July 2024

Florida Frog Watching!

Given the scale and seriousness of some of the effects of a changing climate that we’re all experiencing, it can be a relief to discover smaller, local-based efforts that engage ordinary people in projects designed to help preserve and protect wildlife and the environment. One such example is the Frog Watch program in Naples, Florida. The program was established by Jeannine Young, local environmental science expert, who participated in a national Frog Watch program while at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and decided to import the concept to the Bayshore District. 

Why focus on frogs? Well, a thriving frog population is indicative of a healthy environment, particularly in regard to wetlands, and native frog populations are diminishing due to issues like construction and landscape disruption. The program involves groups of locals and visitors, accompanied by experienced staff workers, exploring areas such as East Naples Community Park, seeking out and – with help – identifying different species of frogs, as well as noting factors like weather conditions and water levels. The longer term aim of the Frog Watch initiative is to foster an understanding of the local environment and inspire an interest in local wildlife through a fun activity, while the data collected could prove useful in monitoring factors such as the presence of non-native species.

Hurricane Damage Recovery And Efforts To Build In Resilience 

In virtually every single edition of H₂O Zone, we could write about hurricanes and the damage they inflict. But we like to take a positive view, and focus on stories dealing with the efforts to restore those parts of Florida impacted by hurricanes, making them more resilient for the future. One such example is the Estero Island Beach Nourishment and Hurricane Recovery Project, which started work this month. The project covers 950,000 cubic yards, and involves replenishing the sand on Fort Myers Beach with supplies shifted directly from a nearshore borrow area in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not as simple as just shifting sand by the bucket full, however. The sand has to be replaced with maximum environmental sensitivity, protecting local wildlife such as shore birds and nesting sea turtles, while shifting it involves the construction of a dredge pipe. The ultimate aim is for the shoreline to not merely be restored but fortified against the threat of future storms, providing a safe haven for local wildlife and maintaining the status of Estero Island as a place beloved for its natural beauty.

No More Forever Plastics - Forever

We all know that we have to cut down on the amount of single use plastic being pumped into the environment, particularly as waste, but we also all appreciate that finding ways of doing so can be easier said than done. That’s why it’s always good to see initiatives such as The Plastic Free Eco Challenge, which took place throughout July, and which set a target for  anyone keen to make a difference on this tricky topic – that target being to avoid these damaging ‘forever plastics’ altogether.

One Florida institution taking part in the challenge was the Florida Aquarium, and the changes made during the month emphasize the small but significant shifts which can lead to permanent changes. Examples include switching from single use beverage bottles to recyclable glass and aluminum, getting rid of straws and lids and supplying the gift shop with reusable cloth bags and stuffed animals made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The changes, some of which are part of the challenge, and some which are already embedded longer term, are designed to promote a wider shift away from single use plastics, and involve partnering with beverage, retail and food service providers already involved in the same process.

Florida University's Bold Initiative To Tackle Global Environmental Challenges

When it comes to climate and fostering conservation and preservation there are few things that are more important than education. Put simply, the more the next generation is made aware of the challenges and opportunities thrown up by the changing climate, the better equipped they will be to drive change and foster positive solutions. To see an example of this idea in action check out the launch, this month, of The School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS), a new school launched by Florida Atlantic University within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

The school will boast an array of existing disciplines and units to augment Florida Atlantic’s research, teaching and community engagement, whilst also forging links with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce. The aim is to combine in-depth research with training a new generation of scientists, problem solvers and policy makers. Being based in Florida is particularly beneficial for a hub of this kind, with factors such as the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian River Lagoon, the Everglades and numerous freshwater ecosystems combining to create the perfect outdoor laboratory.

Net-Positive Move To Harness The Power Of The Sun

We hear a lot of talk about Net Zero in the news, and the pros and cons of various ways of achieving a reduction in the amount of carbon we all produce, but it is possible to go one stage further than Net Zero and interact with the environment in a manner which is actually net-positive. In simple terms, this means producing more power than you consume, and it’s something which the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, is hoping to be able to do over the course of the next 12 months.

The reason why net-positive status is now a realistic ambition is that this month saw the Gardens flip the switch on 50,000 square feet of solar arrays. Added to the 7,000 square feet of solar panels already in place, the panels at Selby gardens will soon be producing enough electricity every year to power 175 average American homes. The solar project is part of a wider $52 million expansion plan for the botanical garden’s downtown Sarasota campus, a plan which has already seen the on-site Green Orchid restaurant granted net-positive status – an achievement we mentioned in the March H₂O Zone. 

Tiger, Tiger. Keep Your Cool!

If you think of a tiger then you probably assume you’re dealing with a creature that is used to soaking up high temperatures. You’d be right, of course, but the heights being hit by the thermometers in Florida in the past few weeks have meant that even tigers – as well as a lot of other creatures – have been given lots of help to cool down by the staff at Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society. The temperatures in question rose to the upper nineties Fahrenheit which, combined with 70% humidity, meant that conditions often ‘felt like’ heat in excess of a hundred degrees. 

The answers delivered by staff intent on keeping animals cool and comfortable included large piles of ice thrown into the black bear enclosure to reduce the temperature of the pool to seventy four degrees, frozen fish tossed to the otters, hoses used to give cold showers to giant tortoises and, for the tigers, frozen cow bones set into blocks of ice served with a side of frozen goat milk. 

We’ve covered this story in the H₂O Zone for two reasons – firstly, it’s a sign of how extreme high temperatures in Florida require innovative and ingenious solutions and, secondly, it gives you the chance to look for yourself at images of otters clutching blocks of ice and (we think), laughing over the treat!

Moving On - The Florida Queen Conch

The Florida Queen Conch is an impressive looking creature, a foot long, pink-hued shell packed with twists, whorls and spires – one of the reasons why Florida Keys has the nickname the Conch Republic. Visually striking or not, however, the adult conch has seen its population in the waters around Florida plunge, with hurricanes Irma, in 2017, and Ian, in 2022, doing much to cause the reduction. Prior to the hurricanes, the population along the Florida reefs was around 700,000, but by 2022 it had dropped to 126,000. This story looks at a plan to save the conch, by helping them to breed. In simple terms, scientists found that the shallow water called home by the conch tended to be very cold in winter and very warm in summer, something which inhibited breeding capacity. The solution involves shifting the conch from shallow water to deeper seas, a place where, it is hoped, they will be more likely to find mates and breed. Fitted with electronic tags and colorful ribbons to make them easy to spot, the conchs will now be monitored in the hope that the change of environment will promote a spike in breeding.

Pongam Tree Bean Oil Robust Alternative For Citrus Farmers?

One of the impacts of climate change is a shift in the types of flora and fauna which thrive in a particular region. This is often regarded – understandably – as a negative phenomenon, but there are occasions on which a new plant growing in an area can have positive side-effects. The pongamia tree, native to India, is now thriving in Florida’s citrus groves and it could help to provide the country with renewable energy.

Beginning in the 1990's, the citrus industry in Florida has fought the onslaught of the citrus greening and citrus canker diseases, not to mention major weather events. Now, some farmers are turning to pongamia trees, which have the advantage of being climate resilient – thriving in drought or rain - and not needing fertilizers or pesticides. The beans from the tree are easily shaken off and can then be used in some food production, while the oil from those beans can be used as a low-carbon biofuel in the aviation sector. The option of growing the pongamia tree has the potential to be scaled up in the future and to present an opportunity to farmers in Florida looking for a robust alternative to citrus crops and hoping to play a role in helping the wider economy shift to renewable energy solutions.