This Week on the CMT

This Week on the CMT

This week on the Central Marsh Transect, we did some aquatic fauna sampling. I was able to help guide our two new interns, Sam and Ayanna, on their first time throw trapping and minnow trapping at Corkscrew. We were able to identify several species of fish that we caught in our trapping methods, like the Mosquitofish, Flagfish, and the invasive African Jewelfish. We were also catching crustaceans such as the Everglades and Slough Crayfish. 

The species that I like to see the most are the Peninsular Newts, which is a small newt native to Florida. Other herps we caught included Banded Water Snakes and Greater Sirens, in which this was the first time I've ever seen a Greater Siren. They were slimy, speckled, and had external gills that would expose in water. That species was truly one of the coolest I have ever seen.

In conclusion, there is always a good time to be had on the CMT. We even saw an Acadian Flycatcher that kept an eye on us when we were throw trapping the in the Bald Cypress! Maybe next time I will be able to find my lifer Amphiuma.