Day 2: Enjoyment at Florida Gulf Coast University

3^rd March 2014

Location: 26.4625° N, 81.7729° W, Temperature: 28 °C and a sunny bright day

Constructed pond within the Campus
with  alligators

This was our second beautiful morning at Vester Marine Field Station, Florida. When we were waiting outside the station to go to the  Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Campus, I heard a loud call of a female osprey.  I saw that the bird was nesting on the Vester Station. Though, I couldn't figure out why she was calling, my guess was that she could be calling her partner. At the same time, I saw a pair of Great White Egrets (Ardea alba) flying over us.  Soon after this, we started our field trip of the day.We moved towards the FGCU Campus, South Fort Myers, Florida. FGCU is a relatively big university with approximately 14000 students from around the world. 

Our

A palm tree

purpose of the visit were to observe the University Campus, visit various research sites located inside the University boundaries, and study different types of habitats and ecology. We reached the University Campus at around 10 am and were welcomed by the staff of the University. Then we moved towards the research sites with Dr. Edwin, an ecologist in the University Campus. I found Dr. Edwin as a very devoted and skillful guide and a teacher. His style of introducing both the campus and the entire ecosystem in the University campus together, were fascinating. Because of his friendly nature, we were able to learn many new things quickly. After a quick introduction of and visit to the FGCU Campus, we went to observe research sites. 

Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)

The FCGU Campus is managing various types of wildlife habitats and protecting wetlands as an "Ecosystem Model". Majority of flora and fauna of Florida were available in the ecosystem model. The concept to conserve various habitats and to grow major native plant species was to study different ecological processes in that area to obtain information, which can be used for the restoration of  natural habitats in various parts of Florida. Florida is prone to various natural hazards including wildfires, hurricanes and typhoon. Such type of natural hazards have potentiality to degrade natural habitats and wetlands. In order to minimise the impacts of natural hazards and make resilient natural habitats, the research and development from the "ecosystem model" can be crucial.We started our field study from wet prairie. Before reaching wet prairie, we saw a few Cabbage palms. Cabbage palms are very important plants since their abundance in one area, to some extent, control hurricane. It was interesting for me to see a dry 'wet prairie'. According to Professor Edwin, the prairie was not wet during that time because the wet prairie is inundated only for about six months a year. Among other marshes found in Florida, wet prairie is the most common in the FGCU Campus. We observed no trees, but only a sparse cover of grasses in flat terrain, which are the characteristics of the wet prairie ecosystem. Various factors limit hardwood trees growth in the wet prairie. Factors includes regular fires, and less organic matter in the soils. From the exposed areas, we could see sandy soils with less organic matter content. However, it is important to have such kind of habitats of wet prairie for number of beneficial reasons including filtration of excessive pollutants from farmlands and residential runoffs, flood controls and support to various flora and fauna.   

Dandelion (Taraxacum officnale)

We also observed the vegetation gradient starting from Saw Palmetto to Saw Grass and finally reaching to Florida Slash Pine.  However, another informative section of the visit  included a close observation of Cypress swamp habitat, which was also available on the walking distance from the FGCU Campus. The purpose of the CypressSwamp visit was to understand and demonstrate various ecological services and processes provided by Cypress swamps in the nature and to understand various research and studies conducted. 

We were very excited to go for a swamp walk. We got an opportunity to stay within the swamp for more than half an hour and during that period we were able to observe the swamp closely. Reason behind the swamp walk for us was to understand and feel the importance of swamps in the conservation of biodiversity. The Cypress swamp, as name suggests, was dominated by and characterized by Cypress trees followed by Alligator Flag and a few Brazilian pepper trees. I was lucky to see one brown anole, a lizard. However, I was able to show that to only one friend.

     Within the cypress swamp 
wandering for the  diversity

While wandering around the University, Dr. Edwin introduced us different floral and faunal species. I have included some of the species here. Crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva) and Fire ants, palms observed were Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto) and Saw Palmetto, Salix spp., Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) and Florida slash pine (Pinus elliottii) were also found there. Wild flowers seen were Black- eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata), Dandelion (Taraxacum officnal) and Tickseed (Coreopsis). Other species observed within the University campus were cuban tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis), Greenhouse frog, Sawgrass (Cladium californicum),Sunfish (Mola mola), Muskitter fish, water lilies (Nymphaeaceae), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), Bamboo spp., (Bambuseae), Bidens, dragon flies and wild grass species. Birds species noticed were Snowy Egret, American crow, Red-bellied woodpecker and Great heron. As many of the species observed in the FGCU Campus were repeated in other parts of visited areas, I have included all the floral and faunal species in my last blog of this trip.  

Prop roots of Red Mangrove
( Rhizophora mangle)

Furthermore, Dr. Edwin told us that students have developed a vegetable garden in the University by converting parking ground into garden to set up an example of a sustainable agriculture. Students have also started to sell the vegetables in weekly market. I think, among others, an experience of walking in the swamp and Dr. Edwin’s cathedral Cypress swamp walk will remain with me for whole life. Other memorable activities includes a watching alligators in the constructed pond with lilies blooming, learning monitoring method of fishes in the pond and eating fruits from the sustainable vegetable garden. 

After visiting an interesting place, we had our lunch in the University canteen. Then we headed towards Vester Field Marine Station. Now it was a time for kayaking in the Vester Field Marine Station and to observe mangroves ecology closely. At the same time, I was both really excited and a bit nervous, as it was my first experience of kayaking. However, with the encouragement of my friends, I was able to do it perfectly. I took many pictures of mangroves with prop roots from every angle.  Although, it was very challenging to perform two tasks at a time i.e. to balance a kayaking boat and capture pictures of birds and mangroves. I was able to capture some pictures of White Ibis and Brown Pelican. I was very scared  when our boat hit mangroves, however, nobody was hurt. Second day in Florida also happened to be more exciting and I was able to gain some extra knowledge of sub-tropical wetlands and enjoy kayaking.