The scientific community is mourning the loss of colleague and dear friend, Jeff Simonds, who died in a tragic car accident last week. Jeff worked in the Finfish program for FWC's Fish & Wildlife Research Institute in the Marathon office, Florida Keys and will be greatly missed.
Jeff Simonds (1978-2010)
Once the large Loggerheads and adult Hawksbills had warmed up and recovered for a few days, FWRI staff used their boats to transport them out to the warmer waters near Sombrero Reef. When Florida Bay water temps finally nudged above 60F, KML offered their boats and staff to assist with releasing nearly 100 smaller Hawksbills and Greens.
Sue Schaf (FWRI), Whitney Crowder (FWRI), and Cindy Lewis (KML) releasing Hawksbills at KML along the seawall
Hawksbills waiting their turn to be released
FWC and FIO staff along with local media and a crew from The Turtle Hospital aboard the R/V Diodon leaving the marina at KML to release the last load of patients
KML's Andrew Crowder and The Turtle Hospital's Ryan Butts releasing a Green sea turtle back into Florida Bay near the Everglades National Park
We've seen hundreds of grunts and snappers, dozens of burrfish, boxfish, bonefish, and groupers (including reds, blacks, & Nassaus) dead and dying in the rack along our seawall. Our display animals have not fared well either. With no way to warm the large 122,000 gallon flow-through Shallows (waters temperatures down to 44F) we lost our bonnethead shark, both tarpon, the bonefish, numerous snapper and jacks. We have heaters in our above-ground tanks for our spiny lobsters, slipper lobsters, assorted crabs and mollusks, and the mantis shrimp. But with the wind whipping around the tanks, water temps are only hovering at 57F. Needless to say, the invertebrates are still very sluggish but hanging on! KML staff have been patrolling the seawall searching for any potential survivors. We have numerous burrfish, boxfish and a queen angel slowly reviving in the warming tanks.
Cold-stunned sea turtles have floated in to KML shores on the north winds. Wagons have been handy for moving the large turtles, like this big Loggerhead....
...and some, like this little Hawksbill, are small enough to just carry....
....in to the office to warm up....
.... until FWC Sea Turtle Stranding Co-ordinator, Sue Schaf could transport them to the Marathon Turtle Hospital. So far, KML has rescued 4 Loggerheads, 3 Hawksbills, and a Green turtle but we expect more will float by in the next few days before the waters warm up. Air temperatures are expected to be in the 70's by week's end and Bay temps should slowly improve too, allowing for the release of the rescued animals.
Adult female Loggerhead 230 lbs - largest rescued turtle received at the Turtle Hospital so far this week
But Dave and Bill were not to be thwarted! Engineering a Keys version of a marine plow and harnessing the muscle of our little 13' Boston Whaler, they guys pushed loads of rack and weed back out into the Bay.
Frustrated snowplow operators?!?
Captain Bill Ferrell gives a boat safety briefing to students before leaving the dock for a day of snorkeling.
R/V Mola Mola leaving KML marina
Several of the Mann students were AAUS dive certified. They prepared their dive gear aboard the R/V Diodon and listened to KML dive safety protocols with Captain Andrew Crowder before a day of diving. 
To the Reef!
The group snorkeled over a grass flat to explore fish communities among the roots of a mangrove island. Water temperature 70F! Brrr!
The USF students snorkeled Coral Gardens at dusk to observe the change in fish activity on the reef. Weather was perfect all week and the sunset was spectacular.
Two juvenile spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) spent the afternoon cruising around the KML Lagoon last week. 
The little guys seemed intent on corralling a small school of mullet and took turns darting through the middle of them. One poor mullet had a hole in his side to document the strike!
Clemson University and the KML Living Laboratory.
The Clemson University Conservation of Marine Resources creative inquiry team participated in the first biodiversity census of the KML Living Laboratory.
Learning the Biodiversity of the Keys.
The CMR team, under the direction of Dr. Michael Childress, helped set-up and census four biodiversity plots including one in the hardbottom habitat adjacent to the Keys Marine Laboratory.
Learning to Measure Biodiversity.
Graduate student teaching assistant TJ Jordan leads the students through a dry-run of the data collection methods that use line, belt and whole plot census methods to enumerate the density of benthic invertebrates and fishes.
Laying Out a Census Plot
Dr. Michael Childress directed CMR students in the all-important placement of grid lines prior to data collection. He then snorkeled amongst them to answer questions and assist in correctly identifying organisms.
Taking Data While on Snorkel
The CMR students collected data on the type of benthic substrate and the density of sponges, corals, octocorals, anemones, echinoderms, mollusks, crustacaeans, and benthic fishes.
Assessing the Impact of Mass Sponge Mortality
In the fall of 2007, a mass sponge mortality occurred on Florida Bay side of Long Key killing a majority of large sponges such as this ancient loggerhead sponge. The KML Living laboratory project will monitor and document the changes in biodiversity on both impacted and non-impacted sites to assess the impact of this most recent disturbance.
KML Living Laboratory Seeks Volunteers
Classes visiting KML are invited to participate in the KML Living Laboratory project. For more information regarding how to get involved please contact KML staff biologist Cindy Lewis
