Summer Internships
UF/IFAS NCBS Hosts Summer Internships: NCBS will be hosting interns every year Interns will be hosted by one of the local state, federal or UF partners of NCBS to work on widely varying projects in the Nature Coast region. These students will gain experience in academic research, extension, or state/federal agency settings and contribute to natural resource projects throughout the Nature Coast of Florida. Applications will be received in Spring of each year and decisions made by mid-April of each year. Look for open application date in the beginning of 2018.
OYSTER RESTORATION IN NATURE COAST
UF/IFAS Researchers, Peter Frederick, Bill Pine with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and Leslie Sturmer, a Shellfish Extension Agent were awarded $8.3 million to restore oyster reefs in the Suwannee Sound. The grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund will restore shrinking oyster reefs and help coastal ecosystems and economies become more resilient in the face of climate change and rising tides. “This grant is one more way UF/IFAS can help foster sustainable communities and ecosystems on the Nature Coast,” said Jack Payne, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “This work also dovetails with efforts by our state and local partners to conserve land and water resources in our coastal areas,” he said.
http://www.nfwf.org/whoweare/mediacenter/pr/Pages/gebf_16-1115.aspx
http://www.wec.ufl.edu/oysterproject/
To learn more about this UF/IFAS project, please visit http://www.wec.ufl.edu/oysterproject
Competitive Assistantships Awarded
The NCBS recently awarded competitive matching graduate research assistantships. We received 8 proposals, and they were evaluated by a panel that included five IFAS faculty and three members of our cooperating agencies (FWC, USGS, and USFWS).
The proposals selected for funding were:
“Economic feasibility of triploid oyster production” Dr. Chuck Adams, Leslie Sturmer, and Huiping Yang
"Productivity of American Oystercatchers nesting on spoil islands at the Cross Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation Area” by Dr. Abby Powell and Janell Brush (FWC)
"Composition, distribution and ecology of the Nature Coast sea turtle assemblage” by Dr. Ray Carthy
Manatees: NCBS is collaborating with US Fish and Wildlife and other agency partners to identify optimal management strategies for viewing manatees in Crystal River. The collaboration will identify the economic, social, and ecological aspects of a range of management options in the region.
These matching assistantships will be for student stipend and tuition, and the projects will address a wide range of topics that are important for conservation and management of resources in the Nature Coast. Congratulations to the faculty and students for getting started on these exciting projects!
Spotted Seatrout Study
NCBS receives grant to study popular spotted seatrout fishery in the Nature Coast!
http://www.cedarkeybeacon.
The Conservation Fund awarded the University of Florida a grant for $19,500 to fund a tagging study on spotted seatrout in Cedar Key and Steinhatchee. The project is determining tagging mortality rates and fishing mortality to assist with stock assessment and management. To date, about 50 fish have been tagged with $100.00 reward tags and released in Cedar Key.
The Station
The Nature Coast Biological Station plans and approval are underway. Hopes are to start construction by summer of 2016. The little pink motel is being replaced by a three-story building that includes an aquarium, wet lab, office space, conference room. NCBS is searching for funding for a classroom on the third floor. The single story building on the west side of the property will be renovated with dorm space, dry lab and community room.
A dock is being constructed for easy access to the gulf for scientists doing research in the area and to Seahorse Key.
Spotted Sea Trout Study
The Conservation Fund awarded the University of Florida a grant for $19,500 to fund a tagging study on spotted sea trout in Cedar Key and Steinhatchee. The project is determining tagging mortality rates and fishing mortality to assist with stock assessment and management. To date about 150 fish have been tagged with $100.00 reward tags […]
Contact Us
Nature Coast Biological Station
552 1st Street
PO Box 878
Cedar Key, FL 32625
ncbs@ifas.ufl.edu
Our Mission
The mission of the NCBS is to enhance the conservation and sustainability of natural resources throughout the Nature Coast through collaborative research, enhanced public engagement, field-based courses, and hands-on training workshops.