Southwest Florida Shoreline Studies: April 2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Tour of mangrove swamps

Following is a really nice mangrove swamp web page.
I especially like their "Halloween Crab".
http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/mangroves.htm

One of the crabs on the above website also lives in the South Lido mangroves.
It is the mangrove tree crab or Aratus pisonii. .

This is one of only two species of crabs that can climb trees. It digs into the tree with sharp claws and can cling to tree bark as well as to wooden docks and pilings. The mangrove crab eats leaves and insect larvae in the mangrove trees

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Learn about Florida's Gulf Coast Intercoastal Waterway

http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpm99004/flsgpm99004_part3.pdf

Along the shores of the Intercoastal, today

Monday, April 25, 2011

North Longboat Key Sand Renourishment

Working around the clock to get this done

Laughing Gulls

Laughing gulls hang in mid-air waiting for a handout from fishermen on north Anna Maria Island. The red bills and black heads suggest breeding plumage. May and June is nesting seasons on small, bare islands nearby.

Bradenton Beach Dog Grave

This is a sweet thought from a loving owner.
However, it might not be a good idea if many do it.

Friday, April 22, 2011

NE Anna Maria Island

There is still some erosion that needs to be addressed on NE Anna Maria near the restaurant on the pier.

But now, it is time to relax and take care of the essentials.

North Anna Maria Sand Renourishment

Sand renourishment was finished on the north end of Anna Maria Island. A little smoothing out work was still being done in this photos.

Bradenton Beach Sand Renourishment is Finished

The waves and the waders will smooth out the beach.

There are just a few pipes to move over to the next job.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Dave's Slides

I hope the air-conditioner is still turned on.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Beyond the oil spill: the tradegy of an ailing Guilf

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/us/21spill.html?_r=1&hp
- New York Times

Pelican biting off more than he can chew...

Fishermen were tossing some whole fish off the dock. A flock of pelicans were ready and waiting for the meal.
The tooth-like structure at the tip of the bill is used as an “egg tooth” to open the egg and, after hatching, serves as a tool for preening feathers.

The Pouch Can Hold More Than the Belly Can.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Windy day at South Lido Beach

Just a little bit of wind brings all the young beach creatures out.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Mollusks watch with eyes of rock

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/15/mollusks-watch-with-eyes-of-rock/?iref=obinsite
- CNN.com

Emerald Parrotfish

This small emerald parrotfish is a denizen of sea grass beds and open shallows. Unlike other parrot fishes, its teeth are not fused. -- caught in Carefree Learner net

Gulf Flounder

This 4 inch long gulf flounder came up in the net during our
Carefree Learner boat trip.
Note that both eyes are on one side. One migrated over during early growth. The flounder is a bottom fish and needs to see what is above.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Answer to Quiz of the Day

"These were all over the South Lido Park Beach. It was on the day after a storm that hit the area.
A friend found a whole one and I am attaching that image. It appears to be a Sea Biscuit, commonly found in the Florida Keys.all over the South Lido Park Beach. It was on the day after a storm that hit the area." -Rae Sweet

See QUIZ photos below.

Blue crab and Arrow crab

Above: Juvenile blue crab. Two of its legs are "swimmers". This crab can swim!

Arrow crab with eggs. Look closely at the arrow shaped head .

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Carefree Learner - Catch of the Day

All enjoyed the latest SE American Littoral Society trip on the Carefree Learner floating classroom. Here's the captain hauling up the trawl net.

It looks, at first, that all we caught were lots of sponge.

On and inside of the sponge are all kinds of creatures.
Shells and brittle stars can be seen here.
Later, we'll pull apart the sponge to find a number of small sea creatures.

This small sponge is an ANIMAL.
One of the earliest, most primitive animals, it has no organs and no brain. It does have a few "chimneys".

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Carefree Learner

Check out the Carefree Learner for a bio-cruise of Sarasota Bay:
http://carefreelearner-shs.com/

Whole Foods: No more red-rated tuna, sword

http://www.seafoodsource.com/print.aspx?id=9976
- SeafoodSource.com

Quiz of the Day

We had a lovely tour of Sarasota Bay on the Carefree Learner. The first question of the day was, "What's this?" Look closely at the different pieces and see if you can figure it out.
. (Double-click on the image if you want a closer view.)

Our best answer is that it is the TEST of a sand dollar or sea urchin, possibly an inflated sea biscuit. Both are in the class Echinoidea. `
Sand dollars would have a felt-like coating of fine brown moveable spines.
Sea urchins are covered with tubular spines.

SEA BISQUIT (top above, bottom view below)

Sarasota Bay BioCruises

Hands on learning experience about the critters of the Bay and views of nesting bird life on board the Carefree Learner. Leave from Bayfront Park . The Carefree Learner is docked next to Le Barge, near Marina Jack's.

All trips are on Tuesdays, from 1 to 3 pm.

Members $12, non-members $18.

Make reservations early, Call Bobby at (941) 927-3409.

Mar. 1, 15, 29
Apr. 12, 1 9, 26
May 3

Boaters beware of flying gulf sturgeons

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/apr/11/boaters-beware-flying-gulf-sturgeon/?partner=popular
- Naples News

Lines drawn in sand over Collier proposal to ensure public beach access

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/apr/11/public-beach-access-sand-collier-county-moraya-bay/
- Naples News

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Green Fleece

Green fleece is a spongy green algae with fingers attached to a single base. It lives in the intertidal zone and is often found washed up by the tide in ropy masses. When dried by the sun, it can become white or gray in appearance.