Research OLD
CURRENT
- Nearshore Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Program, 2008-2010
- Blind Pass Study (Reopening a Tidal Pass: Implications for Water Quality and Seagrasses, 2009-2010)
- Oysters and Associated Restoration on Sanibel (3008 - present)
In 2008, the Marine Lab began the initial year of a two-year study of nearshore water quality for Captiva and Sanibel Islands, funded through the Captiva Community Panel from Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC)’s Beach and Shoreline Capital Improvement Program. Read more...
Blind Pass Study (Reopening a Tidal Pass: Implications for Water Quality and Seagrasses, 2009-2010)
The SCCF Marine Lab was awarded a small Program Development (PD) grant from Florida Sea Grant to contrast water quality and the condition of seagrasses within and adjacent to Blind Pass, before and after the opening of the pass by dredging in summer 2009. Learn more...
Oyster reef habitats were once quite common along Florida’s southwestern coast based on excavations of shell mounds or ‘middens’ and historical records dating back to the 1800s. The Marine Lab began a volunteer-based restoration project in early 2010. Learn more...
Widgeon Grass (Ruppia maritima) Restoration and Monitoring in the Caloosahatchee Using Herbivore Exclosures (2008 - 2009)
The“ecosystem services” that submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beds provide include nursery areas for various species, sediment stabilization, food production, and nutrient uptake have been valued at $9,000 per hectare per year. Since the Caloosahatchee has over 5,000 hectares of shallows where various SAV species could potentially colonize,millions of dollars 
worth of “ecosystem services” are being lost every year. The main stem of the Caloosahatchee River as of late has had almost no SAV though conditions appear to be generally appropriate for plant growth perhaps to a depth of one meter. This may be partly a result of: 1) insufficient plant biomass and production to exceed the level of plant grazing, and 2) too few seeds or plants to initiate any potential population expansions. Widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima),another submersed monocot has the ability to thrive throughout the river because of its wide tolerance to a large range of salinities (0 to 70 ppt). Initiated in the summer and fall of 2008, this study is addressing the need for a population that can be used to monitor effects of water quality changes. Approximately 50 m2 of widgeon grass will be planted with individuals propagated in outdoor tanks. After the establishments of enclosed plots along a typically brackish section of the estuary, the one year study will be: 1)monitoring growth and spread from the exclosures; 2) determining potential grazing rates (by measuring loss from uncaged plants); 3)light attenuation thresholds; and 4) estimating bed sizes needed for uncaged plants to survive. Using the the established plots we will be able to judge the ecosystem effects of water quality changes (success of Everglades RECOVER restoration efforts) which we would otherwise be unable to do in the absence of thriving SAV populations.
Bioavailability and Sources of Nutrients and Linkages to Nuisance Macroalgae (2008-2010)
A team of scientists from SCCF, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), the University of Miami formalized a partnership with local governments to investigate the linkages between water quality and "blooms" of macroalgae. Following several active hurricane seasons and high volume discharges from Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee basin, a massive red algae
bloom was observed in Lee County. While it was not the first report of red algae accumulations on local beaches, it caused public outcry for a solution and plan was developed by local governments. The plan was to secure grant funding for research on the causes of the massive algae blooms. Several teams of scientists competed for the funding to study the red drift algae problem and their proposals were evaluated by City of Sanibel and Lee county staff. Drs. Milbrandt, Coen, and Bartleson from SCCF were an integral part of the team that was selected to perform the study last fall. The research project goals are to examine bioavailable nutrients, including those released by the sediments and determine the connection with attached macroalgae growing off of Sanibel and Fort Myers beaches. The work will be conducted for two year period and will cover the 2 inshore stations near the causeway and 10 offshore area from Redfish Pass to Bonita Beach.
A related effort, in collaboration with Drs.Grizzle and Riegl from the University of New Hampshire and Nova Southeastern University, will use a combination of hydroacoustic, videosurveying and related ground-truthing to map positions of the sea floor off Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva Islands in conjunction with ongoing efforts related to macroalgae 'blooms' existing work. SCCFdivers will collect bottom samples in conjunction with UNH and Nova scientists to assess accuracy and gather more detailed information. A catalog of geo-referenced and groundtruthed sonar samples representative of the major categories of vegetation and substrates will be collected with a Biosonics DT-X echosounder and two multiplexed, single-beam digital transducers operating at frequencies of 38 and 420 kHz. A SeaViewer model 550 color video camera will be deployed concurrently with the Biosonics system as in two different modes to provide supplementary data for the hydroacoustic survey. Click here for the January 2009 Quarterly Report. Click here for the October 2008 Quarterly Report.
Bay Scallop Recruitment, Growth and Survival
Although bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) were once plentiful throughout much of Florida's west coast, they have virtually disappeared in most areas. An extensive scallop fishery existed in Tampa Bay as recently as the 1960s, but scallops are rarely found now. Charlotte Harbor also supported a commercial fishery some 30 years ago, but scientists believe poor water quality is in large part responsible for these declines. Currently, the most extensive bay scallop populations are located north and west of the Suwannee River, in the Steinhatchee and in St. Joseph Bay. As miners used canaries as ‘sentinels’ as an early warning system, bay scallops are being used as ‘biomonitors’, providing an early warning system for scientists who monitor the quality of Florida’s coastal waters. Scallops are currently being stocked at Anclote River, Homosassa River, and Tampa Bay. It is hoped that scallop restoration efforts undertaken in areas north of us will eventually benefit this area with new recruitment and viable adult populations.
SCCF Marine Lab staff, through a grant from the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP), are continuing to monitor bay scallop recruitment in Pine Island Sound and Tarpon Bay, along with scientists from FWRI (Drs. Arnold and Geiger), Mote Marine Lab and the Charlotte Harbor NEP (Dr. Leverone). Currently, Coen and Thompson are responsible for nine of the recruitment monitoring stations. The larger Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s (FWRI, located in St. Petersburg) effort is using this information in the larger statewide monitoring program, along with adult monitoring and juvenile/spat enhancements. FWRI staff assess recruits from our samplers in their lab for consistency across the state. We will continue to deploy new scallop monitoring units monthly and collect the previously deployed units for enumeration. Learn more...
Updated 3/31/10