Stepping Stones-Protecting Our Environment

Welcome to Florida, home of beautiful birds, tropical fish, aquatic mammals, reptiles and land-dwelling animals. What a unique variety of wildlife we have in our state and it draws thousands of people here every year to catch a glimpse and play “How many can you find?”

Florida is comprised of several ecosystems that meld together to create one of the most wondrous areas in the United States. From the northern border to the Florida Keys, you can search for so many different species of animals that it could take your entire vacation time and more.

In addition to the life found here, there are invaders that threaten the ecosystems that have formed, actually changing what the future of our area may look like. There is a balance in nature, and that balance is now at risk. There are animals here that need to be monitored to prevent them from becoming a secondary species rather than apex predators. Also, some of the invasive animals have already done irreparable damage. People need to understand more about what’s being done.

On April 15th at Marco Island Academy two individuals who pour their heart and soul into helping with these issues will be speaking to the public about their efforts to help the local animals maintain some normality.

Amy Siewe, known as the “Python Huntress,” has captured more than 670 Burmese Pythons, mostly in the Florida Everglades, to help remove these invaders from a habitat that they have virtually destroyed. I’ll use the word “balance” several times in this article, for good reason. Pythons prey primarily on other land animals, birds and other aquatic species. Nature did not intend for these invasive snakes to overrun South Florida and upset the balance in nature that had been prevalent for such a long, long time. The lowest level of life is eaten by the next level up, which in turn is eaten by the level up from there until you get to the apex predators or tops of the food chain.

When these invasive Burmese Pythons began becoming prevalent in the 1990s, they set themselves to be primary predators, destroying the balance of the food chain order. They have nearly irradicated the populations of marsh rabbits, raccoons, and opossums. They also feed on small deer and alligators.

Amy understands the problem these pythons present. Since the snakes are nocturnal, Amy is out primarily at night to capture and remove as many pythons as she can. She will be presenting several videos of her captures, plus more information regarding the efforts to contain or remove this invasive species.

On a lighter note, I have been studying the local bottlenose dolphin population around Marco Island for more than 12 years. Our team, which includes a Marine Biologist, an Environmental Scientist with a master’s degree, and three Florida Master Naturalist, monitors the travel range, social behavior, feeding habits, survival rate, distribution, movement association patterns, survival rate, and overall health and well-being of this local population. “Local” is a key word here, in that these dolphins do not migrate. They stay here all year long and have been here for many, many generations.

The program, the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Research Project, has collected data since February 2006 and is just starting its 20th year of research, sending quarterly reports to colleges, other dolphin study institutions, government agencies, and more, supplying consistent updates regarding our dolphins.

The team has been involved in three life-saving rescues because of their vigilance.

Since we study in a shallow water habitat, the bottlenose dolphins here are the apex predators of the area. We not only monitor the dolphins but have a watchful eye on their environment. Dolphins eat primarily fish. Fish survive eating smaller fish or other small creatures in the waters here. Those small creatures feed on shrimp and micro-organisms that depend on seagrass supply. Here comes the word “balance” again! If the seagrass and aquatic plants die, then the smallest aquatic creatures cannot survive and so it goes up the food chain until the apex predators don’t have food to eat. This balance in nature is important in our studies.

We’ve barely scratched the surface with information today, so make it a point and save the date of April 15th to come see Amy and me at the Marco Island Academy on San Marco Road. Doors open at 5:00 PM, a concession stand will be open, and we will be available to answer your questions personally.

All the information you need can be found at exploringwithbob.com

Seating is first come, first serve. Amy and I look forward to meeting you!