Alligator Harbor

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.

On a recent trip to Bay Mouth Bar, we witnessed a little romance in the air (or saltwater) as one of the Forgotten Coast’s most unique looking predators heads somewhere warm for the winter.

For the a researcher, there is a wall separating the classroom from the lab and fieldwork they do. This Summer, Dr. Randall Hughes broke the wall and had her students work on her lab’s projects. Dr. Hughes recaps their work on oyster reefs and seagrass beds, and examines the benefits of teaching on research.

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.