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A picture is worth a thousand words. Take a look at some images capturing science activities at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center. 

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A house destroyed by Hurricane Michael on Cape San Blas, Florida
Hurricane Michael destroyed many houses on Cape San Blas, Florida
Hurricane Michael destroyed many houses on Cape San Blas, Florida
Hurricane Michael destroyed many houses on Cape San Blas, Florida

A beach house in Cape San Blas, Florida destroyed by Hurricane Michael, which struck the Florida Panhandle as a Category Four storm Oct. 10, 2018.

One-story yellow concrete block house in Cape San Blas, Florida
Fish Inn, the scientists' field station, before Hurricane Michael
Fish Inn, the scientists' field station, before Hurricane Michael
Fish Inn, the scientists' field station, before Hurricane Michael

For ten years, this yellow concrete block house in Cape San Blas, Florida, dubbed Fish Inn, was the seasonal office, laboratory and living quarters for a team of USGS sea turtle researchers during their field season from November till April.

For ten years, this yellow concrete block house in Cape San Blas, Florida, dubbed Fish Inn, was the seasonal office, laboratory and living quarters for a team of USGS sea turtle researchers during their field season from November till April.

Sea turtle on the deck of a boat has a radio device on its shell.
Loggerhead ready for action
Loggerhead ready for action
Loggerhead ready for action

A loggerhead sea turtle is outfitted with a popoff ADL package (orange item affixed to turtle’s back) waiting in the boat to be released.

A loggerhead sea turtle is outfitted with a popoff ADL package (orange item affixed to turtle’s back) waiting in the boat to be released.

A turtle with a radio tag on its back swims through a shallow water environment with boat behind it.
Loggerhead sea turtle with radio tag
Loggerhead sea turtle with radio tag
Loggerhead sea turtle with radio tag

Underwater view of a loggerhead turtle being released with newly installed popoff ADL package (orange item on turtle’s back).

1985-2018 Lion fish invasion. Ecosystems Mission Area. Wetlands and Aquatic Research Center
1985-2018 Lionfish Invasion
1985-2018 Lionfish Invasion
1985-2018 Lionfish Invasion

Lionfish invasion (1985-2018). Lionfish invaded US Atlantic coastal waters, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico with unprecedented, alarming speed. Though reports of sightings date back to the 1980s, it is only recently that the species has exploded in numbers and range.

Lionfish invasion (1985-2018). Lionfish invaded US Atlantic coastal waters, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico with unprecedented, alarming speed. Though reports of sightings date back to the 1980s, it is only recently that the species has exploded in numbers and range.

Manatee Health Assessment
Manatee Health Assessment
Manatee Health Assessment
Manatee Health Assessment

USGS conducts a health assessment on a mantee in Crystal River, Florida.

A USGS scientist measures a rescued sea turtle while in a boat
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold

USGS scientist Margaret Lamont measures a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle recovered from the cold waters of St. Joseph Bay. Rescued sea turtles are weighed, measured andmarked with an identifier, and are examined to determine if they need medical attention. Photo by USGS. 

USGS scientist Margaret Lamont measures a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle recovered from the cold waters of St. Joseph Bay. Rescued sea turtles are weighed, measured andmarked with an identifier, and are examined to determine if they need medical attention. Photo by USGS. 

A USGS scientist rescues a cold-stunned sea turtle from a mud flat
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold

USGS scientist Margaret Lamont, who has studied sea turtles in Florida since 1995, carries a cold-stunned green sea turtle from the mud flats of St. Joseph Bay. Photo by USGS.

USGS scientist Margaret Lamont, who has studied sea turtles in Florida since 1995, carries a cold-stunned green sea turtle from the mud flats of St. Joseph Bay. Photo by USGS.

A boat full of rescued sea turtles.
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold

Scientists and volunteers use nets to scoop the immobile sea turtles out of St. Joseph Bay before transporting them to safety. Photo by USGS. 

Scientists and volunteers use nets to scoop the immobile sea turtles out of St. Joseph Bay before transporting them to safety. Photo by USGS. 

Two scientists walk along a beach rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles.
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold

Eglin Air Force Base biologist Kathy Gault (left) and Dave Seay (right), a contract biologist working with the USGS, hauled cold-stunned sea turtles to safety along the icy shore of Cape San Blas. Scientists and licensed volunteers walked the beaches and marshes, loading cold-stunned sea turtles into kayaks.

Eglin Air Force Base biologist Kathy Gault (left) and Dave Seay (right), a contract biologist working with the USGS, hauled cold-stunned sea turtles to safety along the icy shore of Cape San Blas. Scientists and licensed volunteers walked the beaches and marshes, loading cold-stunned sea turtles into kayaks.

A photo of a cold-stunned sea turtle in shallow water.
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold

When water temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), cold-blooded sea turtles, like this Kemp’s ridley, can become cold-stunned. They are unable to swim or even raise their heads out of the water to breathe, which can lead to drowning. Photo by Margaret Lamont, USGS

When water temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), cold-blooded sea turtles, like this Kemp’s ridley, can become cold-stunned. They are unable to swim or even raise their heads out of the water to breathe, which can lead to drowning. Photo by Margaret Lamont, USGS

A USGS scientist holds a cold-stunned sea turtle while it recovers from the effects
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold

David Seay, a contract biologist working with the USGS, holds a green sea turtle that is recovering from the effects of cold-stunning in St. Joseph Bay. Photo by Margaret Lamont, USGS.

David Seay, a contract biologist working with the USGS, holds a green sea turtle that is recovering from the effects of cold-stunning in St. Joseph Bay. Photo by Margaret Lamont, USGS.

An image of federal and state workers and volunteers rescuing a large sea turtle and carrying it down a side walk.
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold
Rescuing Sea Turtles from the Cold

USGS scientists Daniel Catizone (left) and David Seay (center) joined federal and state workers and volunteers in rescuing an estimated 1,000 cold-stunned sea turtles, making this the second largest sea turtle rescue of the 21st century. Photo by Margaret Lamont, USGS

USGS scientists Daniel Catizone (left) and David Seay (center) joined federal and state workers and volunteers in rescuing an estimated 1,000 cold-stunned sea turtles, making this the second largest sea turtle rescue of the 21st century. Photo by Margaret Lamont, USGS

Graph of the rate of change in Lousiana coastal wetlands from the 1930s to the present
Louisiana coastal wetland change rates over time
Louisiana coastal wetland change rates over time
Louisiana coastal wetland change rates over time

Graph of land area change rate in coastal Louisiana from 1932–2016.  The red line approximates the long-term land area change rate. 95 out of 100 statistical analyses would produce a very similar trend (dotted blue lines). Credit: USGS

Graph of land area change rate in coastal Louisiana from 1932–2016.  The red line approximates the long-term land area change rate. 95 out of 100 statistical analyses would produce a very similar trend (dotted blue lines). Credit: USGS

WARC staff members teach students at World Wetlands Day

USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center's Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) outreach office staff were on hand at the World Wetlands Day celebration hosted by the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum and South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center as local students learned about the different types of wetlands in Louisiana.

USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center's Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) outreach office staff were on hand at the World Wetlands Day celebration hosted by the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum and South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center as local students learned about the different types of wetlands in Louisiana.

A hand is holding a baby alligator over a table with a green cloth and other display items including a small skull
WARC staff member displays a baby alligator at World Wetlands Day
WARC staff member displays a baby alligator at World Wetlands Day
WARC staff member displays a baby alligator at World Wetlands Day

A special guest made an appearance at the 20th annual Louisiana Environmental Education Symposium where staff from the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center's Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) outreach office shared materials and information with teachers.

A special guest made an appearance at the 20th annual Louisiana Environmental Education Symposium where staff from the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center's Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) outreach office shared materials and information with teachers.

A desmid alga is bright red and green photographed in UV light
This single-celled alga is a natural ornament
This single-celled alga is a natural ornament
This single-celled alga is a natural ornament

It looks like a holiday ornament, but this lovely object is a single-celled freshwater alga from the desmid family, found in the marshes of Florida’s Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. USGS biologist Barry Rosen photographed it at 200x magnification using ultraviolent light and a fluorescence microscope.

It looks like a holiday ornament, but this lovely object is a single-celled freshwater alga from the desmid family, found in the marshes of Florida’s Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. USGS biologist Barry Rosen photographed it at 200x magnification using ultraviolent light and a fluorescence microscope.

A Cuban treefrog on a green leaf
Cuban treefrogs have leaped into Louisiana
Cuban treefrogs have leaped into Louisiana
Cuban treefrogs have leaped into Louisiana

Non-native Cuban treefrogs have established a breeding population in New Orleans, Louisiana, the first such population on the U.S. mainland outside Florida. The treefrogs were discovered at the Audubon Zoo shortly after a shipment of palm trees from Florida were planted in the zoo's elephant enclosure in 2016.

Non-native Cuban treefrogs have established a breeding population in New Orleans, Louisiana, the first such population on the U.S. mainland outside Florida. The treefrogs were discovered at the Audubon Zoo shortly after a shipment of palm trees from Florida were planted in the zoo's elephant enclosure in 2016.

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