Shark research continues at KML

Capturing Bonnethead and juvenile Lemon and Nurse sharks temporarily held in the KML Mesocosym for transport

Christine Bedore, Duke University (Durham, NC), used KML as home port while collecting lemon sharks for her PhD research. She is studying "Shark predation on cryptic prey" & "Oxygen demands of sharks during swimming". Assisted by Jack Morris and her colleagues from Mote Marine Lab, they captured juvenile sharks and held them in the KML's 120,000-gal Mesocosym for later transport.

KML welcomes new Staff Biologist

 Tom Bartlett joined the KML team as our new staff biologist in July 2013. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from the University of North Florida, Jacksonville. Tom served as research assistant to Dr. Joe Butler studying populations of Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in the Florida Big Bend region, and with Dr. Cliff Ross studying the physiological effect of environmental stressors on coral larvae (Porites astreoides) in the Florida Keys. He then managed the Research Laboratory for the UNF Biology Department. Tom's cave diving, fishing and boating experience will make him a welcomed member of the KML team.

Florida Aquarium "Teacher workshop on coral reef ecosystems"

Fifteen teachers, grades 8-12, experienced a week of "total immersion" in the various ecosystems of the Florida Keys. Heather Judkins, Teacher Programs Coordinator for The Florida Aquarium (Tampa, FL), offered a workshop on "Chemical Processes Associated with Coral Reef Ecosystems" in July 2013. 

Learning water sampling techniques at a Florida Bay site

 After each snorkel, everyone gathered around Heather to summarize their experiences.

Heading back to KML after a day of snorkeling

 They all left with exhausted smiles and a greater appreciation of The Keys. This was Heather's first KML experience and she promises to return.