Chelsea Bartley

Extra Credit Assignment

Dec 15, 2013

          My favorite field trip was the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. I learned a lot on this field trip. I learned a lot on this one, mostly about the sea turtles. I talked with a woman there who worked very closely with them and I learned about the different types and how they were endangered. After talking to her I even have the desire to volunteer there in the near future. I had been there before, but it was nice to go in depth about the animals instead of just looking at them. Aside from the animals I also learned a lot about our environment and how it effects the animals on a daily basis. 

Brooker Creek adventure!

I think my favorite place that we visited this semester was Brooker Creek. I was shocked and delighted by the amount of wildlife we encountered. If there was ever a field trip where I thought I was on the Magic School Bus it would be this one for sure! Brooker Creek is mostly forested wetlands and pine flatwoods. The park is kind of off the beaten path but worth the drive for a truly "Florida"
experience. The park is surrounded by urban development but it has in no way disturbed its charm and beauty. Once used for citrus and cattle the land is now home to an all star line up of Florida wildlife. While we were there we were lucky enough to see, not one, not two but three snakes, and an alligator! The first snake was a harmless Coluber constrictor priapus, commonly known as the southern black racer and he was peacefully chilling on the banks of Brooker Creek. The other one however, was coiled and looking to kill... and being the fierce Agkistrodon piscivorus (commonly known as a cottonmouth) I'd say he had a pretty good chance at it. Beautiful, fantastic creature with impeccably camouflaged skin; I thoroughly enjoyed getting a glimpse of him in his natural habitat (last bit in an Australian accent:). But by far the best part of the whole trip was when we all tried to push on through the one time trail and now part time swamp near the end of the trek. Hats off to the few class mates who boldly walked ahead and were covered in good ol' Florida muck! All I remember is Dr. G shouting " Just remember everyone you're going to look back on this adventure and smile!". She was so right! I loved this class and thoroughly enjoyed every informative second of Dr. G's lectures and fabulous field trips...but this one was my favorite!

My Favorite Field Trip was to Booker Creek Preserve

Booker Creek Preserve

This field trip was my favorite because I enjoyed the adventure and seeing all the different communities. There were Oak Hammocks, Pine Flatwoods, and Cypress Domes. This in my opinion was the most adventurous field trip. We got off the beating path and took one that was flooded out. 

This environment can adapt to flooding with tree roots that are above the water level. There were many ferns that do well in this shady environment. I observed several species like a pygmy rattlesnake, and a cottonmouth both poisonous. I also seen a good size Alligator basking in the sun on the bank. 

I really enjoyed this class and I know so much more about Florida and I hope to continue to learn more in my future endeavors. 

Thank you

Alaina DiPaolo

Fred Howard Park

      My favorite field trip was Fred Howard Park. This underwater community was very fun to go look around. Observing all the animals that live close to the shore was very interesting. I saw a variety of different animals including two humongous horseshoe crabs. I even saw some actual sponges. Another dominant species was the pinfish, which seems to be a dominant species in any form of water in Florida lol. There even a couple of stingrays. For the field biology has been one of my favorite classes. I'm glad I took it

Fred Howard Park

I'd have to say that this was the most memorable & slightly embarrassing field trip but it was one of my favorites. I had only been snorkeling once before so it was neat to get to do it again. We brought an underwater 35mm camera to capture the grasses & wildlife but most did not come out because of the waters cloudiness :(

The reason this was an embarrassing trip? Who could forget me being singled out & "attacked" by the remora!

I was floating on my back over the grasses & felt something latch on & it would not let go as much as I flailed around! I panicked not knowing what it was & couldn’t run very quickly with the flippers on! Finally, I could see what it was & another classmate identified it. It followed me into shallow waters & a couple people tried to capture it but it was too fast. It was black & white, slender, about 5” long & very exotic looking. 

The majority of species found in this underwater meadow were the turtle & shoal grasses which seemed to be thriving. They were dense & plentiful. I did notice the difference in the grasses based on the amount of sunlight coming through the water. 

I had become a host for the remora, they are "sucker" fish & I was it's target. It was odd for it to be in the area because they are typically in open water latching onto large fish. Whatever it's reason for being there I had a good time & won't soon forget it :)

 

 This picture says it all, thumbs up for this field trip!

Brooker Creek Preserve

I would have to say my favorite field trip was to the Brooker creek preserve, due to the amount of diversity of flora and fauna within the park, and the different environments that interacted with one another during our exercise. Not to mention the adventure of plowing through swamps!! Woo!!
There were a variety of angiosperms and gymnosperms, the most prevalent being the slash pines, bald Cyprus, Oak, and Maple trees. The environments included a pinewood grassland, a floodplain swamp, and a canopy (at certain locations). Some of the creatures we saw in the environment were Water Moccasin, Black Racer, Pygmy Rattlesnake, Armadillo, weaver spiders, North American Alligators and I was able to see a Bald Eagle (woo!). Overall, I feel it was the best learning experience, due to the fact all our senses and

Brooker Creek Preserve

My favorite fieldtrip this semester was our last one to Brooker Creek Preserve. I liked it because it was farther away from urban development and there were several miles of trail that we could walk on.

The Preserve had a many different community types consisting of forested wetlands, oak hammocks, pine flatwoods and cypress domes. Brooker Creek, connected to Lake Tarpon, creates a floodplain swamp and part of the trail was flooded during our hike.

Pygmy Rattlesnake

The swamp environment is well suited to cold-blooded Reptilia. Snakes were basking in the sun everywhere during our trip. I saw four different species of snake two of which, a Pygmy Rattlesnake and a Cottonmouth were highly poisonous. We also spotted an alligator sunning itself on the banks of Brooker Creek, another reptile well suited to the tannin stained waters of a swamp.

 

Field Biology of Florida has been a great class and given me a deeper appreciation of the treasures in our own backyard.

- Derek Hopkins

Wall Springs Park

A school of fish at the spring

Wall Spring

Small Crab

 

Sawgrass Lake Park

These pictures were from the class trip to Sawgrass Lake Park.

Alligator

Frog and Turtle

 

Bird

Beach Life

I took these pictures at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin.

Beach Sunflower

This berm is held by a variety of plant life

Sea Oat 

Florida Pictures

This is Derek Hopkins from Field Biology of Florida (class 3033). Going to post a few pictures I have taken in the local area and see how it goes.

I got this picture of a Lionfish at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. 

Caught this Gopher Tortoise trying to jaywalk, got him off the street and took this mugshot.

This one of some deer was taken in the woods near Lake Tarpon.

Coastal Systems 
Reefs and Underwater Meadows

We have started exploring the first of Florida's native ecosystems!  

Scallop in manatee grass
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/seagrass/images.htm

Turtlegrass
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/seagrass/images.htm

Our trip to Fred Howard Park allowed us to explore underwater meadows first hand.  We all went out snorkeling, some for the first time ever!  We saw seagrasses (manatee grass, turtle grass - check out this site from the FL DEP), numerous red and green algae, and a diversity of sea life! 

Everyone was captivated by the scallops and horseshoe crabs that we found, and Leslie had an admirer that wouldn't leave her leg alone!

If you have some pictures to share, be sure to post them!