University of Colorado Students at KML

Colorado Eco-Warriors picking up litter near Long Key State Park

Students from the University of Colorado, led by their professor, Dr. Heidi Souder, spent their spring break learning about the ecosystems of the Florida Keys. They were constantly amazed and appalled by the  litter everywhere and did their part to help clean up.

Derelict kayak and other debris removed from Bamboo Key

Assessing dune vegetation

 They kept to a busy daily schedule, traveling to Bahia Honda State Park to assess dune vegetation and study the physical and geological oceanography.

Survey techniques 

 These ambitious students also faced some new challenges collecting data in the marine environment. They learned the basic monitoring skills and species identification necessary for KML's Living Laboratory Benthic Monitoring Surveys.

Setting up a benthic survey grid

Locating a corner of the Living Lab grid

Students measured the direction and speed of the longshore current with fluorescein dye.

Dr. Souder and her class certainly packed a lot of activities into their week at KML and left exhausted but with lots of smiles!