Category Archives: On the Reef

Dr. David Kimbro studies predator-prey relationships in the oyster reefs and salt marshes of Florida’s Gulf coast.

Researchers and Oystermen Fighting for Apalachicola Bay

Oystermen and researchers are battling to revive the legendary Apalachicola Oyster. Oystermen know the bay; David Kimbro has researched oysters for years. Continue reading

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Notes From the Field, Apalachicola: Measure Twice, Cut Once

For their Apalachicola Bay experiment, Hanna Garland and company have had to learn to work underwater, brave the wind and waves, and even learn to weld. Continue reading

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The Apalachicola Bay Situation Report: A Quick Take

The Apalachicola Oyster Crisis: How fast will the bay recover? Was the bay overfished? Has the BP spill tainted oysters? The Oyster Task Force answers. Continue reading

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Predator Diversity Loss and Bay Mouth Bar: The Next Stage

Loss of predator diversity is becoming a worldwide trend. Tanya Rogers investigates if more predators are better for the seagrass beds of Bay Mouth Bar. Continue reading

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Can crabs hear? (A testament to the benefits of collaboration)

Randall Hughes and David Kimbro study what makes mud crabs too scared to eat oysters. A partnership with WFSU-TV set this research on a surprising new path. Continue reading

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Notes from the Field: From Technician to Tourist

Lab technician Ryan Coker (who normally works in salt marshes) was drafted into oyster duty, on which he encountered deep mud and larger animals than you’d find on an oyster reef. Continue reading

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Notes From the Field: Hermit Crab/Crown Conch Cage Match

To get a handle on the oyster mortality problem south of St. Augustine, Hanna Garland staged “cage matches” between the oyster-eating crown conch and one of its predators, the thinstripe hermit crab. Continue reading

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Predatory Snails Overrunning Florida Oyster Reefs

Dr. David Kimbro is starting to see a pattern across Florida oyster reefs affected by loss of freshwater input. Is the prevalence of oyster eating snails the cause or merely a symptom of oyster reef decline? Continue reading

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Tile 2.0- Perfecting the Oyster Spat Tile Experiment

As the David Kimbro lab deploys a spat (young oyster) tile experiment in Apalachicola Bay to monitor the health of its beleaguered reefs, Dr. Randall Hughes explains how these experiments have become a key tool in her and David’s oyster research. Continue reading

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How Do Predators Use Fear to Benefit Oysters?

Predators benefit an ecosystem by eating the animals that eat habitat building plants, or habitat building animals like oysters. Dr. David Kimbro looks at another way predators benefit oysters- through fear. Continue reading

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