Popcorn Sedge

One invasive species that we commonly deal with here at Corkscrew is Scleria lacustris, known commonly as Popcorn Sedge or Wright's nutrush. Popcorn sedge is a wetland growing species, and can grow up to six feet tall, and sometimes even higher. This species is a particularly persistent invasive because of how well it establishes a seed bank in wetland areas. While there are several Scleria plants native to Florida, there are often easily distinguished by their much smaller size, and tendency to grow in less wet areas.

Cluster of Scleria plants growing in the marsh

Once seed heads are present on the plant, the primary method of treatment is mechanical removal, in order to prevent further establishment of the seed bank, which is what we have been doing for the last few days here at Corkscrew. First thing in the morning, we drive out to the site and unload all our materials onto the skiff. Then we float the boat through the marsh out to the cluster of plants we plan to tackle for the day. Once we arrive, we climb out into the knee-deep water, and begin removing the seed heads.

Seed head of Scleria lacustris

We always make sure to wear gloves when handling the Popcorn sedge. The edges of this plant are very sharp, and you can easily cut yourself even just brushing against it the wrong way, kind of similar to getting a paper cut. Once the seed heads are removed, we immediately place them in a garbage bag, which we dispose of at the end of the day. After all the seeds from one stalk are removed, we uproot the entire thing and make a pile up out of the water.

Pile of de-seeded Scleria plants

It took several days and at least ten bags of seeds to clear just one area, but it feels well worth it when you look and can really see the difference from when you started. 

Until next time!

~Amanda

New Conservation Intern Randi Bowman

Conservation. Discovery. Adventure. These words and many others describe my interest and fascination with studying ecology in aquatic ecosystems. My name is Randi Bowman, and I have been doing biological field work since the summer I graduated high school in 2014. My first job, with Washington Department of Fish and Game, involved mapping invasive plant species for herbicide application in the desert of Eastern Washington. The following fall sent me to Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) in Idaho to study biology. I spent the next summer working for Idaho Fish and Game, where I got to backpack electroshock to determine the abundance and distribution of our target species, steelhead, in the streams of the wild and beautiful Idaho forests.

Around the same time, I started getting involved with LCSC’s research program. First, I volunteered on the weekends collecting population dynamic data for the eastern fox squirrel, in order to detect seasonal patterns in daily activity. Involvement in a field biology course got me into working with snakes, collecting morphological and dietary data of the Western Terrestrial Garter Snake to determine the effect of prey selection on head morphology in geographically separate populations. Finally, I started a research project closer to my own interests, studying macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Snake River drainage (Oregon) to ascertain the effects of agriculture and mining on the health of aquatic ecosystems. Involvement in these research projects gave me great experience in the field as well as with scientific writing, as I was given the opportunity to write 3 manuscripts for publication in scientific journals (1 published in Scientific Reports (link), 2 currently in preparation/review).

After graduating in December 2016, I worked as a Fisheries Technician for Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in Randle, WA. My daily duties involved fish work-up and maintenance with regard to the North Shore Collector at the Cowlitz Falls Dam. Being ideally located between Washington’s idyllic volcanoes and national forests/parks, I decided to live in my van (and then Honda CRV) for the duration of my position, facilitating awesome adventures and camping trips that I often look back on with longing.

Following the end of that seasonal position, I decided to follow my dream of moving to the southeast. I took the first opportunity that was offered, a research internship starting January 2018 at Nemours Wildlife Foundation in Yemassee, SC. I was hired primarily to process macroinvertebrates that had been collected in previous field seasons, but I wrapped that up in my first 4.5 months, opening my opportunities for involvement in other research capacities. April brought alligator research, which proved an exciting addition to my intern responsibilities. It was conducted as part of a Clemson University student’s PhD dissertation, funded by Nemours Wildlife Foundation and several coastal communities who wanted to support the research because it will be helpful in their future alligator management decision-making. It has also proved to be a great educational opportunity for their residents and visitors. I was trained in the surgery aspect of the research, attaching radio transmitters to the alligators’ nuchal rosettes. Besides the alligator project, I gained experience monitoring endangered species (red-cockaded woodpecker, black rails), using trail cameras and recording units, conducting callback, vegetation surveys, and songbird point counts, along with prescribed burns and radio tracking alligators, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, and fox squirrels. The diversity and quality of the experiences I gained as an intern at Nemours was amazing, and have already proved useful in my first few days as a Conservation Intern at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

I look forward to continued learning and the development of further research skills as an intern at Corkscrew. While not working, I enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking. Beyond this position, I will pursue graduate school with the aim of studying anthropogenic impacts in coral reef ecosystems. My career goals include becoming a research scientist, either in a nonprofit or academic capacity, studying coral ecology and contributing to conservation and restoration efforts. Since my focus is more in aquatics, I hope to bring that perspective to my social media posts while at Corkscrew. I’m sure I will have many things to share as I learn more about what makes Corkscrew special; even in my first week I have been blown away by the beauty and biodiversity I see here.  

- Randi Bowman, Conservation Intern

Apple Snails

Here in Florida, we have several species of Apple Snails. Unfortunately, only one of these species is native. The Florida Apple Snail (Pomacea paludosa), is a large freshwater snail, and is the preferred prey of the locally endangered Snail Kite.

Both the native and invasive snails in Florida lay clusters of eggs just above the water line, typically on the stems of plants such as Pickerel Weed. However, while native snails lay clusters of up to 80 large white-ish eggs, the Island Apple Snail (Pomacea maculata) lays clusters of tiny pink eggs that can have up to 2000 eggs per cluster.

Invasive Apple Snail Eggs

In addition, these snails also mature faster and grow to be much larger than the native snails, which may make them more difficult for snail kites and other predators to eat. For these reasons, there is worry over the possibility of our native Apple Snails being outcompeted and displaced.

Last week, the other interns and myself, as well as several volunteers, spent three days removing egg clusters and adult snails from a section of the Panther Island Mitigation Bank. Often, we saw as many as 20 egg clusters just on a single plant. And sometimes we'd come back the next day just to see new eggs in an area we'd already cleared. By the end of our three days, we'd removed several hundred adult snails, and several thousand egg clusters, for a probable total of over a million eggs!

It was pretty exhausting work, but it was interesting to see a different side of conservation work. I've got to admit though, I'm pretty happy to go back to just dealing with invasive plants again.

See you next time!
~Amanda