Seaweed, Seaweed Aquaculture, Seaweed Farming, Sponge, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Water Quality

From Peru’s wild landscapes to Florida’s farms: Scientist harnesses microbes to protect agriculture, environment

by Lourdes Mederos
August 17, 2025

For Florida growers, Jose Rolando’s research is focused on promoting healthier soils, reduced input costs and crops able to withstand droughts, heat and shifting weather patterns. For consumers, it aims at more sustainable food production ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, , Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Amazon Rainforest, Andes Mountains, Coastal Wetland, Crops, Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Droughts, Ecosystem Services, Farmer, Fertilizer, Florida Bay, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Georgia Institute Of Technology, Grower, IFAS, Indian River Lagoon, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, José Rolando, Lima, Lourdes Mederos, Mangroves, Microbiologist, Microbiology, National Institute Of Agricultural Innovation, News, Peru, Public, Sea Level Rise, Sechura Desert, Sustainable Food Production, Tropical Zones, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Weather
iNat_on_phone_with_snake_in_background_credit_blog banner

Science by the millions: How everyday people are revolutionizing global biodiversity research with tech

by Lourdes Mederos
July 28, 2025

A frog croaks from a walking trail. A hiker snaps a photo and uploads it to iNaturalist. That single act — one person, one amphibian and one click — feeds into a growing global dataset that scientists now use to map shifting species ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Agencies, Agricultural Technology Firms, Aquatic Invasives, Biodiversity, BioScience, Brittany Mason, Citizen Science, Conservation, Corey Callaghan, Dataset, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Fungi, Global Ecology, High-resolution Maps, INaturalist, INaturalist App, Invasive, Lourdes Mederos, Map Shifting, Modeling, News, Observations, Organisms, Photo, Plants, Research Grade, Scientists, Species Ranges, Study, Technology, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Wildlife Ecology And Conservation
Manatees

Who’s that critter? UF/IFAS wildlife series spotlights the Florida manatee

by Megan Winslow
July 9, 2025

Boasting more than 80 distinct ecosystems, Florida is a biodiversity hot spot.  More than 4,000 animal species, in fact, are native to the Sunshine State. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Aquatic, Coastal, Conservation, Critter, Critter Of The Month, Ecosystem, Extension, Florida, Florida Manatee, Gentle Giant, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Maia McGuire, Manatee, Marine, Megan Winslow, Protect, River, Sea Cow, Species, UF, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Water, West Indian Manatee, Wildlife
Reef prisms

New manual provides instructions for building environmentally friendly, man-made reefs

by Megan Winslow
June 23, 2025

Living shorelines are gaining popularity in Florida as residents seek sustainable solutions capable of calming waves and restoring habitats. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, UF/IFAS, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Biodegradable, Environment, Environmentally Friendly, FDEP, Florida Department Of Environmental Protection, Florida Sea Grant, Guide, Homemade, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, JR-CSA, Jute-reinforced Calcium Sulfoaluminate, Living Shoreline, Manual, Mark Clark, Megan Winslow, Panels, Partnership For Plastic-free Restoration Of Oyster Shorelines, Prisms, PROS, Reef, Savanna Barry, Sea Grant, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Tutorial, UF, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Video, Volunteer, Water, Wildlife, Workshop

Estrellas de mar están muriendo en aguas del Atlántico: Científicos de UF/IFAS documentan el primer caso de enfermedad en Florida

by Luz Bahder
June 18, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Una escena inquietante recibió a practicantes del esnórquel en las aguas costeras del condado de Palm Beach: estrellas ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: ADN, Aguas Costeras Atlánticas De Florida, Aguas Poco Profundas, Alex Romer, Amenazas A Especies Vulnerables, Atlántico, Biología Marina, Brote, Comunidad Del Fondo Marino, Condado De Palm Beach, Densovirus, Enfermedad De Desgaste De Las Estrellas De Mar, Enfermedad Del Desgaste, Enfermedad Del Desgaste De Las Estrellas De Mar, Esnórquel, Espanol, Estrella De Mar, Estrella Marina, Estrellas Marinas, Florida, FLREC, Fondo Marino, INaturalist App, Invertebrados Marinos, Lake Worth Cove, Las Estrellas De Mar De Nueve Brazos, Melissa Miller, Miembros De La Comunidad, Monitoreo, Patógeno, Patología, Praderas Marinas, Reportes, Salud, Southeastern Naturalist, SSWD, University Of Florida En Fort Lauderdale

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