December 4, 2015 - Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Online Resource Guide

A Strong El Niño is Predicted This Winter

December 4, 2015

Daily interactions between our oceans and atmosphere help shape the weather and climate we experience on Earth. However, naturally-occurring events such as El Niño can alter these interactions resulting in dramatic shifts in weather patterns across the globe. El Niño, also known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation, is characterized by periods of warmer tropical surface waters in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño episodes usually occur every three to seven years, but the last major El Niño period occurred during the 1997-1998 season.

Restoring Oyster Reefs in the Big Bend Provides Many Benefits

December 4, 2015

Oysters thrive under brackish conditions, and now a University of Florida (UF) study reveals that the bivalves can actually help create the mix of fresh water and brine they crave. While evaluating a new method of restoring degraded oyster reefs, researchers confirmed an observation that Cedar Key oystermen have made for years – some oyster reefs act as natural dams, impounding fresh water that flows seaward from nearby creeks and rivers. The result – large areas of reduced-salinity water that help maintain near-shore estuarine habitats supporting oysters, sea grasses, juvenile game fish, and invertebrates important to the marine food chain

UF IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station is Underway in Cedar Key

December 4, 2015

UF IFAS has a long history in research, teaching and extension programs in the Nature Coast (Big Bend) region. These previous efforts have built a foundation on which the Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS) will further develop the UF IFAS mission. Dr. Mike Allen, a professor of Fisheries and Aquatic Science whose research has focused on population dynamics and ecology of fishes, was appointed director of the NCBS. He is working to build the research, outreach, and teaching programs to improve conservation, management, and sustainability of natural resources in this region.

Genetic Health of Wild and Cultured Florida Clam Stocks

December 4, 2015

So how much genetic diversity is present in hard clam hatchery stocks in Florida relative to the state’s wild populations? This was the focus of research conducted by Dr. James Austin and his doctoral student, John Hargrove, with the UF IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. In order to address this question, samples were collected from six commercial clam hatcheries along with four wild populations sourced from the east coast of Florida. A standardized set of genetic markers was used to test if there were significant differences among the various sources.

News // December 4, 2015

A Strong El Niño is Predicted This Winter

Restoring Oyster Reefs in the Big Bend Provides Many Benefits

UF IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station is Underway in Cedar Key

Genetic Health of Wild and Cultured Florida Clam Stocks

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