What's With the Hazy Sky?

Have you noticed that the sky in Florida has been more hazy than normal recently? The reason for that is Saharan Dust. Dust from the Saharan Desert gets blown up into the atmosphere and travels across the Atlantic Ocean to be deposited in the Caribbean, the Amazon, and the Southeastern United States almost every year between June and August. This dust brings many nutrients such as iron with it. Studies have shown that up to 87 percent of the iron in the Atlantic Ocean has come from the Saharan Dust over the years. This supply of iron is vital for flora and fauna to survive. Phytoplankton uses iron during photosynthesis which takes a large amount of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Many types of algae and Vibrio species also use iron, though too much iron can cause harmful blooms. These can cause beaches to close, kill marine animals, or infect people. The particles brought over through the Saharan Dust can also cause breathing problems for people, especially those with preexisting problems. To read more about the iron in the ocean click here. To learn more about Saharan Dust click here.

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is an old quarry full of fossilized coral that has turned to limestone. The Saharan Dust has been coming across the Atlantic Ocean since the last ice age ended and you can see this in some of the limestone found in the Florida Keys. Some of the limestone in Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park has Saharan Dust in orange parts. When the iron the Saharan Dust oxidizes it turns orange and stains the limestone. The Saharan Dust can last until the end of August so make sure to drink plenty of water. To learn more about Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park or to visit click here.

No, The Other Nurse

 While on our trip in southern Florida, we came across sharks on more than one occasion. There was however one species that we came across more often than any other, and it was the species that our group had the opportunity to have a hands-on experience with. In both our tagging lines and scuba trip, our group had observed and handled the nurse shark.

Photo credit to Dr. Z

Nurse sharks are a species that tends to live and hunt on the bottom of the ocean. Their coloring that usually ranges from a yellowish tan to dark brown reflects this as it helps camouflage the shark along the sea bottom. While the shark we caught on the tagging trip was smaller, these fish typically average around 7.5 to 8 ft long and over 200lbs. Some distinguishing morphological traits of the nurse shark are the barbels on either side of its mouth, small eyes and lack of a obvious lower lobe of the dorsal fin. These sharks are nocturnal and hunt at night, preferring to spend their daytime hidden in a crevasse or a cave. These sharks have also been observed behaving in group behavior, with as many as 40 individuals lying either close together or even sometimes on top of each other. When they are out hunting their diet consists of other bottom dwelling organisms such as crustaceans, mollusks, and rays. Nurse sharks are found all along Atlantic coastlines, meaning you can find them by us on the New Jersey coastlines as well.

Photo credit to Dr. Z

Nurse sharks are oviviparous meaning that their embryonic development occurs in an egg case while still in its mother's ovaries. Their reproduction occurs once every other year and the gestation period typically takes 5 to 6 months. A litter of around 25 young are born in late spring and early summer at around 11 inches in length. The mating 'ritual' is something that has been well documented in the Florida Keys. The male approaches the female lying near the bottom of the sea floor and bites its pectoral fins while attempting to push the female on its side in order to gain better access to the female's cloaca. Unfortunately, many males will try to mate with a single female, leading to females having many bite scars at the end of a season. this leads females to try to avoid males by swimming in very shallow water. The IUCN redlist lists Atlantic Nurse Shark populations as vulnerable with a decreasing trend, and the Pacific Nurse Shark as endangered with a decreasing trend.

Inspect the Insects

 In their different life stages, they are part of the marine food web. When they are near water, they can become food for the fish and land species that interact with the aquatic components of the food web. In the Florida Keys, insects are everywhere of all shapes and sizes. While they can sometimes be quite pesky to us humans, it is important to not eradicate them completely due to their stance in the food web. When at Crane Point Hammock in Marathon FL, tour guide Russ explained that the mosquitos are bad because it is protected land and they cannot spray for them. Later on in the tour, we saw a lot of mosquitoes eating fish. If we were to exterminate the mosquitos, the fish would lose a main component of their food source. The predator to these fish would then also have a decrease in food supply. This would create a chain reaction up the food web and could potentially have a large impact on keystone or endangered species within the area. 

Citation

On the other end of the food web, many insects eat plant matter. This jumpstarts the movement of energy from photosynthesis up the food chain. The primary consumers eat the primary producers, and the sun’s energy gets passed up through the food chain. 

While on the trip, I encountered many interesting insects. 

  This is a banded tussock moth caterpillar based on my google searches to identify it. This insect is not venomous or poisonous, but their hairs act as a defense mechanism. The hairs are extremely irritating to human skin when it is touched. Citation

Photo via Anna Smith

This is the Jewel Spider aka the Christmas Spider or Spiny Spider. The name Christmas spider is due

to the time of year when it is most present in Australia- November and December.

Citation

Photo via Anna Smith

Based on my own identification, this next insect is the Trichonephlia clavata. They are in fact poisonous,

but it does not pose a threat to all humans. In fact, only certain people are allergic to their venom and

their bite is pretty harmless. I'm not sure about you, but I would prefer to never find out if I am allergic

or not and would like to avoid them if possible! This is an invasive species that is native to Japan but

has made its way over to North America. citation

Photo via Anna Smith

The next insect I encountered was the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper. This large grasshopper is about 3 inches long. I found them to be very people shy and none of them were interested in checking out my hand when I placed it in front of them in attempt to let it crawl on me. It is very common in the Everglades. Despite having wings, they cannot fly. I was shocked to see how short they jump despite how big their appendages are. Their bright color is an indicator to predators that they are toxic when eaten. This also explains why they move slow, and if a predator does approach them still, they can make a loud hissing noise as well as "secrete a foul-smelling foam spray to irritate its predator" (Facts about Lubber) On second thought, maybe it is a good thing that they were not interested my attempts to hold them!            Photo via Scotty Ulrick

Meow, Meow, Meow, get it?

The Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary is one of the most well known and respected rehabilitation centers in South Florida. The founder of this establishment, Laura Quinn, was known as the “bird lady” who gained that title from her many years out in the field rehabilitating many bird species.  Although she originally taught mathematics at a school, her love for nature took over her career when she began bird woodwork out on the boat with her husband. After some time of studying many Florida Keys species, she collaborated with Dr. Robert Foley who was a veterinarian. She then sought out five and half acres of property to which the small sanctuary resides. This is due to the fact that only three quarters of one acre was allowed to be used for her house and office. Laura Quinn joined the birds and flew high in September of 2010, only about 20 years prior to the Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center’s grand opening. 

credit to sam maxwell

The species that now encompass the Wild Bird Sanctuary are one in a million. Almost every resident bird has been injured in some type of way, whether from humans or just nature itself. Some of these species include the Eastern Screech Owl, the Yellow-Naped Amazon, a Blue Jay, Broad-Winged Hawks, Fish Crows, Turkey Vultures, Merlin, and a Barn Owl. Each bird has its own unique story that could explain why they were named the way they are. For example, Professor Moody and Luna Lovegood are the two Eastern Screech Owls in the sanctuary that have been residents since 2013(Moody) and 2016(Luna). Professor Moody arrived due to a vehicle collision causing his left eye to become damaged and removed. Luna arrived with left leg and wing fractures causing perching issues. Since then, they have become great companions and are extremely welcoming to the sanctuary. The meaning behind their names comes from Harry Potter characters. Professor Moody has a missing eye in the J.K. Rowling book and movie series and Luna’s character is known to be misty, distracted, and whimsical quite similar to Luna the owl. Flop was our group's favorite bird at the sanctuary. He is the Blue Jay with a uniquely sounding “meow”  as his way of song. Flop arrived in 2015 after a person tried to raise him as his own, causing a lack of instinct towards predators like us. This explains why he was so friendly to us. Although this is a benefit to visitors, unfortunately Flop can not return to the wild even after his left eye injury has healed. 

credit to me

One of the big conclusions and important lessons I learned from this visit to the sanctuary was to immediately bring or call found and injured birds to an animal hospital. Cases like Flop’s could be avoided if us humans weren’t selfish to take an animal home with us to become a pet. Also, I noticed that many of these incidents occur due to us which is extremely sad because birds like the owls were hit by cars and some of the hawks were shot for game. If you are interested in helping out the Laura Quinn bird sanctuary, click this link to adopt a bird and donate to their care!

Problematic Plastic Pollution

    Single use plastics have become a large polluter of our marine environments. This kind of litter either left behind by humans after use or improperly disposed of can wreak havoc on marine species ranging from sea birds and sharks to turtles and fish. On our fifth day in Florida we spent some time in Bahia Honda State Park participating in a beach clean-up at a less visited beach area where we collected bags upon bags of plastic debris and other forms of litter. However, ocean and coastal marine areas are not the only waterways in Florida that experience plastic and litter problems caused by humans.

Photo credit: Me. Picture of a styrofoam cup floating in the Everglades.

    During our visit to the Everglades National Park it was easy to see that careless park visitors had not been doing their job of keeping the park’s waterways clean or the wildlife safe. Plastic bottles, styrofoam cups, aluminum cans, and other trash could be seen in the water and along the trails we traveled through the slow moving river. While it can be distressing to see such a beautiful natural environment marred by such ugly things, it was even more disturbing for a group of us as we watched an alligator attempt to eat what appeared to be a large blue plastic bottle of some sort. The alligator only stopped when an on-looker distracted him from his inedible plastic prey by tossing a stick into the water near the creator to distract him. We can only hope that once we moved along that the alligator did not attempt to return to crunching down on that hard plastic again. 

Photo credit: Me. Picture of an alligator attempting to eat a hard, blue plastic bottle in the Everglades.

    Ingesting plastics and other litter can cause respiratory issues, digestive issues, death, and toxicity for many marine organisms that attempt to make a meal out of a non-food item. Additionally, chemicals in plastics and other trash can leach into the waters surrounding them, causing the water itself to become poisonous to the wildlife that calls a marine area home. However, there is hope. The least anyone can do to prevent tragedy as a park and beach goer is to simply carry out what you carried in. Going the extra step and picking up any trash that you may pass, even if it was not left by you, can make an area safer for everyone and everything around it. This YouTuber’s content is all about doing trash clean-ups to better a variety of environments for the wildlife that inhabit them. Furthermore, many states have been passing legislation, such as our home state of New Jersey, to ban single use plastics such as bags, styrofoam, and straws to reduce plastic environmental pollution. This website makes a compelling argument for Florida to adopt such legislation as well. 

    Keeping our environment clear of any further plastic pollution is the first step in tackling the large existing problem of plastic pollution in our marine environments.

These Guy's Aren't So Great at Hide and Seek While Others Are

 Throughout our time in Florida it was clear that the fish we studied for our identification quizzes wasn't a waste of time. While spending our spring semester studying many of the common fish, coral and flora of the Florida Keys. This information was great to learn as it allowed myself and fellow students to actually identify and understand what we find while snorkeling and scuba diving while in the Keys. As many of us learned quickly some species were going to be harder to find than others while some were in numbers so large it was hard to miss them while in the water. Listed here are fish species that we found and had to learn to identify in class as well as others that were least common.

The first most common fish found while snorkeling was the Bermuda chub. The Bermuda chub was learned back at stockton and could be identified by having a football shaped body with the possibility of having white or yellow markings on the face. Learning this prior to our trip allowed myself and fellow classmates to notice that we were surrounded by Bermuda chubs. In addition we found that if we crush the sargassum under the water that schools of chub would swim around us.   

     

Secondly, Sergeant major fish which were also meant for us to learn and identify were present at our snorkeling sights. These fish can be identified by the five dark bars they have on their side. It is often common to see some yellow also near the back. While diving I learned that these guys were often found in smaller schools than the Bermuda chubs. These guys were also much lower in the water compared to the chubs that were swimming within a foot of us at times.

In addition there were species that we had to learn that were either not there or could only be found easily by divers. For example a nurse shark can be seen in the image below which was found by the divers in our group. Nurse sharks can be identified by the barbels near their mouths and having two dorsal fins far back. Another animal that was found that we did have to identify this past semester but did read about was lobsters. The image below is the lobsters that were found by the divers in our group.

 

Images provided by Dr. Z

If you would like to learn more about fish identification and want to learn for yourself what you are looking at next time you're snorkeling or diving click here to study.

Pigeon Royalty in the Florida Keys

    During our trip to Florida we got to see many examples of subtropical wildlife. On that list was the White-crowned Pigeon. As a birder, catching a glimpse, and hopefully a picture, of this rare and threatened species was quickly put on my “must do” list as soon as we learned about them. Our last day in the Keys brought us to Big Pine Key where we were able to see a veritable plethora of these beautiful birds after five days of a White-crowned Pigeon drought. 

Photo credit: Me. Picture of a taxidermied White-crowned Pigeon specimen at Windley Key State Park

    Now, you may be asking, what is so special about a pigeon? We have them all over the New York/New Jersey area and there is nothing special about our little gray friends here who love the occasional french fry or crumb thrown their way by passers-by. 

    Well, to start, this species of pigeon can only be found in the Caribbean and the southernmost reaches of Florida and the Florida Keys. Because this is the only area in the United States this bird can be found, with the exception of some US territories in the Caribbean, its status is not on our federal listing. However, the state of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife has deemed them threatened and the IUCN has listed them as near threatened. This site has more information on what made them a threatened species and what is keeping them threatened.

    Additionally, the coloration of the White-crowned Pigeon is very unique. They have a dark gray body with a beautiful white cap, or crown, on the top of their head. As these birds are primarily fruit eaters, you will most likely see them up in the tree canopy or hammock, where their coloration allows them to blend into the shadows created by leaves, rather than strutting along the ground like the Rock Pigeons and Pied Rock Pigeons that we find here in the tri-state area. To get to their feeding grounds from their nesting areas, they usually fly a long distance, sometimes more than 30 miles each day. You can read more fun facts about this species here.

Photo credit: Me. Taken at The Blue Hole on Big Pine Key after this individual and another finished mating then separated.

    While observing the wildlife in Florida, I found the best technique was to be silent and still, listening and looking for what may be moving around me. This technique paid off on Big Pine Key as I heard a ruckus in a near-by tree. The breeding season for these birds is from May to September, and I was able to witness and record two White-crowned Pigeons mating in a tree not ten feet from where I was standing. Getting to witness these birds and their mating habits first hand was definitely a memorable experience.

So if you ever find yourself in the Florida Keys, or the Everglades, keep quiet and still with your gaze in the trees. You, too, may be able to see one of these magnificent royal birds for yourself.

Five Memories From the First Five Years

 The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami started in 1950 as the Junior Museum of Miami. This museum then became the Miami Museum of Science in 1960 and added the Space Transit Planetarium in 1966 and the Batchelor Wildlife Center in 1991. The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science was named such and opened in 2017. In 2022 the museum interviewed five employees that have worked there since the new museum has opened and asked what their top five memories were.  Mark Bennet has worked for Frost Science since 1988 and said his best memories were the first light in the planetarium, meeting Senator Bill Nelson, the NASDAQ opening bell, the solar eclipse, and FilmGate Miami. Multiple of these employees talked about the day the museum opened since there were problems along the way and it was such a huge accomplishment. Multiple people also discussed the solar eclipse on August 17, 2017, and hurricane Irma in 2017. Hurricane Irma was a stressful time for employees though they clearly had some fun if it turned into a good memory for them. For the solar eclipse they had set up many telescopes set up on the roof and science plaza and it was an amazing experience for the staff and visitors. Other memories included shows in the planetarium and group trips to the museum. To read more about their memories or learn about the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science click here.

Some of my memories from our visit include the MeLab, the planetarium show, and see some of the fish we learned about during our class. Being able to recognize and name fish from our class made me feel successful and proud of what I had learned. There was also an education game about commercial fishing and how to do so sustainably. This museum seems great for people of all ages and has a vast amount of knowledge. The Frost Museum of Science also has a relationship with Nasa due to the planetarium. To learn more about NASA and what is happening in space click here.

The End of a Trip

 The end of any kind of trip always brings different emotions like sadness, excitement, or even confusion. Someone may feel sad to leave their vacation, excited to go home, or confused about what to do next in their life. The ending of the weeklong trip to Florida for the Tropical Marine Biology field research section excited me because I could not wait to go home and tell everyone what happened. I was also sad and a bit anxious because our flight home kept getting delayed. I also flew for the first time without my parents. I tried new food like Cuban and Caribbean food. It was delicious, and I might miss the local fresh fruit. After that long week of early mornings and late nights, I learned so much about tropical marine biology. My favorite lesson was to just be a sponge and take everything in. You never know who you will meet, what you will be doing, or what you will learn. It is simply great to soak everything in. The Keys and the Everglades were a bucket list destination for me, and it was amazing to be able to view wildlife in their natural habitat. LINK I also was able to do 2 daytime dives as well as a night dive. I am a newly certified scuba diver and the dives at Hens and Chickens was amazing. I got to see many fish swimming in the coral reefs as well as bioluminescence for the first time. I got to watch alligators and birds in the Everglades. The tropical ospreys also did two service projects at Crane Point and Bahia Honda State Park. LINK We helped locals with tasks such as beach cleanup. We went shark tagging in Fort Lauderdale with a research team, sharks4kids, and a local Girl Scout troop. I thought that it was super cool for those young girls to be out on the water learning about sharks up close and personal. I was excited to be able to touch nurse sharks, it was like I was a kid all over again! It was also cool to be able to talk to them about anything and everything (when I was younger, I used to be a Girl Scout). I liked how everyone on this trip was able to learn something new or try something different. As I return home to New Jersey I am excited to be able to take all these lessons with me and be able to share them with friends and family. I am also glad that everyone on this trip was so nice and overall, a wonderful experience. I would totally recommend this class to any marine science major at Stockton University. LINK

Hens and Chickens. Photo by Mackenzie Briggs.

Scuba Diving at Hens and Chickens. Photo by Mackenzie Briggs.

The Everglades. Photo by Mackenzie Briggs.

 

Manaone, Manatwo, Manatee

     In Florida, manatees are listed as threatened by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Lately, there has been a high rate of manatee mortalities, which is being investigated by the Florida Manatee Program. Today, the manatee population is at around 7, 520 manatees in Florida.

Cited by me

    The problem with the manatee population being threatened in Florida is that they are considered a keystone species. This means that they are essential to their habitats and without them, these environments will fall apart. This species is very important because researchers can observe the behavior of these manatees to keep an eye on any possible environmental changes that may occur.

    Environmental changes that may affect the behavior of manatees includes changes such as an increase in pollution, a chemical imbalance, or climate change. Changes in their behaviors can also make researchers aware of possible incoming storms.

    There are multiple acts and laws to help protect Florida manatees such as a Florida State Law that was enacted in 1893, the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act. One of the purposes of these are to protect both manatees as well as other marine mammals from the dangers we, as humans, expose them to. This includes things such as pollution, causing damage to their habitats, and physically harming them with the propellers of boats, even though it's usually unintentional.

Manatee with scars from boat propellers

    With the amount of damage already done, it can be difficult to find ways that will truly make an impact on these manatees. However, even doing just a little to help these animal can make a difference, even though it may not seem like it. Some things you can do to help them include not littering, especially on the beach or on a boat, being cautious with the speed of your boat's propellers when you are in an area that is known to have manatee sightings, reduce your use of plastic when possible, and when you use plastic, be sure to recycle. A lot of these things may seem like common sense, and yet there are still people who harm the world by not listening to this advice.

A hole in the ground

 On our final day in Florida, we went on a trip to Big Pine Key on the hunt for the elusive Key Pine Deer, and while doing so, we stopped by a very interesting location that I did not expect to see down in the Florida Keys. The place which we visited was a blue hole, which is an abandoned quarry hole that fills in with water over an extended period of time or has water artificially pumped into the quarry in order to make it less dangerous. While there are many of these blue holes across New Jersey, many of which are very popular locations to go swimming or fishing, there are not really any in the Florida Keys besides this one. This quarry was once a rock quarry used to fill in areas for the railroad that once spanned across the entirety of the Florida Keys, but once abandoned, became a protected area for wildlife to flourish in. 

Pictured above is a view from one of the main outlooks at the blue hole, which shows a majority of the artificial lake that has formed here and all of the surrounding trees and other plants to support a vast array of wildlife.

This area is protected unlike many other blue holes across our country has allowed for this particular location to be able to support a large variety of rare and unexpected species within its general area. For example, it is one of the few places this far south in the Florida Keys where you can naturally find American alligators. There is also a small population of tarpon, as well as several houndfish living in the lake that has been pushed there during several strong hurricanes over the past several decades. The large variety of trees and plants surrounding the blue hole also support the elusive key deer and the protected white-crowned pigeon, and many other species of birds feeding off the abundant plant life present around the blue hole.

Above is a picture I managed to take of one of the elusive white-crowned pigeons that we saw at the Big Pine Key blue hole, there were many of them present around the area and it was the only area in the keys where we saw several of these protected birds together, showing that there are still some strongly populated areas by these birds.

The tortoise and the tortoise

 When visiting Crane Point Hammock, you can wander along the beautiful trails and see some incredible sights. You can see the oldest house there and see wildlife all around. In the visitors center they even have some fish native to the area such as pork fish and squirrel fish. What you may not expect to see there are two tortoises that do not always get along. They have two tortoises there named Rocko and Charlie, that a volunteer couple comes to feed and take care of before enjoying a walk. When you see them, you can quickly tell the differences between the two. Charlie is more active and will eat anything you put in front of him. Rocko on the other hand is more calm and very picky about his food. He loves kale, watermelon, and hibiscus though some other foods he will refuse to eat. You cannot keep two male tortoises together since they tend to become aggressive toward one another. In this case since they are both males Charlie is usually the one who flips Rocko over. Because of this they are looking for a space so they can separate Rocko and Charlie. 

After you meet these tortoises don't forget to check out all the trails, the bird sanctuary, and various houses within Crane Point Hammock and get a fish pedicure. You can see many species of trees and wildlife that are native to the Florida Keys. You can also see the history of Crane Point Hammock and get some delicious mangrove honey in the museum and gift shop. If you are interested in visiting Crane Point Hammock, Rocko, and Charlie click here. If you would like to learn more about tortoises found in Florida and what to do if you see them click here.

Pygmy Sperm Whale vs. Broadbill Swordfish

 While we were at Crane Point Hammock in the museum there was an exhibit on A Fatal Accident that took place in March of 1992, when a fisherman found a skull on a sand flat in the Florida Keys with a bone protruding from its skull. It was determined that the skull was that of a small Pygmy Sperm Whale and the bone protruding from its skull was that of a Broadbill Swordfish. 

Both the Pygmy Sperm Whale and the Broadbill Sword fish feed on squid and other cephalopods. Both of them do not normally have instances when one kills the other. This freak accident most likely occurred when they were feeding on the same food or when the swordfish started randomly ramming into the poor sperm whale. The Broadbill Swordfish is known for ramming into whales, ships, submarines and other floating objects.  

More information on Broadbill Swordfish can be found here. It is interesting to learn that they are the second fastest fish, which makes it understandable how they seem to ram into objects all the time. They also have extremely good eye sight that allows them to better see their prey. Interestingly enough, they don't ram into most of their prey. Instead, they slash them to injure them to make it easier to catch them. 

More information on Pygmy Sperm whales can be found here. What is most interesting about them is that they eject a reddish-brown cloud of intestinal fluid in the water to throw off their predators and make an escape.  They also have false gills behind their eyes to throw off predators. They can grow up to 3.8 meters and weigh up to 450kg. 

While no one will actually know exactly what happened between the Pygmy Sperm Whale and the Broadbill Swordfish, one can only speculate that the poor sperm whale had no clue what was coming for it and hopefully it did not suffer too much. 

How Many Firsts Can You Have In One Week?

 This trip to Florida was full of many brand new experiences for me. We had very long days and it was very sunny, but I am very glad to have been able to come on this trip and experience what Florida has to offer.

1. One of the biggest things for me this trip was my first time in a plane. I had some anxiety going into this flight, but once we were in the air I found it to be really cool. I was like a kid in the candy store. 

2. This trip was also my first time to Florida. Going into the trip I was expecting to die in the heat. Needless to say the weather was not as terrible as I expected. I was not expecting it to just randomly rain at random times in the day, but it was very refreshing.

3. This was also the first time I have ever been on a boat in the ocean. It did not go very well, but by the third time I think I finally had gotten my sea legs. The downside of the first boat ride was that the water was very choppy and we were much closer to the shore. Highly don't recommend. Our second and third trips were with Captain Slates Scuba Adventure and we went on a ~30 minute boat ride to Hen and Chickens, which was a much smoother and calmer ride. Definitely would recommend using them. 

4. My first time going snorkeling was probably the highlight of the trip. I was not expecting to jump in the water and see as many fishes as I did. It was like we were a part of their world and had a front row seat to everything that was going on below us. 

5. When we went to the Everglades National Park, it was my first time to see an alligator in real life. I was a little frustrated at first that I hadn't found one, but after I finally saw my first one, each one after was cooler and closer. More information about Everglades National Park can be found here. 

6. I also tried Cuban and Caribbean food for the first time. I was surprised to learn that Cubans love rice and beans. I also tried plantains for the first time, which I was not a fan of. Overall, there food was pretty good. The Caribbean food on the other hand was terrible. I tried the key lime slaw and there coconut rice and was not impressed. All the other food we had was absolutely delicious. 

Stay in the current, but out of their way!

     Keeping up on current news in science is important because data is always leading to new conclusions. There can be many interesting stories in the news from a new gene found, to a rare species sighting, to odd things that nature does. In a recent news story, a rare and up-close (possibly too close) sighting of a large eagle ray occurred. 

On Friday, July 22, 2022, off of the coast of Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico, there was a 400-pound spotted eagle ray that hopped right up onto someone's boat. Thankfully no one on the boat was injured, but it was still an urgent situation. Despite there being four people on board, the ray was too heavy to get off of the boat. It was important to them to save the animal, but also the ray was making the boat back heavy and water was getting on board. They quickly made it back to shore in 20 minutes where they had a marine research group waiting for them. On the way back, they consistently poured water over the ray to help keep it alive. When they arrived at the shore, they lifted the ray and noticed that it had given birth to four pups. The pups were not alive and were donated to science for research. They hypothesize that the ray jumped out of the water to avoid a remora attached to her and it was just unfortunate timing that the boat was directly in its path. (https://www.theinertia.com/news/rare-spotted-eagle-ray-jumps-into-boat-during-fishing-derby-gives-birth-on-deck/)

Photos via April Jones on Facebook
A similar story occurred in the Florida Keys in 2008 off the coast of Marathon, very close to where we Tropical Ospreys were out on a boat this week. This ray was only 80 pounds with about a 5-6 foot wingspan and the boat was traveling 25mph. Originally they thought that the barb got her in the heart, similar to how Steve Irwin died, but it turns out that both the lady and the ray died on impact when it jumped on the boat. Another experience was when a spotted eagle ray jumped on a boat and stabbed an 81-year-old man in the heart with its venomous barb, but miraculously he survived. (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-florida-ray/ray-jumps-kills-boater-off-florida-keys-idUSN3K32064420080320)
Rays swim near the top of tropical waters near coral reefs and feed at the bottom. Pregnant rays are known to give birth when they are distressed in hopes that if they can’t survive, their young might be able to. There are multiple species of rays in the Florida Keys, but the safety precautions for both yourself and the rays remain the same. Keep a safe distance from them. They are typically not ones to approach humans and if they do, they are docile unless provoked. Spotted eagle rays jump out of the water, but as long as you are not in their path, it should not be an issue. (https://www.keywestaquarium.com/stingrays-in-the-florida-keys)

Photo via Me at Chickens and Hens Reef in Islamorada

To Bee or Not to Bee

 Crane Point Hammock in Marathon, Florida is home to many plants and animals that work together to maintain a beautiful home. They have a trail full of various tress and flowers that bring a sense of peace. There is a butterfly garden, aviary sanctuary, and even a small museum. Out of all the sections in this historical site, my favorite area, by far, are the bee hives. There are plenty of people that do not realize how important bees throughout the world actually are to human survival. 

Bees are one of the most important, if not most important, pollinators. Without these pollinators, so many of the foods that we love and need would not be around. If the bees were to go extinct, humans would shortly follow. Since humans have played such a huge role in their decline, it is only fair that they also play a huge role in increasing their populations, right?

 

Photo Credit to Me

While it is only one small area, Crane Point Hammock has created hives for an abundance of bees. These bees are so unique to the Keys because they collect nectar from Black Mangrove trees, which is used to make delicious Black Mangrove Honey. I have tasted a lot of honey throughout the years, and this honey is one of the most unique and delicious flavors I have ever had. If you would like to learn more about the Black Mangrove Honey and why we need places like Crane Point Hammock to produce it, click here.

 

Photo Credit to Me

These bees need a safe home where they can do the proper work that makes them so successful. Crane Point Hammock provides them plenty of trees, food sources, and sunlight that aids in their success. Not only are the natural resources important, but the beekeepers that help manage this environment and continue to keep the bees safe are also important.

 

By visiting the website linked above, you can donate any amount of money or become a member, in order to keep Crane Point Hammock growing. Although it is only a small non- profit organization, it is extremely important to the wildlife and nature of the Keys. Their efforts are continuing, and you could easily become a member of this journey.