SCCF Marine Lab monitoring recent red tide bloom
By SCCF - | Dec 16, 2020
SCCF
Red tide sampling on Dec. 3.
Scientists at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Marine Lab have been tracking a red tide bloom that came to their attention on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, according to officials.
Satellite imagery provided by SCCF’s colleagues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicated the development and transport of a red tide (Karenia brevis) algae bloom toward Sanibel on Thanksgiving.
The sequence of satellite images showed a large patch that had the optical characteristics of a dinoflagellate bloom. Since the first week of December, volunteers and staff have collected water samples from Bowman’s Beach, Tarpon Bay Road Beach, and Lighthouse Beach. At that time, the number of Karenia brevis, the single-cell dinoflagellate that causes red tide, were low, less than 100,000 cells per liter.
Dec 15, 2020
Thomas F. Pick, 90, died peacefully in his suburban Chicago home surrounded by family on December 13, 2020. Tom, an investor and philanthropist, was adored by all who knew him and very devoted to his family. His many friends treasured his business acumen, intelligence, honesty, loyalty, generosity and delightfully quirky sense of humor. He was a gardener, a fisherman, a master barbecuer, a fine player of bridge and poker, a sailor and a stargazer.
An alumnus of North Shore Country Day School, he graduated from Amherst College in 1952, cum laude in organic chemistry. After college, he served as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1955, working in military intelligence aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Oriskany as it patrolled the Pacific. Back in Chicago, he worked as an investment manager with A. G. Becker and other firms, retiring in 1997 from Everen Securities.
Foundation working on restoring Hemp Key
By PAULETTE LeBLANC - | Dec 16, 2020
photo provided by George Halper
The Florida Fishery Foundation recently delivered 1000 gallons of cured oyster shells to Hemp Key. The boat was provided by Four Winds Marina.
Florida Fishery Foundation President George Halper is on a mission to restore Hemp Key in Pine Island Sound with the utilization of oyster shells from local restaurants.
Among the restaurants they’ve utilized he said are the Lazy Flamingo, Miceli’s and the Lobster Lady in Cape Coral. Once collected, the shells are placed in a 50/50 solution of water and bleach for 24 hours and then aired out for a minimum of six months. This is done to keep invasive bacteria from infiltrating local waters, as he said, these oysters can come from other places such as Louisiana.
Pick Preserve walks resume with STEM middle-schoolers
By SCCF - | Dec 16, 2020
SCCF
SCCF
Once again, teachers at The Sanibel School are able to take their students on walking field trips and take advantage of Sanibel’s environment as an outdoor classroom, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported. Located directly across the street from the school, SCCF’s Pick Preserve is an ideal setting for incorporating environmental education into curriculum, which has been a 20-year collaboration with the SCCF.
SCCF Environmental Educator Richard Finkel recently met Kelly Johnson’s middle school STEM class to explore the ecology of Sanibel’s freshwater wetlands. Students observed and recorded the aquatic habitat’s small life forms. They were excited to get out of the classroom and discover small fish, tadpoles, damselfly and dragonfly nymphs, fishing spiders, water beetles, water striders, and freshwater snails within their water samples.
GCOOS tool forecasts high chance of respiratory irritation
By SCCF - | Dec 16, 2020
PHOTO PROVIDED
Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System s Red Tide Respiratory Forecast for today.
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Marine Lab is continuing to monitor a red tide bloom to the south of Sanibel, officials reported today. Part of that monitoring includes providing counts of Karenia brevis, the dinoflagellate that blooms into red tide, from water samples collected at the beaches.
Some of the counts are uploaded to the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System’s Red Tide Respiratory Forecast tool that the public can visit online to plan their beach time along the coast.