The Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve partnered with Rollins College’s Environmental Studies Department to host two different field trips – Nature Spirituality and Environmental Crisis in its Cultural Context. Nature Spirituality students arrived at Wekiwa Springs State Park an hour before the park opened for sunrise meditation followed by discussions about Wekiwa Springs’ cultural, historical and environmental significance.

Mote Marine Lab’s coral scientists joined Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserve staff to locate and map some hard corals in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve for future genetic sampling. One of the species does not fit either of the two local species in its genus. It may be a different species altogether. Four species of hard corals were observed on Tampa Bay hardbottom during this field visit with future collaborations planned.

Last week Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves staff, along with assistance from the Southwest Aquatic Preserve Regional Manager, conducted a multi-purpose day of rookery monitoring, island clean-up (on islands with no nesting) and the six-month mangrove planting survey on the two restored islands. Staff removed 28 lbs. of fishing line, hooks and other small debris from the rookery islands.

The cooler temperatures brought in small herds of manatees to the warm waters of the Silver River. Staff, volunteers and visitors all enjoy seeing these friendly, curious giants! The cooler temperatures also pushed the invasive tilapia to the headsprings. Staff focused on the ones in the emergent vegetation this week and any that were showing early signs of spawning, which include pairing up, turning white, and clearing vegetation for beds.

For the Forest Expeditions program, GTM Research Reserve’s (GTMNERR) education team hosted 25 students ages 6-12 and 15 adults from the Classical Conversations homeschool group on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. Education provided information about the reserve and its cultural and indigenous history. Native species were discussed, a game about invasive species was played and a hike was taken.

A Franklin/Gulf County affiliation of home school students recently joined us to study oysters and other animals in the estuarine habitat. Even the youngest students are able to draw, and so it was easy to see evidence that they could understand why oysters are a keystone species.

Taylor Tucker, Assistant Manager and Resilience Coordinator of the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), recently visited the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Sciences (RSMAS) to participate in a career panel for undergraduate marine science students.

Rookery Bay Research Reserve was honored to take part in a special panel discussion on mangroves at the Naples Baker Museum, alongside representatives from the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and artist Nathalie Alfonso, whose work is currently featured in the Entangled in the Mangroves exhibit.

The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves (IRLAP) team had all-hands-on-deck for “A Day in the Life in the Indian River Lagoon.” A marine science class from Saint Lucie West Centennial High School partnered with the IRLAP office to participate in this event organized by ORCA (Ocean Research & Conservation Association). IRLAP worked with junior and senior students to collect data for a long-term citizen science project.

Each fall and winter, LJAP participates in several school STEM nights within the Tallahassee community. This October, staff joined dozens of other science organizations at the School of Arts and Sciences’ (SASC) annual Science Night. This event hosted hundreds of students and parents. LJAP showed off an interactive table about lake ecology and management.