Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico – Viruses
We are going to begin this series of articles with a “creature” that some do not consider alive – viruses. While studying marine science in college, and my early days as a marine science educator, there was a debate as to whether viruses were actually alive and...
Fall is Here, It’s Time to Spray Cogongrass
Without question, Cogongrass is the most troublesome invasive plant that I (and my clients) deal with. Here in Northwest Florida, we have a lot of it, and it is very difficult to manage. With that in mind, I write about cogongrass control with some frequency. If you...
Helene’s Potential Impact on the Florida Coastal Wetlands
Coastal wetlands are some of the most ecologically productive environments on Earth. They support diverse plant and animal species, provide essential ecosystem services such as stormwater filtration, and act as buffers against storms. As Helene showed the Big Bend...
Reducing Health Advisories in Area Waterways: Part 1 – Maintaining Your Septic System
One of the top concerns with residents in our communities is water quality. Surveys I have conducted with the public support this statement. One of the top concerns with water quality in the coastal areas is health advisories. These are issued when concentrations...
The Rare Coastal Dune Lakes of Walton County
Walton County in the Florida Panhandle has 26 miles of coastline dotted with 15 named coastal dune lakes. Coastal dune lakes are technically permanent bodies of water found within 2 miles of the coast. However, the Walton County dune lakes are a unique geographical...
Longleaf Pine Savannas: Fall Flower Walk
Fall is not typically the season when we expect to see high plant activity, but in Florida’s longleaf pine savannas, fall thrive with colors. These unique ecosystems, characterized by their open canopy of towering longleaf pines and a diverse understory of grasses and...
The Naval Live Oak Reservation: America’s First Forest Preserve
How are the live oak (Quercus virginiana) and the history of the United States Navy linked? That is a very interesting question that actually led to the first forest reservation and planting project in the United States. That reservation and history is still alive and...
2024 Pensacola Scallop Search Report
Introduction The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) was once common in the lower portions of the Pensacola Bay system. However, by 1970 they were all but gone. Closely associated with seagrass, especially turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), some suggested the...
The World of Worms – Part 3 Roundworms
Roundworms differ from flatworms in that… well… they are round. You might recall from Part 1 of this series that flatworms were flat which helps with exchange of materials inside and out of the body. Flatworms were acoelomates – they lack an interior body cavity and...
Half Shell Oyster Oddities
Oysters are not only powerful filterers, they also provide a home and habitat for many marine organisms. Most of these organisms will fall off while the oysters are being harvested or cleaned, but some will stay behind and can be found inside or outside of your oyster...