Author Archives: Kent Gardner

Invasive Air Potato and its Biological Control

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Air potatoes (Dioscorea bulbifera) are members of the yam family and are native to Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Air potatoes can now be found throughout Florida and are considered an extremely aggressive invasive species. The vine was added to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Noxious Weed List in 1999.

A classic method of biological control involves finding an organism that feeds exclusively on the invasive plant and then releasing it in the invaded area. Once established the control agent will provide long-term suppression of the plant.

Scientists with the US Department of Agriculture identified a beetle (Lilioceris cheni) in Nepal and China that feeds on air potato leaves. There is now a program in Florida to use this beetle to control the air potato. If you have air potato on your property you can obtain beetles free of charge. To learn more about the program and instructions for ordering beetles visit

http://bcrcl.ifas.ufl.edu/airpotatobiologicalcontrol.shtml

The Friends want to thank Elise Schuchman (Florida Department of Agriculture) for coming out to the Preserve and giving an informative presentation on the invasive air potato vine, and efforts to control it.

Horseshoe Crab Tag Program

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Attention Beachgoers: Help scientists collect data on nesting horseshoe crabs by reporting tagged animals.

If you see a tagged crab (like the ones in the photo):

  1. Snap a picture of the tag or record the tag # (number is on the bottom of tag).
  2. Note the date, location, and general condition of the crab (alive or dead).
  3. Report data using the online form at (www.fws.gov/crabtag/) or by calling 1-888-546-8587 (1-888-LIMULUS).

Important: DO NOT remove the tag. When recording the tag #, try to limit disturbance to the crab. Try not to pick the crab up and if you must pick it up, NEVER pick it up by the tail.

Collected data goes into a national database maintained by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and contributes to knowledge about horseshoe crab movements and population numbers.

PBS Video

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The Forgotten Coast: Return to Wild Florida video was recommended by one of our speakers. This great show aired in April 2017. You can currently view the video online at the PBS web site: http://www.pbs.org/program/forgotten-coast/

Following in the footsteps of a wandering Florida black bear, three friends leave civilization and enter a lost American wilderness on a rugged thousand-mile journey by foot, paddle and bike. Traversing Florida’s vast and seldom seen “Forgotten Coast,” the expedition encounters stunning and rare wildlife including black bears, manatees, alligators, ancient river fish and endangered woodpeckers – all living within a fragile wildlife corridor stretching from the Everglades to the Florida-Alabama border.

This video was produced by Grizzly Greek Films and presented by PBS/WUSF.

Help Stop Seagrass Scarring

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Seagrasses are extremely important habitat for the fish, scallops, manatees, turtles, birds and other species that support the coastal tourism economy in Florida’s Nature Coast. Seagrass scarring by propellers, anchors, and vessel groundings is 100% preventable, and yet is a growing problem in Florida.

The University of Florida has started a campaign to raise awareness about seagrass scarring caused by boating. They are calling this campaign “Be Seagrass Safe”.

To learn more visit the “Be Seagrass Safe” web site: http://beseagrasssafe.com.

Marine Animal Rescue

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The University of Florida Marine Animal Rescue is a a non-profit organization funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the College of Veterinary Medicine Aquatic Animal Health Program, UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, and the Cedar Key Dolphin Project.

The Rescue Program responds to sick, injured, and deceased marine mammals in Levy, Dixie, and Taylor counties of the Big Bend. They coordinate rescues of live animals and, if possible, transport them to rehabilitation facilities. They also perform necropsies (animal autopsies) on deceased marine animals to determine their cause of death and learn more about their anatomy, physiology, and the health of their ecosystem.

To report a sick, injured, or deceased marine animal, call or text the 24-hour UF Marine Animal Rescue Hotline at 352-477-0344 or the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-407-3922. Be prepared to give your location (address, GPS, or waterway marker), animal involved (dolphin, whale, manatee, sea turtle), number of animals and their condition (alive, dead, injured or distressed).

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities contact Amber Lea Kincaid (Stranding Coordinator), at a.kincaid@ufl.edu.

Audubon Bird Guide App

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The Audubon Society has a free, award-winning field guide app. Versions are available for Apple iOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle. To learn more visit: www.audubon.org/apps

As you visit the Preserve checkout the Nearby Observations feature of the app. To access this feature select Find Birds with eBird from the app Home menu. Select Yankeetown as your location and then Nearby Observations for a list of recent sightings.

Ghost Forests: How Rising Seas Are Killing Southern U.S. Woodlands

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Author Roger Drouin recently toured the Preserve guided by David Kaplan and Katie Glodzik from the University of Florida Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences. Using information from his visit he discusses the effects of rising sea levels on Gulf coastal forests in this article in Yale Environment 360.

E360 REPORT – Ghost Forests: How Rising Seas Are Killing Southern U.S. Woodlands

A steady increase in sea levels is pushing saltwater into U.S. wetlands, killing trees from Florida to as far north as New Jersey. But with sea level projected to rise by as much as six feet this century, the destruction of coastal forests is expected to become a worsening problem worldwide.

Yale Environment 360 is a publication of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

Monofilament Recycle Bins

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monofiliment_recycleThe Inglis / Yankeetown Lions Club, in cooperation with the UF / IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station have installed two Monofilament Recycle Bins in Yankeetown. One bin is located at Yankeetown’s boat basin park and the second is at the boat ramp at the end of Hwy 40. The Lions Club will collect and send the line to a monofilament recycle center.

The Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program is dedicated to reducing the environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line. Improperly discarded monofilament fishing line causes devastating problems for marine life and the environment. Marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and birds can be injured from entanglements, or might ingest the line, often resulting in death. Human divers and swimmers are also at risk from entanglements. Monofilament fishing line can last up to 600 years in the environment.

Help keep waterways tangle free by recycling fishing line responsibly!

Duck Race History and Sponsorship Menu

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duck

The Friends of the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve annual Rubber Duck Race takes place during the Yankeetown Seafood Festival on the Withlacoochee River. The Seafood Festival happens the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Each year as our floaters take to the Withlacoochee, they are inspired by their yellow brethren from the container ship Ever Laurel. In 1992 while en route from Hong Kong to Washington State a container of 28,000 Friendly Floatees was lost in the mid-Pacific. These intrepid rubber ducks have braved the oceans of the world for decades. From their landfalls we have learned more about ocean currents!

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You can honor their legacy and support your community by sponsoring your own floaters (Sponsorships: One Duck, Six Quack, Quackers Dozen, Whole Flock). Whole Flock sponsors also receive a Friends of the WGP membership. Sponsorships can be purchased online via PayPal.


Sponsor Ducks Here


You can observe the race from in front of the Izaak Walton Lodge, home to the Black Water Grill and Bar. The sponsor of the fastest duck will receive $200. And in keeping with those of us with a more relaxed view of life, the sponsor of the last duck is awarded $50.

The annual duck race is a major source of funding for the Friends of the Preserve. Come out and support the Preserve and have some fun.

NOTE: Sponsorship of a Flock of Ducks at $100 includes annual membership as a Friend of the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve.