Field Notes and Focal Points

 Day 1: Arrival in Tampa Location: Tampa International Airport Weather: Warm, humid, scattered clouds Flew out of Key West this afternoon. The descent into Tampa offered a patchwork of estuaries and urban sprawl. After a quick detour to find Phoebe the Flamingo (by Matthew Mazzotta), I found Cassidy waiting outside. We checked into the hotel, found food, and relaxed the rest of the evening.  Day 2: Shark Con, Sunsets, and Shark Teeth Location: Florida State Fairgrounds→Venice Beach Weather: Hot, breezy, scattered thunderstorms Shark Con opened with a buzz, rows of booths, a mix of merch and mission. We gravitated towards the conservation groups. FWC's shark ID workshop was a highlight. It was hands-on, tactile, and very informative. The lecture by Yannis Papastamatiou and Mike Heithaus was packed. Lots of insight into predator behavior and tracking tech.  By late afternoon, we headed south to Venice Beach. The shoreline was scattered with shell fragments and fossil hunter...

Rhizophora Mangle The stillness beneath a canopy of red mangroves is unlike anything else. Roots twist like sculptures, sheltering the life below. The scientific name for the red mangrove is Rhizophora mangle but they are also known as mangle rojo, palétuvier rouge, tangle-root, and walking tree. These names reflect not only the geography of the trees, but also their cultural connections to the communities that live among them.  When I first moved to South Florida I fell in love with these mysterious trees. They are often so thick that you can't see beyond their outer walls of trunks, roots, and leaves. But there is a whole other world on the other side. In this post I'll take a deep dive into the wonders of the walking trees.  What Are Red Mangroves? Red mangroves are a keystone species, meaning their ecosystems rely on them to thrive. They can be found along tropical and subtropical coasts around the world. They are woven into the very cultures of the people that live among ...