October/November 2014 In This Issue:In This Issue:

In Florida, Red Tide is a HABit!

FMNP Chapter Spotlight

FMNP Instructor Spotlight

FMNP Course Spotlight

Likable Links—Natural Resource Information for FMNP Enthusiasts

FMNP Announcements

Regional Announcements

Core and Special Topics Courses Around the State

www.MasterNaturalist.org

FMNP AnnouncementsFMNP Announcements

Attention all FMNP graduates!

Please go to the FMNP Graduate Database.

http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/db/graduates.aspx

Check to see if your information is accurate. If it is not, let us know by emailing

info@masternaturalist.org

Remove Contact

Upcoming Core and Special Topics CoursesUpcoming Core and Special Topics Courses

Coastal Systems

Freshwater Wetlands

Upland Habitats

Conservation Science

Environmental Interpretation

Habitat Evaluation

Wildlife Monitoring

Registration deadlines are fast approaching for several courses! Become an Advanced Master Naturalist to

help maximize your ability to connect the citizenry of Florida to the Sunshine State!!

In Florida, Red Tide is a HABit!!

A red tide is a harmful algal bloom (HAB). Red tides can occur in estuarine, marine, or fresh water all over the world. When high concentrations of algae occur, water can become discolored, sometimes taking on a reddish appearance. With some species, high concentrations are associated with the production of natural toxins. Sometimes these toxins can be harmful to marine animals as well as to humans.

Not all algal blooms are harmful, nor do they all result in coloring water red. They are not coupled with the movement of the tides but with winds and currents. Thus, the term red tide is being phased out and being replaced by HAB when harmful algal species and algal bloom when non-harmful species are involved (wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tide).

Within the Gulf of Mexico, red tides are caused by the strain of algae named Karenia brevis (K. Brevis). K. brevis requires salinity and thus cannot exist in freshwater systems. Blooms of K. brevis have been recorded since the 17oos and affect offshore waters and coastlines from Mexico to Florida. K. brevis, unlike some algal species, does not seem to

respond to nutrient pollution. It can be very detrimental to the health of humans and to the organisms living in affected waters. The K. brevis HAB is sometimes referred to as Florida Red Tide.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has great information about red tide on their website. http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/. According to the FWC, K. brevis, produces brevitoxins that can fatally affect the central nervous systems of fish and other vertebrates. Also, wave action can break open K. brevis cells and release brevitoxins into the air, leading to respiratory irritation. For people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions, such as emphysema or asthma, Florida red tide can cause serious illness. As of September 26th, no respiratory irritation had been reported along the shore of west coast Florida; however, respiratory irritation is still possible in the bloom areas.

Red tide toxins also can accumulate in bivalve molluscan filter-feeders. Clams, oysters, and mussels should not be eaten if subjected to red tide as accumulated toxins can lead to Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning. Crabs, shrimp, and lobsters are not affected by red tide and can be eaten, although tomalley (the green hepatopancreas) can accumulate toxins and should be avoided.

To determine if shellfish harvest is permitted in a region that is potentially affected by red tide, please visit Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture website.

To see FWC’s latest HAB tracking information for the state of Florida, please visit, (http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/statewide/).

This website also provides links to additional information related to the topic of Florida red tide including satellite imagery, experimental red tide forecasts, shellfish harvesting areas, the FWC Fish Kill Hotline, the Florida Poison Information Center (to report human health effects related to exposure to red tide), and other wildlife related hotlines: http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/.

To learn more about various organisms that have been known to cause algal blooms in Florida waters, see our flickr page at (http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwc) and click on “Harmful Algal Bloom Species”.

The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute HAB group in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory now have a facebook page. Please come like this page and learn interesting facts concerning red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida at: http://facebook.com/FLHABs.

Satellite image from

9/21/14 shows offshore

bloom of K. Brevis. Hotter

colors indicate the bloom.

Gray represents cloud

cover.

Photo courtesy of Ken Gioeli

FMNP Chapter SpotlightFMNP Chapter Spotlight

The Florida Master Naturalist Program through the University of Florida, recently planted native Florida wildflowers at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds & Equestrian Center along State Road 70. Florida Master Naturalist Joanna Huffman coordinated a team of volun-teers to plant two areas at the fairgrounds with more than a pound of wildflower seeds. This project is sponsored by the 2013 La Florida, Land of Flowers, Community Grant fund-ed by Florida's State Wildflower license plate.

The wildflowers weren’t just put here for their good looks, although they do beautify the landscape and create a naturally appealing view. Wildflowers have adapted to our state’s conditions and pests, they typically require less water, fertilizer and pesticides than other flowers. They also support numerous species of native wildlife, from bees to humming-birds. Plants form the first level of the food chain for herbivores, like deer, rabbits, squir-rels and mice. Birds eat flower seeds and the insects that live amongst the wildflow-ers. Insects use wildflowers as food and nectar sources. Wildflowers also serve as shel-ter, platforms for eggs and places for animals to ride out cold weather and hide from

predators. If you watch your wildflowers you will notice a web of inter-connectivity between plants and animals.

Having wildflowers in your yard increases plant and animal diversity in your neighbor-hood. If you would like to start a wildflower garden in your yard, and would like some guidance and advice from the experts, The Florida Wildflower Foundation is the best place to start. Planting and care of wildflower gardens is not difficult, but best results can be achieved by following the proper steps. The Florida Wildflower Foundation website can provide you with all the information you need, including where to pur-chase seeds (e.g., Florida Wildflower Cooperative), what flowers work best for your area, when the best planting times are, how to prepare the site for seeding, and how to care for the flowers before and during the growing period. They can also, give you advice on irrigation, weeding and fertilizing, as well as on cautions that should be tak-en.

Project Credits: Project made possible by a generous grant from the 2013 La Florida, Land of Flowers, Community Grant funded by Florida's State Wildflower license plate. Partners include the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds and the Florida Master Naturalist – St. Lucie Chapter. Project Manager: Joanna Huffman, Florida Master Naturalist

To learn more about wildflowers in the fall, go to UF/IFAS Master Gardener Program’s fall newsletter

The Neighborhood Gardener – September!

Photo courtesy of Ken Gioeli

FMNP Instructor SpotlightFMNP Instructor Spotlight

Another of our Master Naturalists has crafted a book!

Don Philpott, along with his colleague Noreen Corle Eng-

strom, has published ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Edible Flori-

da.’ According to Amazon.com, this is “A guide to many of

the edible and traditional herbal plants of southeastern

US. Foraging food for free can be fun if you want to add

some interesting and nutritious ingredients to your meals

or need a handy trail-side snack…. Nature’s larder truly is

abundant and the more trees and plants that you are able to recognize, the more

pleasure you will get from your trips especially if you return to the same areas a lot.

You may be out camping in the spring and recognize a walnut tree or spot a dense

thicket of brambles or blueberries. Make a note because when you come back in the

autumn there will be nuts and berries for the picking. Join us as we explore nature’s

bounteous edible larder.”

Likable LinksLikable Links ——Natural Resource Information for FMNP EnthusiastsNatural Resource Information for FMNP Enthusiasts

The last FMNP newsletter highlighted a great website called Project Noah . Here is a similarly powerful site, iNatural-ist.org. iNaturalist.org “is a place where you can record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world.” Some folks like to post images, some love to identify those images. Add your input to the con-versation!

FMNP Course SpotlightFMNP Course Spotlight

Seventeen students from the FMNP Coastal Systems Module at the Keys Ma-rine Laboratory (KML) on Long Key try to stay dry during seining. Subse-quently they presented their final projects and received their certificates! The course included snorkeling trips aboard the KML research vessel into the Tennessee Reef Research Only Area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and along the bridge piles of the historic Overseas Highway Bridge at Bahia Honda State Park.

Students in this course included Adriana Cabre-ra, Aldin Mathews, Amanda Bush, Caitlin Gille, Christina Stocking, Cynthia Boerner, David Rosa, Elizabeth Rogers, Jennifer Savaro, Johanna Ve-lasquez, Joseph Land, Kristy Albury, Mark Tamblyn, Matt Heinritz, Monica Woll, Ryan Goldman, Shannon Kelley, and Suzy Roebling. Instructors included Erik Neugaard, Robert McMullen, Kelli O’Donnell, Michelle Cevallos, Kate Davis, and Frank Kahoun. Now THAT’s Teamwork!!!

Regional Announcements!Regional Announcements!

On November 8th, folks will be collecting oysters from oyster gardeners and putting them out on to constructed reefs in

Brevard County (location and time TBD). On the 14th and 15th volunteers again will be working with the oyster garden-

ers. If you are interested, contact Sammy Anderson at the Brevard Zoo SAnderson@brevardzoo.org. Be prepared to

take lots of water, snacks, sun screen, and bug spray!

Photo courtesy of FWC

Photo courtesy of Ken Gioeli

Photo by Erik Neugaard

Photo by Erik Neugaard

Click on flyer for

more information!