Tag Archives: consumptive_nonconsumptive

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

Posted in On the Reef | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Crown Conchs- Friend or Foe?

The crown conch is the Jekyll and Hyde of coastal ecosystems. Dr. Randall Hughes clarifies why the predatory snail might be a friend or foe to the salt marsh. Continue reading

Posted in In the Grass | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in On the Reef | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

New Study Tackles Apalachicola Oyster Fishery Crisis

New research is being conducted on the depleted oyster reefs of Apalachicola Bay. Dr. David Kimbro and his team hope to get a thorough understanding of the problems there and develop a strategy for recovery. Continue reading

Posted in Apalachicola: A River & Bay in Crisis, On the Reef | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Notes From the Field: Leashing Your Clams

A clam on a leash? Tanya Rogers talks about an experiment she painstakingly prepared on Bay Mouth Bar. Continue reading

Posted in Notes From the Field, On the Sand | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Backyard Ecology (Plus new video on Bay Mouth Bar)

Bay Mouth Bar is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world. Dr. David KImbro guides us through a menagerie of strange looking marine invertebrates, and describes the place’s importance to the field of ecology. Continue reading

Posted in On the Sand | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sounds of the Oyster Reef

For almost two years, the Kimbro and Hughes labs at the FSUCML have been sampling north Florida oyster reefs to see what animals are making use of the habitat. Now, using bioacoustical recordings made by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, we can take a listen as well. Continue reading

Posted in On the Reef | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spat on a Platter

Watch oysters grow! Tanya Rogers of the FSUCML has compiled time lapse imagery which shows baby oysters grow and form a shell over the course of a year. Continue reading

Posted in On the Reef | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tricks or Treats? And more on the effects of predators in marshes.

When David Kimbro looks through his trick-or-treat bag, he doesn’t see candy, he sees oyster shells and periwinkle snails. Can predators trick periwinkles into not destroying marsh cordgrass? Or will they serve as tasty treats for blue crabs? David shares his data. Continue reading

Posted in In the Grass, On the Reef | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Scared hungry?

Randall and David continue unraveling the mysteries of how predators affect their prey through fear. In this experiment, they look at how many oysters get eaten by mud crabs when the mud crabs think their predators are lurking around and eating their neighbors. Continue reading

Posted in On the Reef | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments