Friends of the Lower Suwannee - Coming Events

Climate Change Research on Salt Marsh and Estuarine Communities in the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge

Thursday, October 27th
5:00 PM at the Cedar Key Public Library
Dr. Franklin Percival, USGS Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

Sponsored by the Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys NWR

A team of researcher with Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Florida will describe their research in the Lower Suwannee NWR estuary for the last 2 years. H. F. Percival, W.M. Kitchens, M.S. Allen, C. Zweig, and M. Desa are using a combination of small mammal, salt marsh, fisheries and regional climate data to understand current population patterns and how climate change may affect the system.

They will also describe how they are establishing baseline vegetation information to better evaluate any climate changes. Because of the Suwannee River`s discharge effect on the fisheries, they will monitor various river flow scenarios as to fishery estuary health.

Those Crazy Jumping Sturgeon - What`s It All About

Thursday, November 3rd
5:00 PM at the Cedar Key Public Library
Dr. Ken Sulak, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL

Sponsored by the Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys NWR

The Suwannee River supports the largest population of the Gulf Sturgeon, a species unique to Gulf Coast Rivers. The Gulf Sturgeon, a member of an ancient group of fishes, and the largest fish (up to 8 feet long and 200 pounds) inhabiting the Suwannee River, signals the health of the ecosystem. When conditions are good for the sturgeon, they are good for most other fishes in the river. Fished commercially until 1984, the Gulf Sturgeon population has rebounded, now numbering about 15,000. But the increased numbers of sturgeon, coupled with a habit of jumping during summer, have led to a number of boat-sturgeon collisions. Why do sturgeons jump? What is this behavior all about? What can be done to minimize collisions? Get the latest scientific information on our Suwannee Gulf Sturgeon and learn why these curious fishes jump.