2024 Programs
Let’s Talk Trash! – Using Interceptor Devices to Combat Marine Debris
We've all participated in a beach cleanup before, but what if we could stop trash from washing out into the ocean in the first place? Find out more about trash interception devices in use in the Nature Coast's watersheds in this webinar by Dr. Monica Wilson, Coastal Debris Project Coordinator with Florida Sea Grant, the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, and the UF/IFAS Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department.
Potential use of algae grown in Florida as a feed additive for beef cattle
Have you heard of Gracilaria? It's an algae that can be aquacultured in Florida and it just might be the hottest new food trend in the pasture. Learn more about the potential for cows to be dining on this algal delicacy in this webinar by Dr. Georgia Dubeux, Masters Student in the UF/IFAS Animal Sciences Department.
Seagrass species respond to environmental change differently — implications for restoration strategies
Did you know that seagrasses have the ability to adapt their growth form to local conditions? How can they do that? Learn more about the diversity of ways seagrasses can adapt and what that means for restoration in this webinar by Dr. Laura Reynolds, Associate Professor in the UF/IFAS Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Science Department.
Symbiotic survey of the Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) from the Gulf Coast of Florida, USA
We all know bay scallops are fun to search for in the waters of the Nature Coast each summer, but how much do you know about their biology? Learn more about the pathogens and symbionts of our favorite snappy mollusk in this webinar by UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences graduate Abbey Scro.
Exploring feedbacks preventing seagrass colonization by using passive restoration techniques
Natural seagrass recovery once the system has shifted into an unvegetated state does not always occur. Learn more about passive restoration techniques and how the burrowing and feeding activity of rays and shrimps can prevent seagrass colonization in this webinar by UF Environmental Engineering and UF Center for Coastal Solutions Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Bea Marin-Diaz.
Indicators of salinization in spring-fed rivers using submerged aquatic vegetation
The coastal spring-fed rivers of the Nature Coast are increasingly exposed to salt water intrusion because of several drivers. Southwest Florida Water Management District Springs Scientist Dr. Madison Trowbridge tells us more about indicators and consequences of increasing salinities in these unique systems.
Thalassia testudinum die-off and recovery in Florida Bay, USA
The FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) works in diverse ways to understand trends and stressors in Florida's seagrass ecosystems. Join FWRI Research Scientist & Research Administrator Dr. Brad Furman for an exploration of seagrass die-off and recovery dynamics in Florida Bay.
Exploring Future Management of the Suwannee River Basin
Climate change and alterations in land use patterns will bring a new face to the Suwannee River basin. In this webinar, UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station Director Dr. Mike Allen presents a coupled watershed-ecosystem-economic model designed to predict and prepare for future conditions.
The sounds of a living shoreline
You know about landscapes but what about soundscapes? In this webinar, UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences PhD Candidate Audrey Looby immerses us in the soundscapes of a living shoreline restoration site.
Read the research article: Looby, A., Reynolds, L.K., McDonald, A.M., Barry, S.C., Clark, M. & Martin, C.W. (2024). Intertidal Soundscapes of Hardened and Living Shorelines: A Case Study of Habitat Enhancement. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 34(3), e4118. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.4118