Search results for: “Habitat Conservation”
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St. Johns River: Water Management Spotlight
The longest river that begins and ends within the state of Florida is the St. Johns. Originating at Blue Cypress Lake, the St. Johns River meanders over 300 miles north to its terminus in the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville.1,2 At its southern end, the river is shallow and marsh-like, scarcely navigable by boat. As it works…
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The Florida Wildlife Corridor
Habitat loss and fragmentation are some of the primary causes of declining plant and animal populations. The Florida Wildlife Corridor protects almost 700 different plant and animal species by conserving and connecting habitats all over the state. This includes the mighty Florida Panther, The West Indian Manatee, and the Gopher Tortoise. This blog dives into…
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The Florida Panther: FL Native Animal Series
The first animal to be featured on a Florida Native Animal Spotlight Series is an obvious choice: Florida’s own state animal, The Florida Panther! The Florida Panther is a subspecies of the mountain lion. They are a large, tan cat with a unique crooked tail and a patch of fur like a cowlick on their…
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Carl Hiaasen: 5 Books About Florida
The characters in Carl Hiaasen’s books aren’t real, but the issues they face are. If you are not familiar with his work, Carl Hiaasen is a Miami reporter turned author. Covering Floridian news inspired and informed his work.1 His novels are primarily set in Florida. If you are from the state, you might feel right…
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What are Umbrella Species?
The concept of umbrella species was first proposed by ecologists as a way to manage ecosystems and protect the needs of many species by focusing on protecting the needs of just one species- this species’ needs encapsulate many others, like an umbrella (Roberge & Angelstam, 2004). This strategy simplifies management and monitoring efforts. Doing this…
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Top Environmental Issues in Florida
While we are seeing the effects of environmental issues across the country from droughts to flooding, it is essential to learn about what is occurring here in Florida. Pollution and Water Quality As mentioned in our article Are Florida Manatees In Danger Of Extinction? the issue of algae bloom is discussed in terms of its…
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How to Create a Safe Space for Manatees
State of Manatees If you have spent any time on or around Florida’s waterways, then you may have come across the Florida Manatee. The Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a keystone species for the state. What exactly does that mean? A keystone species is an organism that plays a vital role in an ecosystem.…
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Biden’s $1.1 B Everglades Restoration Plan
The Florida Everglades, a vast ecosystem that nearly covered 11,000 square miles1 of Southern Florida, was given another chance when the Biden administration granted $1.1 billion of a $14 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill 7 towards its restoration. At over a billion dollars, it is the largest single investment in the Everglades7. This funding is part…
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Deep Sea Mining
Deep Sea Mining Deep sea mining. Is it an environmental resource or a disaster? The practice has become a controversial topic in recent years. Some believe it is a great alternative to terrestrial mining, which is now on the decline. Others say the damage could outweigh the good. Scouring the Deep: What is DSM and…
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The Florida Black Bear: Living Bear Aware
Featured image from Unsplash / Kalen Kemp. Bears by the Numbers With an estimated population of just over 4,000, the threatened Florida Black Bear is outnumbered by humans by a scale of over 5,000 to 1. Key areas in Central Florida, South Florida, & the Panhandle have the largest portions of the bear population, with…
