Union College oceanographers vist KML

Union College undergraduate Advanced Oceanography class

 This was a first time visit to KML for students from Union College, Schenectady, NY. Led by their professor, Dr. David Gillikin, the class studied the biochemistry of the marine habitats around the Lab.On day 1 the class sampled water bay-side at intervals from Old Dan Banks to 14 miles back into Florida Bay, past Oxfoot Banks. 

 

Students collecting and processing water samples

Day 2 they ventured ocean-side, sampling from hardbottom habitat near Channel 5, on past Tennessee Reef and out to blue water in 600'. It was a spectacular day.

Time out for lunch and a dip - they never dreamed they would be swimming in 600' of water!

A pod of dolphin came to play in our wake on the way home one afternoon

The class also kayaked through mangrove habitat, sampling water from Long Key Lake out through Zane Gray Creek to Long Key Bight.

Students spent their evenings in the KML chemistry lab analyzing their water samples and recording data

Upon their return to Union College, they will compile and review all of their data and present it as a class project.

2nd season of Science Seminars at KML

Divers attach Staghorn coral fragments to a "tree" in the new Tennessee Reef Nursery. The baby corals will later be out-planted to help restore nearby reefs

 KML launched its 2nd season of Science Seminars, open to the general public, with "Restoration Ecology part 2:Coral out-planting efforts in the Keys”.  FWC/FWRI staff biologist Kate Correia gave a very informative talk on the on-going reef restoration projects, including their Staghorn Coral out-planting efforts in the Middle Keys.

A healthy Staghorn coral colony (Acropora cervicornis) - branch tips can grow up to 1" each year!

The Jan 8^th seminar will focus on Florida’s Reefs: past, present and future. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission coral biologist Karen Neely will discuss historical sea levels and the impacts on the Keys island chain - it was once a coral reef! The proposed listing of coral species to the Endangered Species List will also be a topic in her seminar.

Come join us!

Mile marker 68.5 bayside, Long Key

Tuesday, Jan 8^th at 6:30-7:30pm

KML Classroom

"Florida Reefs:

Past, Present, and Future"

FWC/FWRI coral biologist – Karen Neely 

Future seminar topics include:   

·       Feb. 5     Fisheries

·       Mar. 12   Sea Turtles

Also coming up during Layton City Celebration:

KML Open House

Saturday, March 2^nd 2:00-4:00