Conservation photography workshop at Riverwoods Field Lab

Join and learn about conservation photography at Riverwoods Field Lab.

Field Biology class visits Lion Country Safari

Tina Cloutier Barbour, Curator of Primates at Lion Country Safari, gave the class a tour of the drive through safari and then an in depth look at chimpanzees at the park. You can learn more about their chimps here and the ongoing research through the chimpanzoo program.

Tina talked about all the history and management efforts that are ongoing in each section of the safari, as we drove through. It was informative and interesting to get a behind the scene talk for each species we encountered. She spoke of all the regulations, breeding management, enrichment and enclosure efforts that are ongoing in the park. We learned about behavioral quirks for some of the species and how the staff handles them, efforts to improve the natural habitats of the animals and future plans and research that are in the works.

We then stopped at the research station for the chimpanzees, Tina’s specialty and main responsibility at Lion Country Safari.

Lion Country Safari is home to one of the largest displays of wild chimpanzees in North America. Their four island habitats are home to several generations of chimpanzees, which trace their roots back to east Africa. Though some of our chimpanzees are former house pets and actors, many have been born at Lion Country Safari and they are now all fully integrated into the complex social structure of each island troop and may be considered wild.

Field Trip Friday: Snook survey

Field biology class spent the afternoon with Fish and Wildlife biologists learning how to cast seine net and survey snook  in the Indian River Lagoon at the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. First, biologist Jim Whittington, gave students an overview of what and why they do snook surveys. The stock assessment report for common snook provides updated life histories, biology and fishery information, as well as commercial landings, recreational catch, and additional statistical information.

This class trip is always voted class favorite every year. Along with the FWC survey, students participated in a student thesis data collection project on e-Dna (environmental DNA). The student (Ryan Anderson) was collecting water samples to test out the practice of collecting e-Dna as a method for determining the presence of certain species in the water without having to catch or handle them directly.  Here are John, Will and Ryan braving the chilly water in the name of science!

The rest of the class went straight to the fish survey. They learned how to cast and haul in the net, separate and release fish, and how to measure are record data on the targeted snook species. Below is a short video and pictures of the class adventure. Along with Jim Whittington, Anderson Berry, Derek Cox and Joy Young all helped the students particpate in the snook surveys. 

Thanks to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institue for allowing us to participate and learn all about snook management and research. 

Dupuis Management Area field trip

Recently Wilkes Honors College Faculty went on a tour of The Dupuis Managent Area to investigate possible research opportunities for students.

The DuPuis Management Area is a 21,875-acre multi-use natural area located in northwestern Palm Beach and southwestern Martin counties. The property is interspersed with numerous ponds, wet prairies, cypress domes, pine flatwoods and remnant Everglades marsh. The area provides miles of hiking and horseback trails, an equestrian center, graded vehicle roads, backpack and group campsites and seasonal hunting. DuPuis is far from urban areas, and its dark night sky lends itself to excellent stargazing.

Kim Elliot, the Education and Training Coordinator for CES/FAU located at Dupuis, along with Loisa Kerwin, Assitant Director for CES/FAU gave a short presentation on the history, ecology and activities that are available at Dupuis. They highlighted the research done on the Red Cocaded Wooddpecker by The Florida Freshwater Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) scientist, Valerie Sparling. You can read about that here.

They treated us to a SWAMP BUGGY RIDE so we could get a close up view of the different habitats on the property. Here are a few shots of us preparing for the journey.

If you have never experienced a swamp buggy, don't worry I took video!

Dupuis is a great resource for so many acitivities. Here are a few more pics of the day. We got out and walked throught the cypress swamp. You can see the water line on the trunks of the trees. There is also a close up of the Florida Apple snail.

To end our tour we stopped at the public campground area. There are remnants of history there with the old hunting camp owned by John G. and Susan H. DuPuis, Jr. If you are up for an adventrue this is a great place to start.