Science

The Environmental Cost Of South Florida's Car Culture Could Be Negated By Bikes

Tricia Woolfenden — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:02:00 +0000

In a state that is noted for its dedicated car culture, it seems a given that residents and tourists would benefit from any measurable decrease in road congestion, car exhaust, and air pollution. As National Bike Month winds down and South Florida, communities make moves to become more bike friendly, it pays to talk about the potential environmental impact of having more bicycles and less cars on Florida's roads.

Man Wrestles, Kills Record-Size Python In Florida City

Evan Benn — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:22:46 +0000

Jason Leon said he has two regrets about slicing the head off the longest Burmese python recorded in Florida:

He wishes he didn’t have to slay the beast, and he wishes his bedroom walls were big enough to mount the snake’s skin.

How Plants Tell The Story Of Florida's Immigrant History

Kaylois Henry — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:14:02 +0000

Immigrants have had a profound effect on South Florida. We all know about the influences on culture, food and language. But they changed the region's horticulture too.

Many of South Florida's plants have been brought here to improve the surrounds, provide food and shelter. Indeed, most of the plants that we consider iconic to South Florida are not native but transplants from elsewhere. Bougainvillea? It's a native of Mexico. Mangoes are originally from India. Even that most Floridian of fruits, oranges, are originally from China.

Defense Department Funds Miami Project To Thwart Cyberattacks

Amy Ellis — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:01:00 +0000

In the next few months, Florida International University researchers will be doing their part to prevent the kind of high-tech cyberattacks that could cripple financial institutions, disable major infrastructure or threaten national security.

South Florida's New Science Center And Aquarium

Tricia Woolfenden — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:13:32 +0000

What's in a name change? Plenty, when the new moniker also signals an "emotional change," as is the case with the soon-to-be-unveiled South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. The entity is a rebranding of the popular South Florida Science Museum. The longtime Palm Beach County institution hasn't received a makeover since its completion in 1969 (which represents an eternity in a region that is eager to "spruce up appearances" on the regular.)

Feds Do About-Face, Step In To Help Endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow

Tricia Woolfenden — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:03:00 +0000

The clock is ticking for the highly-endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow, but a new project recently green-lit by a federal agency may offer some hope for avoiding extinction. Scientists believe there are roughly 200 of the tiny birds remaining in the wild. Two years ago, scientists found the lowest count of the birds in history: last year's numbers dipped even lower.

Sea Level Rise May Happen Too Quick For Shore Birds To React

Tricia Woolfenden — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:03:00 +0000

Humans aren't the only species facing an uncertain future in South Florida should current sea level rise predictions prove accurate. Migratory and resident shore birds also would feel the pinch of encroaching salt water, beach erosion, and shore line and habitat loss.

Read About New Boating Guidelines For The Everglades

Tricia Woolfenden — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Proposed changes at Everglades National Park have put anglers at odds with environmental groups. The park's draft general management plan, which includes several variations (or "alternatives"), is currently up for public comment. This Sunday is the deadline to weigh in on proposed measures, which include prohibiting traditional boating in about one-third of Florida Bay.

Al Gore: How Six Trends Will Impact Florida, The World

Phil Latzman — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:53:01 +0000

Today is Earth Day.

And here in low-lying, hurricane prone Florida, the day has special meaning.

Sea-level rise is no longer something so incremental that we don't notice.

Cancer Patients Turn To Scorpion Venom From Cuba

Jean Friedman-Rudovsky — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

2 Million Floridians Threatened By Sea Level Rise, But New Study Says It Can Be Slowed

Tricia Woolfenden — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:01:00 +0000

If sea level rise continues unabated, sections of South Florida -- and Miami in particular -- will be under water in a matter of decades. But a new study suggests that swift reductions in "short-lived climate pollutants" and carbon dioxide levels could help to slow the rise.

Why April Is A Bonanza For South Florida Bird Watchers

Mark Hedden — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:28:30 +0000

For birdwatchers and the bird curious, April in South Florida is the jackpot month – the time of year when almost anything with wings can show up.

Miami Researcher Stars In TV Special On Great White Sharks

Tricia Woolfenden — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:03:00 +0000

Miami-based shark researcher Neil Hammerschlag, whose work WLRN has covered in the past, is getting international attention with his latest study on the feeding habits of the ocean's most feared and misunderstood creature: the great white shark.

Nine Awesome Everglades Animals (Aside From The Alligator)

Tricia Woolfenden — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:01:00 +0000

Is there any animal more closely associated with the Everglades than the American alligator? OK, the Burmese python has been the 'glades press "darling" as of late, but invasive, non-natives do not count for the purposes of celebrating the Everglades. While Florida's iconic reptilian king deserves all of the attention it gets, there are plenty of other cool critters that inhabit the Everglades.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins: Here's How To See Them In Action

Tricia Woolfenden — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:02:00 +0000

Sea turtle nesting season is off and crawling this year with the first reported sea turtle nest in Boca Raton. The nest, made by a leatherback turtle, was recorded on Sunday morning in South Beach Park by Marine Turtle Specialists with the Boca Raton Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program based out of Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.

Watch South Beach Disappear Under Sea Level Rise In Hypnotic New GIFs

Tricia Woolfenden — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:01:00 +0000

Current climate change and sea level rise models indicate a very grim -- and water-logged -- future for South Florida and Miami in particular. But new imagery from researcher/artist Nickolay Lamm paints an almost hypnotic picture of these proposed realties for American cities like Miami, Boston, Washington D.C., and New York.<

Florida Panther Released In Palm Beach County: VIDEO

Tricia Woolfenden — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:01:00 +0000

Florida wildlife news often is dominated by loss: record numbers of manatee deaths, an endangered species on the brink of extinction, invasives over-taking entire ecosystems and so on.

Why Everglades Restoration Really Needs To Be About Adapting To Climate Change

Tricia Woolfenden — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:02:00 +0000

When the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) was approved in 2000, it was a historic move to "restore, protect and preserve" water resources in central and south Florida. The 30-year framework was designed with the ultimate goal of restoring historic water-flows to a "dying ecosystem." Project leaders and scientists are now focused on incorporating climate change adaptation into the plans and acknowledging that the Everglades will likely never look the way it once did.

In The Fight Against A Lionfish Invasion, Florida Turns To Creative Photo Contest

Tricia Woolfenden — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:03:00 +0000

Lionfish are the newest target of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation's (FWC) efforts to use social engagement to tackle the problem of exotic, invasives in the state. The FWC announced last week the launch of its "Lionfish Control Team" photo contest for the month of April.

Volunteers Pull 57,154 Pounds Of Litter From Natural Areas

Tricia Woolfenden — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:00:55 +0000

On a recent Sunday morning, a group of hikers paused on a heavily canopied trail to observe a bird perched high atop a tree, its body silhouetted against the rising sun. A brief hush took hold as binoculars focused in on the back-lit bird, loudly churring its morning song. Bodies shifted for a better view, until: "Yep, great crested flycatcher!"

Here's What It Feels Like To Pet A Live Shark

Tricia Woolfenden — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

When we caught the first shark of the day, I'd already spent a good hour or so turning Neil Hammerschlag's words over in my head, like a gambler might fidget with a lucky coin in his pocket:

"We might not see any sharks today."

Impact Of Tamiami Trail Bridge 'Will Be Huge,' Says Conservationalist

Tricia Woolfenden — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:02:50 +0000

State officials, local dignitaries, and conservationalists gathered last Tuesday to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Tamiami Trail bridge project. The plan took more than two decades to achieve and is part of a larger effort to restore fresh water flow to the Everglades.

Here's One Way To Help The Almost-Extinct Grasshopper Sparrow: Kill Fire Ants

Tricia Woolfenden — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:01:56 +0000

Fire ants are notorious Florida invasives, leaving a trail of painful welts and blisters in their wake. Those pesky exotic intruders also happen to be a serious threat to some of the state's most vulnerable endemic species.

Shark Tagging Program Seeks To Turn The Tide For Misunderstood Species

Tricia Woolfenden — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:01:33 +0000

On Saturday morning, Neil Hammerschlag stood on the stern of a charter boat frequently used for his innovative shark tagging and research program. The boat had departed just after 9 a.m. from Miami Seaquarium's docks. It stopped just a few miles offshore, Miami's skyline still visible in the distance.

After A Start At Dial-Up Speeds, Miami’s Tech Sector Gains Momentum

Alex de Carvalho — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:01:31 +0000

At the height of the construction boom in 2006, Miami sprouted the second-fastest growing skyline in the world, behind Dubai. You could count over 70 cranes crowding each other out, like a tower of steel giraffes voraciously feeding on concrete.

Red Tide Claims 170 Manatees, But South Florida Population Should Be Spared

Tricia Woolfenden — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:01:34 +0000

One of Florida's most beloved endangered species is facing a tough end to the winter. State wildlife officials have confirmed the deaths of more than 170 manatees in Southwest Florida as red tide impacts regional populations of the gentle water-dwelling mammals.

Tagged Vultures May Solve Mystery About Why They Attack Cars In The Everglades

Tricia Woolfenden — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:03:02 +0000

In January, WLRN reported on the curious -- and destructive -- habits of some of the Everglades National Park's vulture population. The birds have been reported to "attack" parked vehicles, picking off rubber and vinyl. The baffling and costly behavior has led Everglades' staff to pass out anti-vulture kits to park visitors.

What Florida Homeowners Should Know About Sinkholes

Tricia Woolfenden — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The recent spate of sinkhole activity in Southwest Florida -- including a fatal sinkhole in Tampa earlier this month -- has shed light on the state's geologic anomaly. But how do sinkholes impact state economic factors like property insurance and home sales?

Maps: How Sea Level Rise Could Impact Miami-Dade County

Kelley Mitchell — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:32:52 +0000

Miami-Dade County is grappling with how to repair and replace parts of its aging sewage system, under pressure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Water and Sewer Department has drawn up a $1.5 billion plan.

However, the clean-water advocacy group Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper says the plan doesn’t take into account the potential for sea level rise at its three coastal treatment plants on Virginia Key and in North Miami and South Miami-Dade.

Climate Change Could Ruin Snorkeling And Fishing In Florida

Tricia Woolfenden — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:01:04 +0000

The future of some of Florida's smallest and most seldom seen inhabitants is under threat from climate change, and that could spell big trouble further up the food chain, scientists say. South Florida's coral and algae populations are declining as ocean temperatures rise and there's an economic factor to consider, according to researchers who study the coastal underwater ecosystems.