Visit to the Tennessee ROA

KML science staff, diving under their Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary permit, checked on things in the Tennessee Research Only Area (ROA). Located 2 miles east of the Tennessee Reef Light, this small 0.2 acre Special Use Area was designated as one of the "no entry" zones by the Sanctuary, to be used as an undisturbed reference area.

The habitat within the ROA is characterized by low-relief contiguous reef, with areas of bare sand bottom, ranging from 12' to 35' depth. Divers floated past large barrel sponges and massive ancient coral heads

There were several long-spined urchins (Diadema antillarum) tucked away, with plenty of macro-algae to feed on. A big Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) followed divers around the reef.

A brilliant green moray eel (Gymnothorax funebris) was sitting out in plain view (or trying to blend in with the algae!), watching the show.

And it seems that no dive would be complete these days without encountering at least 1 invasive exotic lionfish (Pterois volitans). KML and FWC staff are specially permitted by the Sanctuary to capture and remove lionfish within all Special Use Areas, including Special Preservation Areas, ROAs, and Ecological Reserves. Staff scientist Andrew Crowder used a pair of hand nets to capture this lionfish near a large coral head.

Staff scientist, Cindy Lewis displays the 4 lionfish captured during the day of diving in the Tennessee ROA. The lionfish will be used in a feeding trial at KML.

New Shade Stucture

The cement pad in front of the classroom/dry lab once again has a shade structure! It will be a much-needed place to work on vessels and vehicles, out of the sun and also an area of shade for our visiting groups to utilize.

It all started with a pile of pipes and boxes of screws on the concrete pad.

One half done, tackling the second set of arches

Bill and Dave have worked pretty much non-stop since the delivery of the base plates. Several of the FWRI Marathon office crew came up to give us a hand for 2 days and that was a huge help - Thanks Bryan, Chris and Nick!

The Great Moon Snail Search

University of South Florida's Dr. Gregory Herbert's Geology class visited KML to survey the diversity and ecology of local benthic marine invertebrates, with an emphasis on mollusks, specifically moon snails.

The elusive moon snails were nowhere to be found during their boat trip with stops at Old Dan Bank, White Marlin Beach, and Indian Key. However, the group did find evidence of their presence: tracks, eggs, and prey(Chione elevata).


Fortunately, the class was very pleased to find a few moon snails while snorkeling down near Bahia Honda State Park at the Missouri - Ohio Channel, and also enjoyed a rocky trip on FIO's R/V Bellows before heading back to St. Petersburg.

First visit for Randolph-Macon College

First-time visitor to KML, Grace Lim-Fong, assistant professor of Biology at Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, VA), ventured to the Keys with 8 enthusiastic marine biology students.
They spent a rigorous week at the lab, learning about the various habitats, marine life, and designing experiments for class presentations.

Students collecting data at the Bamboo Key Living Lab site

One challenge in the marine environment is learning techniques for collecting data. The students participated in KML's Living Lab project, collecting data at 3 of our 5 permanent near-shore sites, using belt transects, line intercept, and quadrat sampling methods.

Upon their return to Randolph-Macon, Professor Lim-Fong and her students sent us a school pennant, signed by all the students, which is hanging in the Classroom in our "Who's Who at KML" display.

A long road to the Keys from Idaho

Graduate and undergraduate geology students from the University of Idaho (Moscow, ID) came to the Keys in March to warm their bones while studying the Modern Carbonate Sediments of the Florida Keys. Led by their professor, Dr. Peter Isaacson, they explored some of the geological highlights of the Keys.

They had an opportunity sample the shoreline sediments and snorkel live coral reefs near KML. Then, in contrast, they visited Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, where they saw 125,000 year old coral formations in the walls of the old quarry.

Once back in Idaho, the students signed their U. Idaho pennant, which now hangs in the Who's Who at KML display in our Classroom.

Duke Marine Geologists at KML

Professor Gary Dwyer, Duke University (Durham, NC), explored the Marine Geology of South Florida with his undergraduate students for a week in March.

Core sampling at Old Dan Bank

Using KML as home base, they experienced a variety of marine habitats from the Everglades to Key West.

In search of Marine Gastrotrichs

William D Hummon, Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences (Ohio University Athens, OH) spent the month of February at KML in search of marine gastrotrichia. Gastrotichs are microscopic animals, covered with cilia and found "running around" between sand particles.
Dr. Hummon and his able assistants, wife Meg and daughters Jules and Cheryl, gathered samples from 2 dozen intertidal and subtidal sandy banks throughout the Keys, from Harry Harris State Park to the beaches of Key West.

His seach turned up 33 different species of gastrotrichs for this trip, 8 of which are probably new to the scientific community.

MURI team model and measure underwater spectral-polarized light field

The MURI team of researchers joined forces at KML in January to study the dynamic spectral-polarized light field with hopes to identify mechanisms of adaptive camouflage in the near-shore littoral zone. Each team came with their own array of highly-specialized instruments, gathering data at several locations both on the ocean side and bay side of Long Key.

Dr. James Sullivan (U. Rhode Island) deploying their equipment overboard using their davit


KML Divers positioning equipment underwater in preparation for data readings

Dr. Alex Gillerson's team (City College of NY) positioning "the Octopus" at the surface for sunlight readings

Dr. Heidi Dierssen's (U. of Connecticut) and Dr. Molly Cummings dive team (U. Texas) worked underwater with instruments to quantify the spectral-polarized light field and the biological response to these dynamic optical environments. The team has plans to return to KML for summertime data collection.

Happy Holidays from KML

Heddy & Lisa are keeping track of everyone's wish-list

Bill & Dave have Santa's sleigh in fine working order

Andrew & Cindy are keeping an eye on the weather forecast and sharp look-out for any stray reindeer

The staff at KML wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and look forward to seeing y'all in the New Year!

Students from University of Mainz, Germany

Professors Bernhard Lieb, Frank Depoix, and Bettina Ebner, from the Department of Zoology at the University of Mainz, led a group of 20 students on an extended field trip to Keys Marine Lab. Using KML as their home base, they explored a variety of tropical habitats. The students enthusiastically snorkeled mangrove, reef, and near-shore hard-bottom habitats in spite of unseasonably cool temperatures.

Students embarked on the self-guided tour of the former settlement at Indian Key State Park

...and explored the rocky intertidal zone at Indian Key

They collected and identified various marine flora and fauna and tried their hand at several collection and sampling techniques. The group also took some time to venture up to the Everglades, and of course, to Key west. As they departed, they were already talking about bringing another group next year.