The WFSU Ecology Blog
  • Home
    • About
    • EcoAdventures
      • Kayak and Canoe Adventures
      • Hiking
      • Wildlife Watching
    • Observations From the Field
      • White Pelicans Visit Dr. Charles L. Evans Pond in Tallahassee
      • An April Walk at Ochlockonee River WMA
      • Nesting Raptors at Honeymoon Island State Park
    • WFSU Public Media Home
  • Documentaries
    • In Their Words: Black Legacy Communities in North Florida
    • EcoCitizen Show | Seasons in South Tallahassee
    • Red Wolf Family Celebrates First Year at the Tallahassee Museum
    • Roaming the Red Hills
    • Oyster Doctors
    • Testing the Ecology of Fear
    • EcoShakespeare
    • Stories from the Apalachicola
    • Classic WFSU Ecology Documentaries
  • Habitats
    • Estuaries
      • Oyster Reef
        • The Effects of Predators and Fear on Oyster Reefs
        • Apalachicola Oyster Research
        • Animal Species in a North Florida Intertidal Oyster Reef
        • Oyster Reef Ecology | On the Reef
      • Salt Marsh
        • In the Grass- Salt Marsh Biodiversity Study
        • Plants and Animals of a North Florida Salt Marsh
        • Salt Marsh Ecology | In the Grass
      • Seagrass Bed
        • Predatory Snails, and Prey, of the Bay Mouth Bar Seagrass Beds
      • In the Grass, On the Reef Glossary
    • Waterways Big and Small
      • Aucilla/ Wacissa Watershed
      • Apalachicola Basin
        • Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines | Virtual Field Trip
        • The Age of Nature Screening & Discussion | The Future of the Apalachicola
        • Apalachicola River and Bay
        • Apalachicola RiverTrek | Kayaking, Camping, & Hiking the River Basin
    • Longleaf Pine & Fire Ecology
  • Backyard Habitat
    • Backyard Blog
      • My Year in Bugs: the 2022 Backyard Blog
      • Backyard Ecology Blog | 2021
      • Backyard Blog November/ December 2020
      • Backyard Blog September/ October 2020
      • July and August 2020 Backyard Blog
      • Backyard Blog June 2020
      • Backyard Blog May 2020
      • Backyard Blog April 2020
      • Backyard Blog February and March 2020
      • Backyard Blog January 2020
      • Backyard Blog October through December 2019
      • Backyard Blog September 2019
      • Backyard Blog August 2019
      • Backyard Blog July 2019
      • Backyard Blog June 2019
      • Backyard Blog May 2019
      • Backyard Blog April 2019
      • Backyard Blog March 2019
      • Backyard Blog February 2019
      • Backyard Blog January 2019
      • The Backyard Bug Blog 2018
    • Backyard Flora and Fauna
      • Bees of North Florida and South Georgia
      • The Seasonality of Bees (and Bee Plants) in North Florida
      • Woody Vines of North Florida
      • Flies of North Florida are More Diverse than You’d Think
      • The Case for Weeds, Our Unsung Florida Native Plants
      • Devil’s Walkingstick: Your New Favorite Thorny Pollinator Plant?
      • Florida Native Milkweed | Tips for Growing Your Monarch Friendly Garden
      • Mistletoe | A Parasite for the Holidays (But Maybe We Like it Anyway?)
    • Florida Friendly Seasonal Planting Guide
    • Pollinator and Gardening Posts
    • Gardening Web Resources
Kayak and Canoe Adventures
RiverTrek 2021: Five Days on the Apalachicola River
Lower Lake Lafayette: Kayak Tallahassee’s Hidden Swamp
Chipola River Paddling Trail | The Ovens and...
Kayaking Bald Point | Adventure on a Living...
Wacissa Springs Adventure | Kayaking a Wild Florida...
A Geologist’s View of the Apalachicola River |...
Upper Chipola River Kayak Adventure | Ghosts &...
Tate’s Hell & the Apalachicola River Delta |...
Kayak Scouting Mission on the Ochlockonee Water Trail
Merritt’s Mill Pond | Kayaking and Spring Caves

The WFSU Ecology Blog

  • Home
    • About
    • EcoAdventures
      • Kayak and Canoe Adventures
      • Hiking
      • Wildlife Watching
    • Observations From the Field
      • White Pelicans Visit Dr. Charles L. Evans Pond in Tallahassee
      • An April Walk at Ochlockonee River WMA
      • Nesting Raptors at Honeymoon Island State Park
    • WFSU Public Media Home
  • Documentaries
    • In Their Words: Black Legacy Communities in North Florida
    • EcoCitizen Show | Seasons in South Tallahassee
    • Red Wolf Family Celebrates First Year at the Tallahassee Museum
    • Roaming the Red Hills
    • Oyster Doctors
    • Testing the Ecology of Fear
    • EcoShakespeare
    • Stories from the Apalachicola
    • Classic WFSU Ecology Documentaries
  • Habitats
    • Estuaries
      • Oyster Reef
        • The Effects of Predators and Fear on Oyster Reefs
        • Apalachicola Oyster Research
        • Animal Species in a North Florida Intertidal Oyster Reef
        • Oyster Reef Ecology | On the Reef
      • Salt Marsh
        • In the Grass- Salt Marsh Biodiversity Study
        • Plants and Animals of a North Florida Salt Marsh
        • Salt Marsh Ecology | In the Grass
      • Seagrass Bed
        • Predatory Snails, and Prey, of the Bay Mouth Bar Seagrass Beds
      • In the Grass, On the Reef Glossary
    • Waterways Big and Small
      • Aucilla/ Wacissa Watershed
      • Apalachicola Basin
        • Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines | Virtual Field Trip
        • The Age of Nature Screening & Discussion | The Future of the Apalachicola
        • Apalachicola River and Bay
        • Apalachicola RiverTrek | Kayaking, Camping, & Hiking the River Basin
    • Longleaf Pine & Fire Ecology
  • Backyard Habitat
    • Backyard Blog
      • My Year in Bugs: the 2022 Backyard Blog
      • Backyard Ecology Blog | 2021
      • Backyard Blog November/ December 2020
      • Backyard Blog September/ October 2020
      • July and August 2020 Backyard Blog
      • Backyard Blog June 2020
      • Backyard Blog May 2020
      • Backyard Blog April 2020
      • Backyard Blog February and March 2020
      • Backyard Blog January 2020
      • Backyard Blog October through December 2019
      • Backyard Blog September 2019
      • Backyard Blog August 2019
      • Backyard Blog July 2019
      • Backyard Blog June 2019
      • Backyard Blog May 2019
      • Backyard Blog April 2019
      • Backyard Blog March 2019
      • Backyard Blog February 2019
      • Backyard Blog January 2019
      • The Backyard Bug Blog 2018
    • Backyard Flora and Fauna
      • Bees of North Florida and South Georgia
      • The Seasonality of Bees (and Bee Plants) in North Florida
      • Woody Vines of North Florida
      • Flies of North Florida are More Diverse than You’d Think
      • The Case for Weeds, Our Unsung Florida Native Plants
      • Devil’s Walkingstick: Your New Favorite Thorny Pollinator Plant?
      • Florida Native Milkweed | Tips for Growing Your Monarch Friendly Garden
      • Mistletoe | A Parasite for the Holidays (But Maybe We Like it Anyway?)
    • Florida Friendly Seasonal Planting Guide
    • Pollinator and Gardening Posts
    • Gardening Web Resources
Oyster Reef Ecology | On the Reef

Crown Conchs Galore!

by Hanna May 4, 2011
by Hanna May 4, 2011 6 comments
Hanna Garland FSU Coastal & Marine Lab

IGOR chip_ predators_FX 150One of the most fascinating aspects of the field of science is the unpredictable patterns and directions that certain communities can take over a period of time. Whether the change in a habitat occurs due a spontaneous event such as a devastating hurricane or a longer, more gradual event such as climate change; it is important to understand the impacts these changes may have on the resident organisms as well as the future of the community. Studying how organisms respond to each other and their environment are key principles of ecology.

As David mentioned in the previous post, I have recently begun my graduate student work in St. Augustine, where I hope to gain a better understanding of the unique observations we have made while working in the area for the NSF oyster project.
Other than being the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine is a very dynamic place. From condominiums and restaurants to historic landmarks and beautiful beaches; the area is flooded with snow-birds during this time of year. More notably, St. Augustine has countless state parks, wildlife preserves, and protected habitats; which allow for not only attractions for tourists but areas of research for scientists and most importantly, shelter and nurseries for the resident wildlife.

The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (yes, it is quite the mouthful, so we’ll refer to it as GTM NERR from now on) encompasses the majority of the salt marsh and mangrove tidal wetlands, oyster bars, estuarine lagoons, upland habitat and offshore seas surrounding the city of St. Augustine. For my project, I will be focusing on the southern component of the GTM NERR (the region south of St. Augustine). So…now what?

While conducting field work for the NSF oyster project, we began to notice an abnormal abundance of crown conchs at our St. Augustine site in comparison to the densities at the other three sites (almost four to five times greater). In tandem, the oysters were not very healthy and there was much higher mortality among these reefs. Now, you may ask, could this be due to the increased conch population or…some other factors?

After speaking with locals and other researchers at the University of Florida marine lab where we stay during NSF work, it appeared that the increased conch densities and oyster mortality was only found as far north as the Matanzas Inlet; in which, the conchs then became non-existent and the oysters were much healthier. However, these statements were merely observations and little scientific research had been done to support these claims. So here we go!

As I am sure Cristina can agree with her initial work on Baymouth Bar, surveying and dividing up a region becomes quite the undertaking; especially, in this case, when it stretches almost 14 miles long! However, after a week full of searching and “schmoozing” launch locations, non-stop loading and unloading the kayak from atop my car, paddling across the Matanzas River and inter-coastal waterway up into creeks and embayments and dragging my kayak across mud flats; I was able to have a solid feel of the oyster reefs in the area and was beginning to feel like a local.

More importantly, my surveys revealed that there truly was a spatial gradient of conch density and oyster health occurring throughout this region south of St. Augustine. The point at which the oyster communities change is around the Matanzas Inlet; which is one of the only two unimproved inlets remaining along the east coast of the United States.
Coming full circle to the start of my post discussing factors that can trigger changes in community dynamics; the Matanzas Inlet is a prime example. Historically, the Matanzas Inlet provided access to the ocean solely from the Matanzas River; however, due to storms, the land separating the intercoastal waterway and the river broke, which allowed flushing of ocean water directly into the intercoastal waterway. This later caused sedimentation and the eventual drying up of the southern arm of the Matanzas River. This region presently looks like a sand dune lined with docks that once stood over water. This change in water flushing and flow dynamics as well as movement of marine organisms throughout the inlet greatly affects the habitats within the tidal estuaries; especially oyster reefs.

PICT0123However, this is not the only possible cause for the crown conch density and oyster health gradient seen throughout this area. There are multiple biological and physical factors that could be acting individually and in combination with one another. A historically active clam lease in the river south of Matanzas Inlet has been hypothesized to have brought conchs to the area for food and since left them to prey on the oysters. Top-down effects such as the presence of a crown conch predator (i.e. larger gastropods like the Florida horse conch) in the region north could be controlling prey densities. Or simply the environmental conditions and tidal flushing patterns could be “just right” for conchs while being “all wrong” for oysters in the region south of the inlet. Now what are these specific “ideal” conditions? That is what I will hope to find out!

Through a series of biological (how many oysters are live/dead, how abundant are conchs, crabs, fish, etc. on the reef) and physical (water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, tidal inundation) surveys, field experiments, and hydrological and tidal flow mapping throughout this spring and summer; we will aim to gain a better understanding of the factors occurring individually as well as in tandem with one another that have created the complex ecological patterns among oyster reefs in this area.

I am eager to begin exploring these crown conchs at a deeper level, so stay tuned because despite all of our hypotheses and assumptions; we can never be sure of what else we could discover!

David Kimbro’s research is funded by the National Science Foundation.
On Wednesday, June 29 at 7:30 PM/ET, WFSU-TV premieres the In the Grass, On the Reef full length documentary. David and Randall guide us through the world of coastal predators (like crown conchs). We rely on top predators to maintain important ecosystems like salt marshes and oyster reefs- but the ways in which they do so are just beginning to be understood.
Facebook Comments
coastal ecologyFlorida State UniversityFSU Coastal and Marine Labmarine biologymarine ecologynatureoysteroyster bedoyster reefpredatorpredator effectsSaint Augustinescience
6 comments
0
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Hanna

previous post
Crown Conchs Overrun Saint Augustine Reefs
next post
To Houston and Back: A story of a marine biologist and bugs

Related Posts

Way Back When On the Reef

December 7, 2010

Enjoy Them While You Can

July 22, 2010

Site one done, finally (7:15 AM, 9/1/11)

September 1, 2011

Florida and Georgia Head to the Supreme Court...

February 17, 2021

The River, the Bay, and the Army Corps...

October 24, 2012

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

March 11, 2013

Cold and Wet: Field Research in the Winter

December 27, 2010

Switching gears: from kayak to office cubicle

September 21, 2011

Researchers and Oystermen Fighting for Apalachicola Bay

May 15, 2013

Video: Where the Land Meets the Sea

August 15, 2012

6 comments

ruth & howie May 5, 2011 - 2:47 pm

Great explanation of all you’re doing in St. Augustine, Hanna. Keep us posted!!!

nancy keyworth May 6, 2011 - 6:10 am

Sounds like very interesting work. Excellent job of explaining it to the non-scientists like myself.

Marian Webster May 6, 2011 - 12:38 pm

Cool Hannie! Sounds like great work you are doing!!

Mary May 6, 2011 - 2:36 pm

Your research sounds way fun and I’m glad someone will be able to explain why we have changes in our gastropod populations and enviroment. I was wondering if crown conchs are tasty?? Maybe we could do our share to bring (oysters) & other things back in balance, although I guess the sedimentation is the problem. Keep up the good work -we appreciate your efforts on our behalf. Mary 🙂

Babs Smith May 15, 2011 - 1:18 pm

Thank you Hanna for all your efforts (kayak on and off car roof) to do research for the health and balance of marine ecosystems. In hear the storms down there are intense and increasing in size and velocity so how all the little critters are doing is good to learn about. We here in Oregon are proud of your fine work. You GO girl! Babs, Maia and Howard

WFSU | Public Media, PBS, and NPR for Northern Florida and Southern Georgia June 22, 2011 - 10:47 am

[…] fellow lab tech who is starting graduate school in the fall and who is looking into the abnormal levels of crown conchs on Randall and David’s Saint Augustine reefs.  And we have also heard from Cristina Lima […]

Comments are closed.

Search

Subscribe

Subscribe to receive more outdoor adventures, and an in depth look at our local forests and waterways by Email.

If you do not receive a verification e-mail, check your spam folder.

Category

WFSU-FM Environmental Stories

  • Tallahassee’s latest urban reforestation effort brings new trees to Governor’s Park
  • Hurricane Ian’s estimated damage to Florida agriculture tops $1B
  • America’s largest underground springs gets even bigger with the discovery of another cave connection
  • DeSantis outlines second-term environmental plans
  • Deep freeze breaks pipes, creates water crisis across South

Twitter

Tweets by wfsuIGOR

iNaturalist

iNaturalist became a part of the WFSU Ecology Blog during the EcoCitizen Project in 2019.  Since then, we’ve used it to help identify the many plants and animals we see on our shoots.  And on the Backyard Blog, we show how it can be used to identify weeds and garden insects, to help figure out what’s beneficial or a possible pest.  Below is the iNaturalist profile belonging to WFSU Ecology producer Rob Diaz de Villegas.

iNaturalist


View robdv’s observations »

Most Recent

  • Is birding better at Lake Jackson when it’s dried down?
  • The Wakulla Springs Wildlife Survey- a decades long look
  • Welcome Liesel Hamilton to the WFSU Ecology Blog!
  • My Year in Bugs: the 2022 Backyard Blog
  • Timberlane Ravine: learn to love dead trees (and trillium!)

Archives

May 2011
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Apr   Jun »

WFSU Ecology YouTube

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • Youtube

@2017 - PenciDesign. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign