Field Trip to Crystal Beach

Date: October 2, 2014
Location: Crystal Beach, Florida
System: Partially maintained
Environmental conditions: ~84 degrees Fahrenheit; partly cloudy; 66% humidity; ~70% cloud cover

Purpose: To observe a mangal ecosystem and measure species along a transect line within a quadrat

Our class met at Crystal Beach and we began our day with a stroll along the pier to observe species both above and below the water.

We took a long walk on a short pier!..and we saw

Barnacles calling a piling home

The barnacles seen in this picture are sessile organisms and are sometimes mistakenly identified as molluscs; however, they are crustaceans. We also saw a variety of fishes, sponges, crabs and seagrasses.

The view below is of our target area for the transect line and the mangal ecosystem we came to see:

Our transect line and quadrat work yielded very few species, but it was fun trying to catch things in the dip net. I caught nothing :( but I saw some fish.

Black Mangrove Avicennia germinans

The Black Mangrove is easily identifiable by its seeds and also the underside of its elliptical but pointy leaves which are gray and hairy. The Black Mangrove also has pneumatophores (aka "Dead Man's Fingers") which provide gas exchange for the tree to absorb oxygen. The Black Mangrove adapts to high salinity by excreting and also its seeds can float and are salt-proof as well.

A propagule from a Red Mangrove Rhizophora mangle

The Red Mangrove is found along the shoreline where conditions are harshest. This hardy tree has adapted to unstable sediment through prop roots that are often red. The propagule of the Red Mangrove is also red.

Also seen: Cyanobacteria (pink) in the muck on the shore

along with evidence of shore birds...

We had a good day at the "beach" where we learned to identify different types of mangroves by sight.