Questions about a Cushion Star at the Tide Pool 2012

Information and posters in the classroom

A young visitor checking out the sea cucumber

KML staff explaining Queen Conch to visitors

Many questions around the Tide Pool

Union College undergraduate Advanced Oceanography class

Students collecting and processing water samples

Time out for lunch and a dip - they never dreamed they would be swimming in 600' of water!

A pod of dolphin came to play in our wake on the way home one afternoon

The class also kayaked through mangrove habitat, sampling water from Long Key Lake out through Zane Gray Creek to Long Key Bight.

Students spent their evenings in the KML chemistry lab analyzing their water samples and recording data

Upon their return to Union College, they will compile and review all of their data and present it as a class project.

Divers attach Staghorn coral fragments to a "tree" in the new Tennessee Reef Nursery. The baby corals will later be out-planted to help restore nearby reefs

 KML launched its 2nd season of Science Seminars, open to the general public, with "Restoration Ecology part 2:Coral out-planting efforts in the Keys”.  FWC/FWRI staff biologist Kate Correia gave a very informative talk on the on-going reef restoration projects, including their Staghorn Coral out-planting efforts in the Middle Keys.

Also coming up during Layton City Celebration:

KML Open House

Saturday, March 2^nd 2:00-4:00

 

 Students from Mainz, Germany were treated to an amazing sight as they snorkeled above a Hammerhead shark at Alligator Reef this week. This graceful creature cruised along the ledge for several minutes, giving the students a great photo op and a tale to tell back home. (photos by F Wagner; videos by A Dadak)
Lead by Dr. Bernhard Lieb, zoology professor at the University of Mainz, 21 students participated in a 2-week long field class exploring the habitats of South Florida.This was Dr. Lieb's 3rd visit to KML, where his students focused on the marine ecology of the Keys, learning to identify its various creatures.

Sat 6:30pm Oct 27th: view from KML Marina near boat ramp looking toward west driveway and Bay House (High tide still to come at 9:14pm)

 In an unusual series of events, KML celebrated the 7th anniversary of Hurricane Wilma (Oct 24, 2005). First, Hurricane Sandy breezed up the east coast, impacting the Keys with some rain and gusty winds Oct 25th and 26th (with later devastating effects on the eastern seaboard). On the heels of Sandy came our first real cold front of the year, with night-time lows in the 60's and a strong north wind, peaking at 23mph, gusting to 41mph. To compound the effects, Monday 10/29 was Full Moon, with high tides expected to be 1.8 above mean.

Sat. 8:30pm seawater coming up between the Marina and Admin buildings, still an hour away from high tide

Sat 8:30pm View from the boat ramp to the west gate, water creeping out to the parking lot

Sunday 9:00am (morning high tide at 9:55) Mola and Diodon riding out the storm in the KML Marina.  Several times during the weekend, the sea level was even with the top of the seawall, 2' waves crashing over the top.

Highest tides occurred Saturday, Sunday and Monday evening, with water levels at the Marina ramp  reaching 2' above our mean water level. Thankfully, no serious damage at KML. Business as usual!

Sunday 9:00am KML boat ramp after 4 days of northwest winds blowing 23 mph, gustung up to 41mph piling in the seaweed