ANNA MARIA – The community scientist program at The Center of Anna Maria Island is getting off to a great start thanks to some help from students at Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium staff.
Small groups of Eckerd College students are coming each Saturday morning to The Center to train with staff from Mote on the equipment they’ll be using. Part of the training involves how to take the water samples and video needed to observe the effects of the mini reefs from Ocean Habitats installed as a part of a fundraiser for the nonprofit. These students are the first of the community volunteers being trained to study the effects of the mini reefs on the local waters and marine life. Students will travel around the Island to the mini reef sites to conduct water testing and video the condition of the reefs. This also helps keep track of all of the reefs and observe any maintenance issues requiring attention. Community scientists will test the water for the presence of harmful algae blooms such as karenia brevis – red tide – keep track of water temperature and pH levels, and study the organisms making the mini reefs their home.
Once the program is better established, The Center’s Director of Development, Jim McDaniel, says he hopes to open it up to Island resident volunteers and others in the community.
The program is the brainchild of McDaniel, who said he hopes to expand it in the future while also providing an important resource in the fight to mitigate the effects of red tide, which can cause fish kills, skin irritation and breathing problems.
Currently, there are 166 mini reefs installed in the waters around Anna Maria Island and west Bradenton as a result of The Center’s partnership with Ocean Habitats.
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