Research Spotlight

Ecosystem Assessment and Restoration

Investigating a Softshell Turtle Mortality Event Caused by a Novel Virus
In 2018, FWC biologists began researching a freshwater turtle mortality event in the St. John’s River watershed, with research currently ongoing. While the investigation is primarily in the St. John’s River watershed, it extends to other areas of the state as well.

Monitoring the Recovery of South Florida Mangroves after Severe Damage by Hurricane Irma
FWRI researchers study the damage, mortality, and initial recovery of mangrove forests in the Lower Florida Keys and Ten Thousand Islands following direct hits by Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Freshwater Fisheries Research

Developing Non-lethal Aging Methods for Largemouth Bass in Florida
Non-lethal aging techniques may allow largemouth bass to be reliably aged without sacrificing them, which is not the case with older techniques, like using otoliths, which require lethal dissection for removal.

Information Science and Management

Assessing Potential Impacts of Sea Level Rise in Florida
Researchers develop an analysis of how to accurately predict sea level rise in a wide variety of Florida habitats.

Climate Adaptation Explorer
The Climate Adaptation Explorer is an interactive toolkit for natural resource managers and others to understand and address current and future impacts of climate change on Florida’s ecosystems.

Cooperative Land Cover (CLC) Map
The Cooperative Land Cover Map is a dataset and map designed to provide a detailed land-cover map and dataset for use by FWC and partners.

Tampa Bay Living Shoreline Suitability Model
The Living Shoreline Suitability model is a tool to help guide stakeholders on how best to protect coastal ecosystems using natural, living shoreline.

Marine Fisheries Research

Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch – Linked with Limulus
Through citizen participation, FWRI researchers hope to learn more about horseshoe crab stocks in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf Reef Fish Survey Certified by NOAA
The Gulf Reef Fish Survey is now certified by NOAA, making it eligible for use in stock assessments.

Scallop Sitter Project
The Scallop Sitter Program is a volunteer program that involves local community members in the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s ongoing scallop restoration efforts.

Wildlife Research

Flatwoods Salamander Headstarting
The Flatwoods Salamander Headstarting project is designed to increase population sizes of remaining frosted flatwoods salamanders as a means to decrease the probability of extinction.

Survivorship and Productivity of Florida Sandhill Cranes on Conservation Lands and Suburban areas in Florida
This study compares adult sandhill crane habitat use, survival, and reproduction between suburban and conservation areas, with an emphasis on identifying specific causes of mortality.

Field Lab Spotlight

Garcon Point Aquatic Research Lab
FWRI’s Garcon Point Aquatic Research Lab is one of the Institute’s 28 field labs located throughout the state of Florida. Garcon Point is a diverse field lab that conducts research on imperiled freshwater fish species but also assists managers in providing research on sport fish species. The Garcon Point Aquatic Research Lab focuses its research efforts primarily in the western panhandle rivers including the Escambia, Yellow, Blackwater, Choctawhatchee and their tributaries.