World Aquatic Animal Day on April 3^rd is dedicated to raising global awareness about aquatic animals. These fascinating animals play a crucial role in ecosystems around the globe. However, they are also used by the human population for various reasons and are harmed in different ways by human activities such as commercial fishing and entertainment. These types of activities disrupt the natural ecosystem by removing these vital organisms and destroying natural habitats. This has especially become a big issue with commercial fisheries. The practices used in some of these fisheries have caused major damage to the marine ecosystem by damaging marine habitat and removing fish and other organisms at an unsustainable rate leading to population decline. Other things that cause harm within the marine ecosystem include human waste (trash and fecal matter) by affecting the chemistry of the water making it unsafe for these organisms. Below I have highlighted some marine organisms that are used for human research or are at risk because of human practices.  

• Horseshoe Crabs 

• Horseshoe crabs are ancient organisms (around 300 million years old) that play a vital role in the ecosystem where they live. The eggs females lay are a major food source for many shorebirds living and migrating along the coast. You can find these “living fossils” in brackish water along the east coast of the United States. Horseshoe crabs are threatened by habitat loss and overharvesting. They are harvested for their blood which is utilized in medical research and for bait among fisheries. There have been successful efforts made to replace the use of their blood within the medical field by using synthetic blood instead of the blood of a wild animal (which is also more sustainable).  

• Live Fish 

• Fish species all over the world have been exposed to population decline due to commercial fishery practices. These practices include overfishing, meaning these fisheries take more fish out of the ecosystem than can be naturally replaced which leads to a severe population decline. Some fishing practices can also lead to bycatch or the catching of other organisms other than the intended catch. Unfortunately, these organisms are not always able to be put back into the ecosystem. Organizations such as NOAA have been working to help regulate and improve fishing practices nationwide.  

• Sea Turtles 

• Sea turtles have been a large topic of issue with conservation groups since they play such a vital role in the marine environment. Sea turtles help maintain the health of ecosystems including coral reefs and seagrass beds. Many sea turtle species worldwide are at risk of becoming extinct due to many different things. From the hunting of sea turtles for their shells to the harvesting of sea turtle eggs and meat, to the entanglement of many sea turtles within trash, sea turtle populations have been declining. Many efforts worldwide have been made to help save sea turtle populations by working directly with communities to help find other income sources and helping to educate the public about sea turtle conservation.  

March 20^th marked the first day of Spring here in the northern hemisphere. March 20^th is the spring equinox which represents the time when the sun passes over the “celestial” equator. The “celestial” equator represents the point in the sky above the equator as the sun moves north marking the equilibrium of the Earth’s rotation around the sun. During this time, the northern and southern hemispheres receive roughly the same amount of sunlight. To celebrate this time of year, I am here to talk about some of the things that occur around this time of year that you can observe out in nature, possibly in your own backyard.  

• Bee Swarms  
• During the spring and summertime, bee colonies start to grow in numbers with worker bees leaving the need for more room in the hive. Bee swarms represent the movement of one colony of bees into two to help make more room in the hive. While scout bees look for other suitable locations for a new hive, the remaining bees stay in an area together taking care of the queen bee. Once scouts have settled on the new location for their new hive, these bees will make the move to the location.  

• Nesting  
• This time of years brings about a resurgence of nest building and baby animals throughout the animal kingdom. Lots of animals around this time of year will start preparing nests and shelters for both eggs and babies. It’s important to recognize that during this time, the animals that give birth are very vulnerable, but also very protective of their nests and young. You may start noticing signs here of animals nesting (such as alligator’s bellowing) or seeing baby animals start to appear. Spring is a time to be cautious and aware of new life. 

• Migration 
• Like humans, many animals will migrate south in the winter to escape cold temperatures in northern areas. During the springtime, these animals will start making their way north to escape the hot and humid weather in the summertime. This can occur after nesting season for several animals such as whales, turtles, and geese who travel to nesting sites in the wintertime and who take advantage of abundant feeding and breeding grounds in the south.  

Sources Used:  

First Day of Spring 2023: The Spring Equinox| The Old Farmer’s Almanac 

Guide to Bee Swarming – Everything You Should Know – Bees4life 

Buzzards Day, sometimes known as Turkey Vulture Day, is a day to celebrate these scavenging birds of prey that provide a crucial function in the ecosystem. While these words are often interchanged here in the US, other parts of the world recognize buzzards and vultures as two different types of birds. In the UK and other countries, buzzards refer to a type of hawk which are medium- to large-sized raptors that feed on small birds, mammals, and carrion (dead animals). The name, buzzard, started to gain traction among European colonists in North America that saw vultures flying high in the sky and the features reminded them of buzzards back in Europe.  

By the time these settlers recognized the difference between the two birds, the name had already spread throughout North America. Both buzzards and vultures live off dead meat thanks to adaptations that allow them to break down this type of meat in their stomachs. While vultures play a role in decomposing animals, they are scavengers not decomposers. This is a very valuable role because not only do vultures help keep areas clear for humans, but they help prevent the spread of diseases from the carcasses to other animals. To celebrate Buzzards Day, see below why these two unique birds are underrated and essential creatures in the ecosystem.  

• The stomach acid of a vulture is stronger than any other animal which allows them to feed on decomposing carcasses.  
• The Andean Condor (native to South America) has the largest wingspan of any vulture measuring around 10-11 ft. in length.  
• Buzzards tend to be smaller than vultures with buzzards having wingspans of around 4-5ft whereas vultures will have wingspans of around 6-7ft or more.  
• Even though vultures prefer to eat freshly dead animals, they can consume carcasses that would kill or make other animals very sick. 
• It is a myth that vultures circle dying animals. Instead, they rely upon their sight and smell to find a food source. Turkey vultures have excellent sight and smell which helps them locate a food source from a mile or more away. 
• Although vultures eat dead meat, they can attack prey and will predate upon injured, wounded or sick prey. This often happens when food is scarce, and no carcasses are around.  
• Vultures have weak feet and legs which means, instead of carrying their food source back to their nest, they will eat what they need at the site and feed their young leftovers while buzzards have strong feet and carry their prey back to their nests.  
• Buzzards are often solitary animals and hunt independently while vultures tend to hunt in large flocks.  

Sources Used:  

20 Fun Facts About Vultures (thespruce.com) 

Buzzards Day or Turkey Vulture Day, March 15 Holiday. (holidayinsights.com) 

Buzzards vs. Vultures: What’s the Difference? | Mental Floss 

What’s The Difference Between A Vulture And A Buzzard? (birdieexpert.com) 

March 11^th is Solar Appreciation Day which is a day dedicated to learning about solar energy and technology. Solar energy is a form of renewable energy that comes from the sun. Particles of sunlight create a flow of electrons that solar panels convert into usable energy. This energy can be used in place of energy produced from non-renewable sources such as gas and coal.  Here in Florida, many take advantage of the large amount of sunlight we have throughout the year and have converted to solar energy for at least part of their energy use. Florida (as of 2022) is ranked 3^rd nationally for the number of solar panels that are installed in the state and 2^nd in solar energy production. Many companies in Florida utilize solar energy including FPL, Wal-Mart, Target, and IKEA which has contributed to that ranking.  

Solar energy and other forms of renewable energy have been shown to improve the planet in many ways. In high populous areas such as cities, solar panels and green roofs have been able to decrease the amount of heat that is produced thus cooling these heat islands. The energy from the sun warms the Earth’s surface, and only around 30% of the solar energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space. The rest of that energy is being absorbed by the Earth’s surface causing natural warming in the atmosphere. Solar panels work to harness this energy that is already coming from the sun naturally which reduces the amount of energy being absorbed by the Earth’s surface. 

Green roofs are dedicated roof spaces that have been converted to vegetation use and helped to reduce run-off and greenhouse gas emissions. These roofs have been a tradition in Scandinavia for centuries, and have recently become popular in Australia, Western Europe, Canada, and the United States.  The vegetation grown on green roofs absorbs carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and helps trap and absorb water as it passes through. These improvements that have been implemented have worked to reduce the warming effect that cities have and have reduced the amount of heat in buildings, reducing energy consumption to cool off these buildings as well. 

Sources Used: 

U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – Independent Statistics and Analysis 

Florida Solar | SEIA 

Solar Energy (nationalgeographic.org) 

This week marks the North American Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) which is an international event that seeks to raise awareness about invasive species, the threat they pose to native ecosystems, and ways to help prevent the spread of these invasive species. Here in Florida, we have lots of invasive species that have come into our local ecosystems including Muscovy ducks, Burmese pythons, and cane toads. The state of Florida itself has more non-native reptile and amphibian species than anywhere else in the world. Here in Broward County alone, we have around 500 invasive species which include different types of birds, trees, plants (both aquatic and nonaquatic), reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.   

One of the reasons we have a lot of invasive species in Florida is the same reason why many people vacation and move to Florida. The weather is warm and sunny. The environment here in Florida provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different organisms, not just native ones. Some of the non-native organisms do not need to adapt much to survive in this type of environment making it easy for them to spread and reproduce. Invasive species are a serious issue because these species can invade and disrupt natural ecosystems and lead to a decline in native populations. The issues that arise mainly involve competition between non-native and native species regarding habitat components such as food, water, space, and a place to raise their young.  

Here are a few ways to help prevent the spread of invasive species:  

• Make sure you plant native plants in your garden  

• Planting native plants helps to encourage biodiversity within your backyard and benefits native species. Biodiversity helps to increase the longevity and productivity of ecosystems. This can also help to attract more native animal species to your backyard which helps to increase native species populations.   

• DO NOT release exotic pets  

• Make sure you do your research before adopting any type of pet, but especially exotic pets. Many of the non-native species that are here in Florida came in through the pet trade and were released into the environment. Instead of releasing, look for other ways to rehome your pets.  

• Clean your gear and check your clothes  

• “Hitchhikers” can sometimes sneak a ride on your gear and clothes. So make sure before you leave to check and remove any seeds, plants, and mud that you have accumulated, to help prevent the spread of these nonnative species. Make sure to also properly clean any gear that was used to help prevent the spread of invasive species as well.  

World Whale Day celebrates the importance of whales and the impact that they have on the overall ecosystem of the ocean. These species have been subject to a decline in population due to many man-made challenges over the years such as an increase in waste production (food, plastics, toxins and chemicals) that get released into the ocean ecosystem. This has had a massive effect on the animals and organisms within the marine ecosystem for different reasons. The biggest reason is the plastics being released into the environment end up either becoming micro-plastics (tiny plastic particles that float around in the water) or end up being ingested by or entangling these organisms. Below is a list of some of the important contributions whales make to our Earth.  

• Tourism/Economic Growth 

• Whale-watching tours provide not only entertainment for tourists but also an economic boost for local economies that are dependent on the tourism industry.  

• Education 

• Whales have become an area of great interest and importance for scientists in recent years. From the way whales communicate with each other to analyzing and studying the migration patterns, whales have been studied in many ways over the years. This has provided scientists with information to help ensure the health and survival of whales.  

• Food Chain Stabilization 

• Food chains within ecosystems rely on balance. Although different species of whale have a very varied diet, the food chain would shift if whales were to suddenly become extinct. This is because the diet of whales is very wide from being top predators (such as Orcas) to eating small organisms at the bottom of the ecosystem (like Blue Whales).  

Sources Used:  

Why Are Whales Important? | Environment and Ecosystem Impact (whalefacts.org) 

Whales and the plastics problem | Stories | WWF (worldwildlife.org) 

WORLD WHALE DAY – February 19, 2023 – National Today 

February is Florida Hiking Trails Month which celebrates all the wonderful hiking trails that we have here in Florida. Today I am going to be talking about the Florida Trail specifically which is a 1,500 mile long congressionally designed National Scenic Trail. The Florida Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the country and one of only 3 National Scenic Trails to be contained within an entire state. National Scenic Trails intend to showcase the locales natural resources and beauty throughout the entirety of the trail while connecting communities, public lands, and significant landmarks. The Florida Trail exhibits many of these sites with both historical and environmental areas included within the trail. 

The Florida Trail throughout its entirety shows off much of the biodiversity, history, and culture that Florida has to offer. The trail itself is broken down into four different sections (Panhandle Region, Northern Region, Central Region, and the Southern Region) with each section of the trail featuring the wide diversity in the state. The length of the trail traverses through the state, providing the user with the opportunity to explore a wide variety of ecological regions from the sandy coastal beaches to the inland wetland areas. The designated trail has trailheads within the Gulf Islands National Seashore to the north and the Big Cypress National Park to the south while traversing through various other parks, private land and greenways throughout the state.  

The Panhandle Region allows for the users to hike through different areas along the Gulf of Mexico in addition to providing hikers with steep ravines through estuaries and boggy areas that host lots of different wildflowers. The Northern Region offers the opportunity to explore flatwood forests and hilly terrain along rivers while traveling past 18^th century plantations and civil war battlefields. The Central Region traverses around the greater Orlando area through palmetto and pine flatwoods, Creekside hammocks, rolling sandhills and floodplain forests. The Southern Region of the trail traverses through the Big Cypress National Preserve- trekking through swamps and exploring native American museums and attractions.  

Sources Used:  

National Scenic Trails – National Trails System (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) 

The Florida Trail by Region – Florida Trail Association 

February 2^nd is World Wetlands Day- a day to celebrate and recognize the contributions that wetlands provide to the world around us. Not only do wetland areas impact and benefit the animals and organisms that live within the ecosystem, but humans as well. Today I am going to talk about some of the ways that wetland ecosystems contribute and impact our daily lives. In Florida, the Everglades are home to many different ecosystems and contain the largest strand of sawgrass prairie and the largest protected mangrove forest in the northern hemisphere. The Everglades is also the only subtropical wilderness area in North America.  

• Water Mitigation/Management  

Wetland areas help to regulate and hold water which is very helpful in areas that flood or in areas of high water. The reason for this is because the plants that live within these areas are flood tolerant meaning they can take in a lot of water or are able to live in flooded areas. In Florida this is very beneficial, especially during hurricane season and the summer months when it rains a lot. The plants help to hold and process lots of water through their long root systems. 

• Water Filtration 

Wetland ecosystems are also responsible for helping to filter water. The way water naturally flows and seeps helps to trap and remove sediment that is contained in the water. Water filtration is an important role of wetlands, especially here in Florida because many individuals in south Florida rely on the Everglades for drinking water. Millions of individuals who reside in south Florida depend on the aquifer that is naturally filled with the runoff from the Everglades.  

• Biodiversity  

Wetlands help support many different types of species from small insects to big reptiles and everything in between. The diversity of species allows for healthy ecosystems, which is important to the roles (water/air filtration, carbon sequestration) wetlands play. Each organism that makes up this biodiverse ecosystem has very important roles (decomposition, habitat/shelter, and prey/predator relationships) that keep the ecosystem balanced and healthy.  

• Carbon Sequestration  

Carbon sequestration is the ability of an organism to hold and process carbon. Wetlands collect carbon by gathering carbon in the air through photosynthesis and acting as sediment traps for runoff. Wetlands have been shown to hold large amounts of carbon in the soil because the soil is oxygen-poor and accumulates organic matter. This helps reduce global warming and increase air quality overall. This is important to know because wetlands overall, but especially the Everglades, have been severely impacted by climate change and habitat destruction. This is one more reason to preserve wetlands. 

In honor of national squirrel day on Saturday (January 21^st) I am here to share some interesting facts about squirrels and the role they play in the ecosystem. They are not just animals who run around yards stealing nuts and bird seed. Instead, squirrels help to spread seeds around through the nuts and seeds that they eat and store. Their role as seed dispersers in the ecosystem help to create greater biodiversity by dispersing the seeds of many types of plants. Not all the nuts that squirrels collect for the winter months get eaten, so many grow and develop into trees or other types of plants.  

• There are over 100 species of squirrels around the world  
• Squirrels inhabit almost all the continents of the world- except for Antartica  

• Squirrels are easily adaptable to different environments allowing them to continue population growth with rapid urbanization occurring worldwide  

• Squirrels can jump 10 times their body length  
• Squirrels can fall from high areas (100 ft) and not injure themselves  

• This is because when falling, squirrels will use their tails as parachutes  

• During winter months, squirrels can find their buried food underneath a foot of snow  
• Squirrels eat their own body weight each week  

• Squirrels can run up to 20mph  
• Squirrels are double-jointed and can turn their ankles 180 degrees  

• This helps them efficiently move up and down trees to escape predators  

• Squirrels will occasionally pretend to hide food to stop other animals from stealing their food