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EPA awards grant to SCCF Marine Lab

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION 2 min read
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SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Thanks to a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Marine Laboratory is initiating a study on the proliferation of macroalgae in the Matlacha Pass and San Carlos Bay and its impact on seagrass.

“The most recent aerial photography images from 2021 show significant losses of seagrass in San Carlos Bay and Matlacha Pass since 2014,” Marine Lab Director Dr. Eric Milbrandt said. “With this EPA grant, we’ll see if those losses are related to macroalgae.”

The SCCF reported that seagrasses play a critical role as a nursery for many species of fish and invertebrates. They also stabilize sediments and prevent some wind-driven turbidity. By producing oxygen, seagrasses also play a critical role in preventing hypoxia, which can be fatal to marine life.

A team of scientists from the lab will conduct extensive field sampling and collection of macroalgae, along with seagrass surveys. Water quality surveys and stable isotope analysis will be used to identify hot spots and sources of nitrogen used by macroalgae. To develop a seagrass restoration strategy, test plots with algae removed will be maintained to see if it affects seagrass density and percent occurrence.

The three-year grant from the EPA South Florida Program includes a total award of $578,000.