FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Monthly Highlights

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Green Sea Turtle Nest Numbers Hit Record The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced a record year for the number of green sea turtle nests in Florida. FWC staff documented approximately 39,000 green sea turtle nests, based on 27 Florida index beaches used to assess nesting trends. Nearly 30 years ago, only 464 green sea turtle nests were recorded on the 200 miles of beaches that are part of the Index Nesting Beach Survey. By 2011, the count was up to 10,701 green sea turtle nests; in 2013, it was 25,553 nests; and in 2015, it was about 28,000. The counts on index beaches represent about 68 percent of green sea turtle nests statewide. Green sea turtles nest more abundantly every other year, which contributes to the two-year spikes in their nesting numbers in Florida. The final 2017 sea turtle nesting numbers from the FWC’s more comprehensive Statewide Nesting Beach Survey, covering 800 miles of Florida coastline, will be available in early 2018. New on MyFWC.com/Research Reported Fish Kills Specimen Collections Post Hurricane Fish Kills Bay Scallop Restoration Social Media Corner  New on YouTube: FWRI scientists are working on a 10-year project to restore scallops in the  Florida Panhandle.   Scallop-sitters are needed. Flickr Favorite: Upland habitat scientists conducted sampling on 54 pre-determined locations, or grids. From Facebook: FWC biologists are currently tagging Florida sandhill cranes in suburban areas with transmitters that collect a GPS data every 30 minutes that is uploaded daily. Instagram Favorite Our Freshwater Fisheries biologists get questions from people wondering what these mysterious “blobs” are. Each “blob” is a colony of thousands of microscopic animals/invertebrates known as a freshwater bryozoan. Colonies are usually attached to an underwater tree branch or type of vegetation and can range in diameter from a couple of inches to 3 feet. Bryozoans are filter feeders with a firm, gelatinous texture and are slimy to the touch. They are distributed worldwide in fresh, marine and brackish waters. Bryozoans have existed for millions of years and many marine species are found as fossil. Our Mission Through effective research and technical knowledge, we provide timely information and guidanceto protect, conserve, and manage Florida's fish and wildlife resources.

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