The manatee has become Florida's most famous endangered creature, in part, because of controversy over boat speed limits in areas where Manatees are found. But a solution in the works would better protect manatees by making it easier for boaters to know when the creatures are near, eliminating some of the need for full time speed zones. It puts underwater devices to use so we'll be Listening for Manatees, all this week on the Florida Environment...

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As summer brings more people to Florida's beaches, researchers are working on one of the state's greatest threats to swimmers: Rip Currents. Around the U.S. Rip Currents cause about 150 deaths each year--an average of 19 of them in Florida. Far more are caught in the currents, but rescued: Near Daytona Beach alone, more than 600 rip current rescues a year. The new research hopes to warn when the dangerous currents might occur. Find out more about Forecasts for Rip Currents all this week on the Florida Environment...

Much of the environmental science in Florida is aimed at restoring things animal, vegetable and mineral. Add to that list, Florida's oyster reefs. Abundant as recently as the 1950s, oysters have been dredged and fished, and have shrunk in number from disease and habitat changes. But there's an effort to restore these ecologically critical populations. Restoring Oyster Reefs, all this week on the Florida Environment...

In parts of Florida, residential use accounts for 70 percent of the regions water demand, and a big part of the blame goes to our lawns--sprinkler systems set to go on like clockwork. But research says a Florida lawn might need only 20 days of sprinkler-use in an entire year--even during a drought. Hear about setting sprinklers to save water and how to mow for a healthier lawn. in Tips for Summer Water Conservation, all this week on the Florida Environment.

If it feels like the Summer season is here, that's because it is. But with an El Nino period coming to an end, this summer and rainy season could be very different from the past several. This year's Rainy Season is expected to provide less rain than usual -- Maybe half the rain of an average season. And that could lead to temperatures two degrees hotter than average that feel five degrees hotter. A Dry Hot Summer, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Florida's Horseshoe Crab is one of the most unusual-looking of the state's many creatures. And despite it's being around and unchanged for millions of years, there's little known about the status of its population. So with the crabs in the midst of spawning season on the Gulf Coast, scientists are asking for beachgoers to help with survey of when, where and how many are seen. We're Tallying Horseshoe Crabs all this week on the Florida Environment...

News in Florida's environment is filled with stories of non-native plants and animals disrupting native species. But a new study makes that claim about a non-native species loved by many: domestic cats that roam wild. Florida is home to as many as 10 million feral cats, which are said to kills hundreds of millions of small animals and birds each year. Find out more about the Concern over Feral Cats all this week on the Florida Environment...

If you were asked to point out Florida's most beautiful plants, chances are some of what you'd choose wouldn't be from here, but a transported tropical species. Ecosystem restoration in Florida is bringing new attention to the truly native Florida plants--those that have survived thousands of years in a hot, wet climate that burns when it dries. Hear about Florida's Native Plants: Past. Present and Future all this week on the Florida Environment...

Pine forests like the one that makes up Florida's Ocala National Forest used to cover the Southeast United States, but scientists estimate that only three percent of that original forest remains. They say the remaining pine savannahs are among the richest ecosystems in the world... and that controlled fires--known to benefit the forests--are also good for pines isolated in suburban backyards. Find out more about Fire for Backyard Pines in this week's Florida Environment....

Scientists studying West Nile virus in Florida say dry weather now, means a greater likelihood of human infection later in the year. The disease is carried by birds, and transmitted by mosquitoes. Dry weather means less fresh water for the bugs and birds, putting them in close proximity. Couple that with predictions that Florida is ripe for a West Nile epidemic. Hear more about Watching for West Nile Virus all this week on the Florida Environment...

Aquaculture, or fish farming, in Florida is a $100 (M) million dollar a year industry. And while it's mostly tropical fish, there's tremendous growth in the food fish segment. That's come partly as a result of fishermen finding new business after a net-fishing ban, and from scientific advancement allowing salt-water fish to be raised inland on lower-cost agricultural land. Find out more about Fish Farming in Florida all this week on the Florida Environment...

April in Florida has been proclaimed Butterfly Month. That's in part due to an unusual effort to save a butterfly species whose only colony in the world was found in a state park in the Keys. That's the Miami Blue butterfly, and with 50 or fewer of them left, it was one of the rarest animals in the world. Now, a laboratory breeding and hatching effort might help reintroduce the species. We're Celebrating Florida's Butterflies all this week on the Florida Environment...

Scientists studying hurricanes have made a breakthrough in tracking the highest windspeed of storms. Their new data suggests that as a hurricane's winds grow stronger, wave action might actually flatten a bit, and that winds near the water might be greater than models had predicted. Find out more about their findings and the disposable devices that made it possible in Waves and Hurricane Winds all this week in the Florida Environment.

Florida may be finding a garbage solution. Already one of the most populated states and continuing to grow, Florida faces a challenge over what to do with garbage. Scientists say they're on the verge of a new treatment system for solid waste that breaks it down faster, makes it smaller and produces energy at the same time. It might prove to be cleaner, to boot. Find out about Bioreactor Landfills all this week on the Florida Environment...

Many Floridians--even Florida boaters--never give seagrass a second thought. State agencies hope to change that by pointing out the grass's benefits to fish and marine animals, as well as its role in commercial and sport fishing and tourism. Restoration of grassbeds harmed by boat propellers or boats running aground is a new priority. Find out more in Recognizing Seagrass Importance, all this week on the Florida Environment...

While Florida's sub-tropical climate makes possible many of the unusual plants and animals that live here, it is the plants and animals that make Florida look so exotic. And in the past 30 or 40 years, parrots have joined the native fauna. Imported as pets, their releases and escapes have led to 70 species being identified in the state, with 20 species seen commonly. Find out more in Introducing the Parrots of Florida, all this week on the Florida Environment.

When a new plant or animal species is introduced in an area, it often harms native species, sometimes completely taking over a habitat. There's new research that confirms what many have suspected about invasive species: that these plants and animals do better where they're introduced, because they leave their parasites and diseases behind. We'll hear the latest research on Why Invasive Species Succeed, in today's Florida Environment.

After decades of preservation, Florida's black bear population--at least parts of it--appears to be growing. Scientists expect a bear census being taken now, to show 3,000 or more bears in Florida. That increase, along with an increase in Florida's people population is making human/bear encounters more common. Find out what's ahead for management of the creatures in Status of Florida's Black Bears all this week on the Florida Environment...

The wild orchids found in Florida represents nearly half the species found in North America. That's due partly to Florida's diverse climate, representing the southernmost population of some orchids, and the northernmost population of more tropical species. At least one expert on orchids says the flowering plants are doing well here, and we have conservation lands to thank. Find out more in Wild Orchids of Florida, all this week on the Florida Environment...

The American Crocodile was considered the rarest reptile in the United States when it was declared an endangered species in 1975. Nearly three decades of protection in its South Florida habitat, however, has dramatically increased the population. All this month, scientists will venture into the heart of the Everglades to catch, count, measure and release every Crocodile they can find. Hear about this first of a kind Crocodile Survey, all this week on the Florida Environment....

With cold front after cold front passing through Florida's weather forecasts, you might think it's a colder than average winter here. But historical records of Florida's weather would stand in your way. Hear what they show about this winter, why Florida's "normal" weather is only a concept and why our cities are warmer than before, in The Winter Weather of Florida, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Last year brought a double whammy to Florida's loggerhead sea turtle population: The lowest number of nests in a decade, and a second straight year of record mortality. While the nesting decline could correct itself this year or next, scientists say it and the higher than normal number of turtle deaths are cause for concern about the world's most important loggerhead population. Hear about Trouble for Turtles all this week on the Florida Environment...

While most discussions of Florida's Everglades are on its environmental merits, a newly published book looks farther back to its merits as an archaeological region. Using data from hundreds of South Florida archaeological sites, the book details thousands of years of human habitation in and around the Everglades, finding patterns that relied on the environment that are, in some ways, similar to patterns of today. Find out more about the Archaeology of the Everglades all this week on the Florida Environment...

Imagine having a house on a lake, and the lake disappears. Or a huge hole suddenly appears in place of the road you're driving on. That's the reality of a sinkhole -- as many as 150 are reported each year in Florida, and there's concern the problem is growing. Find out what causes sinkholes, what contributes to the phenomenon, and the dangers they pose to our drinking water in Sinkholes to the Rivers Below, this week on The Florida Environment.

Scientists have now documented that Florida's Fire Ants are capable of killing sea turtles. As an aside to research documenting beach erosion and coyotes as threats to Florida's nesting sea turtles, the new report confirms that fire ants can swarm and sting turtles to death while they're still in the nest. Could the problem get worse? Find out more in Fire Ants Threaten Sea Turtles, all this week on the Florida Environment.

What grew from a traditional contest of who could kill the most birds has become an annual event that might be responsible for saving entire bird species. It is the Christmas Bird Count, in which tens of thousands of people spend a day recording every bird they come across. Find out how more than a hundred years of these holiday counts have become a boon to science as we Celebrate Christmas Bird Counts all this week on the Florida Environment

If you played in nature as a child, you're more likely to be involved in environment issues, more attuned to environment education and more likely to work in a environmental field. Those are just some of the findings from new research that shows what outdoor play in natural areas--or the lack of it--might lead to later in life. Find out more about the Impact of Play in Nature all this week on the Florida Environment...

In the next several years, Florida panthers may be on the move. Introducing the panthers into Central or North Florida, or even other Southeastern states might be part of a Federal plan to restore panther populations. Find out why their current South Florida habitat isn't enough, and some of the issues in moving the big cats to new areas in New Habitat for Florida Panthers, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Fifty years ago, invading Fire Ants from Brazil found their way to Florida. Thriving on sunshine and dug-up soil, the imported Fire Ant is now in every Florida county, much of the Southeastern U.S., and is marching on to western states. Chances are you've felt it's sting, but you might not know of it's effect on wildlife, on agriculture, and what's being done to fight it. You'll hear about the Spread and Control of the Imported Fire Ant, this week on The Florida Environment.

There's a new invader in Florida with an abnormally varied appetite. It's a tiny insect, first spotted in Florida in 1999 and now found widely in the Southeast counties. It spreads on air currents and can suck the insides out of virtually every plant it can find--more than 120 species are affected so far. As the bug begins its move from neighborhoods into the state's natural areas, find out about Battling the Lobate Lac Scale all this week on the Florida Environment...

As cooler weather has begun in Florida with greater frequency, Florida's manatee population has begun its winter congregation, pulling the creatures from cooling coastal waters into warmer waters, such as natural springs and the artificially heated waters near power plants. Advocates say boaters need to use special care near these areas, and have several recommendations for getting along with Manatees Warming for Winter, all this week on the Florida Environment.

For the third straight year, voters in Florida counties have approved every land conservation measure put before them: three were on the ballot this year and each passed by an impressive margin. Public land advocates say Florida is a prime example of a nationwide trend in which voters elect to pay additional taxes to preserve land for a variety of public uses. Find out more in Electing More Public Lands, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Although there seems to be regular good news about animals returning from the brink of extinction, a new report says more than a quarter of bird species in the U.S. are in trouble or decline. And while these species would not yet qualify for protection as endangered or threatened species, the report says continued threats and population declines are heading in that direction. Find out more about this Watch List of Birds all this week on the Florida Environment...

For decades, Florida researchers have preserved some of the bones from nearly every dead manatee collected by the state, partly as a record of mortality, but also for research purposes--especially determining a manatee's age. Now, collections of those preserved bones are headed as far away as Scotland and Japan. Find out why and what's hoped to be learned from A Worldwide Interest in Manatees, all this week on the Florida Environment...

An advocacy group for the nation's wildlife refuge system says invasive species are wreaking havoc on refuge lands around the country. And the problem in Florida is especially serious, with invasives showing up here in record numbers and taking advantage of the climate and growing season. Find out how volunteers might be a key component of fighting the invasive plants and animals that are part of A Silent Invasion, all this week on the Florida Environment.

State agencies are working to develop the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, a river-bound experience from near the Georgia border to the Gulf of Mexico--about 200 miles. Most of the land along the river is already in public ownership, but the Wilderness trail would add overnight and recreation areas along the river. Find out more about the environmental and economic impact of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, all this week on the Florida Environment...

They're called "wildlife corridors:" natural lands that are used to connect larger preserves, allowing wildlife to travel, unfettered between otherwise unlinked areas. And though they've been in use for years, there's only now, new research that shows the corridors do work. But researchers warn that the corridors might not do everything that's expected of them. Find out more in Working with Wildlife Corridors all this week on the Florida Environment...

Florida's human population has been alerted to concerns about the West Nile Virus, but it is the bird population that might be hardest hit. Nationwide, the virus is behind more than 100,000 bird deaths, effecting hundreds of species. But a bird vaccine against West Nile--now being tested--shows great promise for rare birds in captivity, and perhaps in the wild. Find out more in Birds and a West Nile Vaccine, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Florida officials have made one of their first reports to Washington on progress towards the state's half of the 8 (B) billion dollar Everglades Restoration plan. Now a year and a half into the planned 30 year project, the state has acquired about half the land needed for the entire restoration, and 75% of what's needed for the projects approved so far. Find out more about the Everglades Restoration Report, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Florida is home to the nation's southernmost national forest, which is also the oldest national forest in the Eastern U.S.. Boasting 10,000 years of native American history and nearly 400,000 acres of Central Florida landscape, the forest is home to a variety of endangered and protected species. We'll hear about the importance of forest harvesting and fire and the challenge of urban encroachment in Florida Places: The Ocala National Forest, all this week on the Florida Environment.

There's a new weapon in the war against termites: a computer chip. That could prove to be especially important to Florida which boasts more species of termites than any other state in the nation. The new chip will be part of a monitoring system that might someday alert homeowners via the Internet of a termite's presence. Find out more about the High-Tech Termite Tracking, all this week on the Florida Environment.

With an energy bill under consideration in the U.S. Congress, the subject of renewable energy sources gets new attention: power from solar energy, wind, geothermal -- even from agricultural byproducts. A group of indpendent scientists is pushing for more U.S. electric power to come from these sources, saying the cost is at an all time low. Find out what this could mean in Florida's Renewable Energy, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Hoping to learn more about lightning and thunderstorms, NASA has embarked on a new project, using unmanned aircraft to fly over storms as they form in the Everglades. By keeping the plane's pilots on the ground, the Cessna-sized craft can fly higher, slower and longer than conventional reconnaissance vehicles. Find out what's being learned from Flying Florida's Thunderstorms all this week on the Florida Environment...

Among Florida's State Parks, only one has the distinction of being called a State Wildlife Park. It is Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, which houses the natural springs at the head of the Homosassa River. It is the only state park with captive wildlife on display and its springs attract a regular population of Florida Manatees. Find out more about this commercial tourist attraction turned State Park in Florida Places: Homosassa Springs, this week on the Florida Environment.

Florida is known worldwide for its unique flora and fauna. But even within the state, there is a place that is unique, even by Florida standards. It's an ancient sand dune system that runs down the middle of state for 150 miles from Orlando, due south. Hear about the plants and animals found there and nowhere else in the world in Florida's Desert Islands: The Lake Wales Ridge, this week on the Florida Environment...

Hoping to better explain the Everglades -- past, present and future -- a newly published book features the works of nearly two dozen writers on different facets of the Everglades ecosystem. Starting as far north as Tampa and Orlando with the Kissimmee River, traveling south across Lake Okeechobee and ending up in Florida Bay, the creative non-fiction gives voice to the connected systems in the River of Grass. Hear more about The Book of the Everglades, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Florida scientists are monitoring a pair of nests made by Kemp's Ridley sea turtles -- one of the most endangered of marine animals. They're excited by the find as for decades the Kemp's Ridley was thought to only nest in Mexico. With a population that's dropped from tens of thousands of nesting females to only 500, the expansion of nesting areas may be important to their survival. Find out more in Kemp's Ridleys Return to Florida, all this week on the Florida Environment.

When we think of wildlife habitat, wide open spaces might come to mind. But a contraption that looks like a candelabra is to provide housing for some of Florida's creatures, namely bats. The man-made bat house is to replace some of the hollow trees that bats might otherwise call home. And with the bat house might come a reduction in insects for the nearby community. Find out more about Housing Florida Bats all this week on the Florida Environment...

If all goes as planned, ranchers in Florida might be raising something different... wetlands. It's a public/private partnership that would pay cattle ranchers for land easements that would allow the permanent restoration of former wetlands that've been ditched and drained. It could affect hundreds of thousands of acres along the Kissimmee River and Fisheating Creek. Find out more in Wetland Ranching, all this week on the Florida Environment...

The past month brought a return of a natural malady to parts of Florida: Sinkholes. The most serious kind are formed when the ceiling of an underground cave, caves in. This fast-forming type of sinkhole comes with no warning and has been known to swallow up roads and buildings. Geologists say a combination of drought and summer rains might be making matters worse. Find out more in Sizing up Sinkholes all this week on The Florida Environment...

In a report ranking wildlife diversity in all 50 states, Florida gets both good marks and bad. As you might expect, we rank near the top in number of species of birds and reptiles. But Florida is also at the top of the list when you rank the percentage of birds, reptiles and mammals at risk. And since some of them are found only in Florida, a lost population here, could mean extinction. Find out more in State of the State's Nature, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Big Cypress National Preserve protects about 750,000 acres of Southwest Florida, and not long ago, as much as 160 square miles of it was home to the invasive plant Melaleuca. Thanks to an aggressive, two-and-a-half million dollar eradication effort, the bulk of the preserve is maintained nearly Melaleuca free. Hear more about this exotic success in The Big Cypress Melaleuca Fight, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Scientists are diving in the Florida Keys with the ambitious goal of estimating the number of fish and marine animals on the Keys' coral reefs, from near Miami, through the keys, to the Dry Tortugas. The month-long count will include more 2,500 scientific dives, in an effort to evaluate the relative health of the Keys' coral reef ecosystem. Find out more in Counting the Fish in the Sea, all this week on the Florida Environment.

It has been an endangered species in Florida for nearly 20 years, but chances are you haven't heard much about the Key Largo Wood Rat. They live only in the tropical hardwood hammocks of Key Largo. Once numbering more than 3,000, scientists now estimate fewer than 200 are still alive. Hear what makes the little rodent such a big deal, and what steps are being taken save The Key Largo Wood Rat all this week on the Florida Environment.

Florida's protection against oil drilling got a boost last week with a pair of announcements, one effectively prohibiting oil drilling off Florida's Gulf coast and another doing away with plans for oil drilling in the Big Cypress Preserve. Find out how these agreements came to be and what they represent for Florida's beaches and natural resources in Protecting Florida From Oil Drilling, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Researchers have new concerns about the baby sea turtles that nest on Florida beaches and then head offshore to make a living. The turtles are consuming unusual amounts of plastic and tar, creating an immediate issue of their health, and sometimes leading to death. Find out where the refuse comes from and how ocean forces actually concentrate these materials in Tar, Trash and Turtles all this week on The Florida Environment....

The relative health of Florida's Lake Okeechobee is improving. The lake--Florida's largest--is probably more healthy today than it has been in five or six years: The water is clear, grasses are growing, fish are flourishing and wading birds have returned. Oddly enough, Florida's most recent drought gets some of the credit. Find out more in Less Water for Okeechobee's Health, all this week on the Florida Environment.

There's good news for Florida's endangered wood stork: and recent dry weather gets some of the credit. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is historically the nation's largest single nesting area for the wood stork, and this year's more than 3,000 chicks is the greatest number there in 25 years. Hear what's behind the good season along with the challenges ahead in Deliveries from the Wood Stork, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Love is in the air. But this Cupid can bite. It is the peak of alligator mating season in Florida. And while the mature males in Florida's million-strong alligator population are out seeking mates, they expand their territory, making encounters with us humans much more likely. You'll hear what to watch out for, and where to watch for it, as Alligators Go Hunting, all this week on the Florida Environment.

There's a new plant-eating bug in Florida. And fortunately, its diet is exclusively the invasive Melaleuca plant. Scientists recently released the gnat sized bug in Everglades National Park in an effort to fight the spread of Melaleuca--now infesting more than 500,000 acres in the state. Hear how the new effort got started and how it could slow or stop the troublesome tree. Meet The Melaleuca Sap Sucker, this week on the Florida Environment..

Something is making sick, the dolphins of Indian River Lagoon--a 150 mile long estuary south of Cape Canaveral. Scientists aren't sure what's causing the variety of dolphin afflictions that range from skin lesions to cancer. Plus, nearly 300 of the Indian River dolphins have died in the past six years--30 of them in an unexplained event late last year. Find out more in Concern for the Indian River Dolphins, all this week on the Florida Environment.

It's being called the most troublesome exotic plant ever to invade Florida: The Old World Climbing Fern was virtually unknown here until the late 1970s, and now covers more 100,000 acres. Left unchecked, scientists say it could impact millions of acres in the future, killing off the state's cypress forests and the habitat they represent for wildlife. Find out more about Fighting the Old World Climbing Fern, all this week on the Florida Environment..

Florida's longest river--the Apalachicola--has been named to a national group's list of the country's most endangered rivers. The group says a federal project that keeps the river dredged for barge traffic is to blame for environmental threats, and they question whether the small amount of barge traffic on the river warrants the project continuing. Find out more in Threats to the Apalachicola River, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Two Florida parks have been named to the list of the 10 most endangered national parks, a ranking published annually by a parks watchdog group. Both Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve remain on the list for the 4th consecutive year. The group cites uncertainty about the Everglades Restoration Plan and oil and gas drilling as the Florida areas' greatest threats. Find out more in Danger for Florida's Parks, all this week on the Florida Environment...

They're calling it "black water," an area that might be hundreds of square miles, off the Southern Gulf coast. Fishermen and others who've traveled through the noticeably dark water say there's no sign of marine life in it, and that fish headed toward it will change course--avoiding the area. But there's been no report of fish kills in the zone either. Find out what scientists are suspecting, and how they're working to know more about the Black Water Phenomenon, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Much of Florida's coastline has seen some sort of beach renourishment, which usually involves pumping sand from just offshore back onto the beach. But Miami Beach has exhausted its offshore supplies of the right kind of available sand, and is considering the unusual move of shipping sand in from hundreds of miles away at Apalachicola. Hear what's behind the effort and what it might mean for the future in Long-distance Beach Renourishment all this week on the Florida Environment.

For years, scientists have wondered how Manatees can navigate the often murky waters they live in... How they can sense the presence of other manatees or humans who venture too close. Now, some Florida scientists say they've found whisker like hairs all over manatee bodies, which seem to send information about minute changes in water flow... We'll hear more about the research and what impact it might have in Manatees: The Better to See You With, all this week on the Florida Environment...

The seagrasses found around Florida's coastline are the most productive in the entire United States. South Florida's seagrass community is the largest sea meadow in the world. And up to 90% of Florida's marine life owes at least part of its survival to seagrass. But the grasses are threatened, and once gone can take years to return. Find out more about this important part of the state's ecology in Growing Seagrass Awareness, all this week on the Florida Environment...

The Florida Panther, nearly extinct in the 1970s and 80s, has made a comeback of sorts. Scientists say the present population of 70 to 100 panthers is probably the greatest number of the big cats here in the past 50 years. But because these top-level predators need lots of room, further increases in number will depend greatly on new lands they might occupy. Find out more in Counting the Florida Panther, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Public and private groups are hard at work in Florida, hoping to interconnect a system of trails so that people might walk, bike or ride across the state, from top to bottom, or coast to coast. There's also an effort to link these trails to eco-tourism and historic sites. Find out how wildlife might benefit as well from these greenways and trails, as we hear about the Greenways of Florida, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Last month was the worst January on record in Florida for boating-related Manatee deaths, and experts say the month's warm weather is to blame. They say it's a combination of the Manatees thinking it's Spring, and leaving their warm-water congregation points, and boaters taking advantage of the warm weather in greater number. There is concern though, that the early warm weather could spell more problems. Find out more in Warm Winter Concerns for Manatees, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Scientists have long thought that drought years in the Everglades were good years for wading birds as more small fish would be easier to find in the little remaining water. In fact, though, it turns out the years after droughts--when the water returns--are banner years for the long-legged birds. Find out what might lead to that surprise, and what it might suggest for water managers, in Drought's Benefits for Wading Birds, all this week on the Florida Environment.

The Brown Pelican is the state bird of Louisiana, but in the 1960s it became all but extinct there and around the gulf coast. Thanks to a unique program that transplanted young birds from Florida to Louisiana, the birds have come back strong there, with more than 16,000 nests counted in the last census. With the pelican's environmental threats largely eliminated, biologists are watching for natural threats. Find out more in Florida's aid to Louisiana Pelicans, all this week on the Florida Environment.

The wild orchids found in Florida represents nearly half the species found in North America. That's due partly to Florida's diverse climate, representing the southernmost population of some orchids, and the northernmost population of more tropical species. The author of a new book on orchids says the flowering plants are doing well here, and we have conservation lands to thank. Find out more in Wild Orchids of Florida, all this week on the Florida Environment...

There's yet another Florida animal facing possible extinction. But instead of issues of habitat or food supply, Florida's Mottled Duck is threatened by breeding. The duck, which is found only in Florida, is crossbreeding with Mallards that have been shipped here and released into the wild. Their hybrid pairing means the Mottled Duck is literally being bred out of existence. Find out more about The Fight to Save the Mottled Duck all this week on the Florida Environment...

As the nation's wildlife refuge system prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday, a national advocacy group says the system is in trouble--facing budget shortfalls that could threaten staffing, services and management of protected lands. The report highlights problems at refuges around the country, including one in Florida. Find out more about the report, called "Shortchanging America's Wildlife," all this week on the Florida Environment...

For years, scientists have promoted the idea of marine reserves -- coastal and ocean areas, where fishing is prohibited. They said it would cause fish to prosper. And for years, fishermen have opposed the reserves, concerned the lost area would harm their fishing efforts. New research, however, supports the science, showing world record fish being caught just outside the reserves. Find out more in Support for Marine Reserves, all this week on the Florida Environment.

As Florida's seasons have officially changed, the state's firefighters are looking ahead to a busy dry season. Though the fire forecast indicates a normal year, that still represents hundreds of wildfires in our driest and windiest season. Find out what goes into a fire forecast, why green foliage is no deterrent to fire, and steps firefighters take to limit a forest's fuel, in a Forest Fire Forecast, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Forests in the Southeastern United States--including Florida--can be sustained, but face tremendous challenges. That's the finding of a new report, described as the most comprehensive scientific study ever on U.S. Forests. Some of the challenges cited include urban development and the fact that nearly 90% of Southeast Forests are privately owned. Find out more in Sustainable Forests, all this week on the Florida Environment...

As hurricane forecasters reflect on this year's Atlantic hurricane season, greater than normal activity was in some ways a plus. The year's frequent storms gave scientists additional opportunity for research, gathering perhaps the most comprehensive data ever on changes that take place as storms strengthen. Find out how this information might help with better forecasting of hurricane strength in A Successful Hurricane Season, all this week on the Florida Environment....

Of all the bird species in the United States, more than half either visit or call Florida home. That's in part because of diverse habitats, subtropical climate and a location that's on Caribbean or South American migrations. Recognizing the state's importance, organization are including Florida in a global effort to identify Important Bird Areas. Find out what that designation means and how it interacts with conservation and preservation in Florida's Important Bird Areas, all this week on the Florida Environment.

With its nickname, "The Sunshine State," Florida would seem to have what it takes to be producing its electricity with solar power. But actually only a small part of the state's energy generation comes from solar resources. While technology continues to improve, major hurdles remain. The greatest of which is cost. Find out ways solar research is making a difference and what lies ahead in Solar Power for the Sunshine State, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Scientists are hoping to solve a mystery involving a Florida fish called the Gulf Sturgeon. Once harvested for its flesh and caviar, the Gulf Sturgeon is now protected, but efforts at protecting its habitat are stymied because there's no real idea of where the fish go when they leave their freshwater spawning grounds. We'll hear how researchers hope to follow the fish and what they hope to learn in Tracking Florida's Gulf Sturgeon all this week on the Florida Environment...

As more of Florida becomes urban and developed, there's a new kind of land preservation underway. In addition to a statewide quest to preserve large tracts of land, there is also a movement toward claiming or reclaiming smaller parks or green areas, often right in a city's midst. Find out about how these new land efforts are planned and what they might represent for a city's future in Greenprinting for Florida, all this week on the Florida Environment...

A group of scientists from around the Southeastern U.S. has published a report detailing concerns about what global warming might inflict on states bordering the Gulf of Mexico: threats to our water supply, more severe droughts and rainy seasons, and new challenges to public health. In addition to a call to help slow global warming, the group also asks that the effects be considered in future growth plans. Hear more in Global Warming and the Gulf of Mexico, all this week on the Florida Environment...

After 20 years of increases, Florida's Bald Eagle population is leveling off at what is believed to be the same number of eagles that were in the state way back in 1940 -- before DDT and the post-World War II land boom took their toll. Even if Florida has reached its limits in supporting Bald Eagles, Florida nests may be breeding eagles for other Southeastern States. Find out more in Surveying the Bald Eagle Population, all this week on the Florida Environment.

When Loggerhead Turtles leave their nests in Florida, they embark on an 8,000 mile migration across the Atlantic and back. Scientists have now discovered that the turtles keep to their path and in warmer, food-filled waters, by responding to magnetic fields--almost like a global positioning system. Find out how they uncovered this mystery and the warning it sends for conservation efforts in Loggerheads' Magnetic Navigation, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Most of Florida remains under a health alert for West Nile- and Eastern Equine Encephalitis... diseases carried to humans by mosquitoes. In dealing with the threat, state and county agencies have had to deal with an unusual weather pattern and an unexpected delays in insecticide-spraying from airplanes in response to the threat of terrorism. Find out how mosquito control has responded in Fighting Viral Mosquitoes, all this week on the Florida Environment...

For years, the number one killer in hurricanes and tropical storms was storm surge. And while it still carries as much danger as ever, inland flooding has replaced it as the largest threat to human life. That means forecasters are given extra attention to the potential for flooding--whether directly from a storm or its impact on rivers and river basins. Find out about a new early warning tool, called the River Flood Outlook, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Parts of Florida make up the lightning capital of the United States, with lightning striking ground about one out of every four days. And there might be more lightning in the future--partly a result of the trend towards warmer temperatures. Find out about this potential for more lightning, as well as what's being learned about lightning protection and lightning safety, in More Lightning Days Ahead, all this week on the Florida Environment.

While parts of Florida saw damage from Tropical Storm Gabrielle, there was some benefit as storm rainfall raised the water level in Lake Okeechobee to 13 feet above sea level. The lake is the state's largest reservoir for agricultural and urban water supplies, and had been at record lows earlier this year. Find out more about management of lake's levels, and what lies ahead in a Lucky 13 Feet for Lake Okeechobee, all this week on the Florida Environment...

There may be some truth in folklore about keeping mosquitoes away. Scientists looking at generations-old advice about catnip have found some of the plant's essential oils to be highly effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay. So effective, they say, that it might someday compete with chemical repellents. Find out more about the new research and what else might be learned in Plant Oils Repel Mosquitoes, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Studies of our contemporary climate leave little doubt that weather patterns around the world are influenced by the temperature of the ocean surface, and events we call El Nino and La Nina. But until recently that impact was only speculation. Now researchers have tracked the events back hundreds of years, showing their effect on famous military battles and early explorers. We'll hear more about El Nino in History: Storming Through the Ages, all this week on the Florida Environment.

With media attention all round the world, it seems Florida shark attacks are getting greater attention than ever before. At the same time there is one entity in Florida that is paying attention to shark attacks all over the world. It is the International Shark Attack File--a directory of attacks that goes back decades. We'll hear how it spots social changes, suggests medical treatments and offers attack predictions, in Tracking Shark Attacks, all this week on the Florida Environment.

In an effort to find solutions for Florida's Manatee population, scientists are studying Manatees in the Central American country of Belize. They've been tracking the creatures there for years, and have begun seeing behavioral differences that they feel are related to the relative lack of man-made disturbance that the Florida Manatees see nearly every day. Find out more about the research and the differences in Manatee Studies in Belize, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Restoration of the Everglades is at its very beginning, and certainly gets a great deal of attention here in Florida. But nationwide interest is great as well, with scientists and government officials wondering whether Everglades lessons might serve their troubled ecosystems. A current national magazine devotes its entire editorial coverage to the Everglades: How it changed, how its being restored and what lies ahead. Find out more in The Everglades Rises Again, all this week on the Florida Environment.

New research on hurricanes says we're in for a decade or more of bad news as it relates to big storms. In the mid 1990s, key climate patterns switched, throwing us into a high activity period for major hurricanes that hasn't been seen since the 60s. While the Caribbean has already felt the upswing in activity, Florida and the Eastern US have so far been spared this period's major storms. Find out what's behind the change and how it's likely to impact Florida in a Forecast for More Major Hurricanes, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Florida continues to draw most of its potable water from underground aquifers. But there is concern that the relatively pure ground water may someday run out. So the study of water treatment technology is seeking alternate sources for water, and is finding tremendous success with treatment of brackish and salt water. We'll hear about the status of the technology and how it might be coming to tap near you in Drinking Water From the Sea, all this week on the Florida Environment...

While global warming or pollution often get the blame for declines in the world's coastal ecosystems, new research indicates that too much human harvest of the sea is to blame. And it's not just today's high-tech fishing, but the overfishing of hundreds or thousands of years ago that might've set declines in motion. We'll hear more about the findings and the unconventional source of the study's data in History's Impact on Coastal Ecology all this week on the Florida Environment

Florida is home to the nation's southernmost national forest, which is also the oldest national forest in the Eastern U.S.. Boasting 10,000 years of native American history and nearly 400,000 acres of Central Florida landscape, the forest is home to a variety of endangered and protected species. We'll hear about the importance of forest harvesting and fire and the challenge of urban encroachment in Florida Places: The Ocala National Forest, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Whether you know them as sand flies or the more colloquial "noseeums," the tiny, biting flies of coastal Florida leave a memorable impression, with a pound-for-pound bite far ahead of their horsefly or deerfly relatives. We'll get the real story on noseeums: what does and doesn't work as repellent, why little at present can keep them away, and some successful eradication measures under review in Biting back at noseeums, all this week on the Florida Environment.

For decades, scientists have the studied the long-distance dust that comes from Africa on air currents across the ocean, all the way to Florida. But only now are studies are finding that the African dust might carry bacteria, fungus and viruses, that might pose problems for both human health and agriculture. We'll hear why this of particular interest for Florida, and what else is known about the phenomenon in an Ill Wind Blows African Dust, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Scientists have identified a new termite in Florida. And though it's not as destructive as the "super termite" discovered here 20 years ago, the new wood-eater is getting attention because--while it's common in the Caribbean--it has never been found in the continental U.S. Find out more about the new pest, how it was likely transported and why Florida is the perfect home, in New Termites Come to Town, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Most of Florida starts this summer in severe drought conditions after a rainfall shortage of four feet or more over the past three years. But ending the drought might require less rainfall than you think. In fact, even several months of normal rainfall might even do the trick. Climate scientists have developed new calculations and a website to set people straight on what it'll take. Find out more in Breaking the Florida Drought, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Florida's environment is diverse, ranging from Freshwater wetlands to coastal systems and upland habitats. As a result, education about the environment has tended to be only regional in scope. But a program is getting underway to provide education about all of Florida's Environments. Instructors are being trained across the state for this University-developed program. Find out more in Florida's Master Naturalists, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Since the early 1700s, the Seminole indians have called Florida, home. And they adapted to this environment, finding food and shelter, as well as medicine. And while several thousand Seminoles remain, their use of herbal treatments and remedies has given way to readily available modern medicine. A new book, though, translates their early healing practices into modern terms. We'll hear about Healing Plants and Seminole Medicine all this week on the Florida Environment...

Federal geologists have come up with a new map for the coast of the southeastern U.S. It uses new, laser mapping technology to predict the vulnerability to storm damage of specific areas, with more precision and greater reliability than ever before. We'll hear about the project, who'll put it to use, and what it reveals about coastal threats, in Mapping Coastal Vulnerability to Storm Damage, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Conservation of natural lands is only the beginning of a process that helps support Florida's plants and animals. It is the ongoing management of those natural lands that determines whether they'll provide that support, or lose their natural functions. And the science and practice of Natural Lands Management continues to improve. Find out how it's helping lands both public and private in Managing Natural Lands, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Scientists have declared a new barometer for judging the success of the planned Everglades restoration. It is called the Apple Snail and it is not only a food source for many wetland creatures, but is also believed to be an indicator of a healthy wetland ecosystem. Find out what's been learned about the snail and how it might help water managers determine future water plans in The Everglades through a Snail's Eyes, all this week on the Florida Environment...

The Bald Eagle has made a comeback. Decades of protection and changing attitudes have contributed to a ten-fold increase in the birds' US population since the 1960s. But that growth brings with it some challenges. The first-come eagles claimed the best habitat, pushing late arrivals into more developed and human populated areas. Can they survive there? Will Eagle sightings become commonplace? Find out more in The Bald Eagle Comeback, all this week on the Florida Environment.

As state and federal agencies move toward more protection for manatees, via refuges, sanctuaries, and boat speed zones, they use scientific data to determine how much protection is needed and where. So the interpretation of that data becomes key. Scientists say the question isn't how many manatees is enough, it's whether the population is growing or shrinking. Find out more in Manatees: Working the Numbers all this week on the Florida Environment...

Hoping its a way to conserve some of the billions of gallons of water that are drained off of Florida every day, state agencies are promoting Aquifer Storage and Recovery (or ASR)--a technology that would capture the rainwater runoff, store it underground, then pump it back up when it's needed. But it has proven to be a controversial idea. Find out more about the Controversy of Aquifer Storage and Recovery, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Florida is soon to have the world largest center for the research of butterflies and moths, and within a decade, it's expected house the world's largest collection of butterfly and moth specimens--more than 10 million projected. The specimens and research open the door for sophisticated biodiversity studies, breeding and transplanting endangered species, and public enjoyment of butterfly beauty. Hear more in the World's Largest Butterfly Center, this week on the Florida Environment...

Ask someone to name Florida's Marine Mammals, and you're likely hear Dolphin and Manatee. But winter also brings a bigger visitor: The endangered North American Right Whale. The Atlantic coast of Florida and Georgia is the whale's only birthing or calving ground. And this year's birthing season is the best on record. We'll hear more about the whales and what their bigger numbers might mean in More Right Whales for Florida, all this week on Florida Environment...

Three Florida national parks have been named among the most endangered in the country by a park advocacy group. South Florida's Everglades and Biscayne National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve are said to face threats from man-made drainage and the intrusion of off-road vehicles. Will pending Everglades restoration and vehicle regulations remove the concerns? Find out more in Florida's Endangered National Parks, all this week on the Florida Environment.

The death of an unusual number of Loggerhead turtles in Florida starting late last year continues to trouble state scientists. More than three times the usual number of turtle deaths was reported--indicating the potential deaths of a thousand or more Loggerheads. We'll hear what this might mean for the upcoming nesting season, what might be behind the problem, and what scientists will watch for in the future, in Unexplained Loggerhead Deaths, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Decades ago, the Whooping Crane was almost extinct--down to only 16 birds. But captive breeding has brought their number up to about 400. Now, there's an effort to reintroduce the birds to their winter home in Florida. But that involves teaching the captive-bred birds how to migrate from their northern nesting grounds by following an ultra-light aircraft, south... Hear more in Bringing Back the Whooping Crane, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Efforts to protect Florida's Manatees from human-caused harm have found new success: Manatees are often injured by the devices that control Florida water bodies: like locks and flood gates. But those devices are being made safer, with technology the Navy uses to detect underwater mines. Similar technology is being studied for boaters. Hear more about High Tech Manatee Protection, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Call it an unintended consequence: when Florida lake levels began dropping in the 1960s, wells were dug to an underground aquifer, and the lakes were refilled. But the underground water contained traces of natural radium, and the lake's soil, plants and animals have concentrated the radioactive substance to toxic levels. We'll hear how this happened and how it was unintentionally discovered in Radium concerns in Florida Lakes, all this week on the Florida Environment...

Most conversations about Florida's Environment include some mention of invasive plants and animals and the harm some of them have brought to native species. But invading species are a problem, not just in Florida, but literally worldwide. Hear about Florida's role in this global change, what challenges the state is dealing with, and what invaders might lie ahead in Biological Invaders: Nature Out of Place, all this week on the Florida Environment.

Perhaps the greatest influence on modern weather is the equatorial climate disruption called El Nino. Now Florida scientists say they've discovered what triggers El Nino, and say their knowledge will allow for much earlier and more accurate predictions of what kind of weather lies ahead. Hear about their research, and how we might all benefit from better forecasting in Discovering a Trigger for El Nino, this week on the Florida Environment...

Although the National Wildlife Refuge system protects about 92 million acres of US lands, all is not necessarily well on those lands. The National Audubon Society has published a report called "Refuges in Crisis," and highlights ten refuges in the U.S. that demonstrate the problems. One of these is in Florida and was also the nation's very first National Wildlife Refuge. Find out more about challenges facing these important national assets in Refuges in Crisis, this week on the Florida Environment

Volunteers have begun planting the first of 10,000 trees in one of Florida's National Wildlife Refuges (The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County). That may sound ambitious, but organizers say it's just the tip of the iceberg--they hope 200,000 trees are planted in coming years to help restore their part of Florida's ancient forests. Find out what's behind the all-volunteer effort, and how it has captured the spirit of one Florida community, in Bringing New Trees to an Ancient Forest, this week on the Florida Environment.

A list of seven Florida plants and animals are being considered for removal from or reclassification on the endangered species list. National agencies say the group--including the Bald Eagle, Key Deer and American Crocodile--has sprung back from endangered status as threats against them were lessened or eliminated. Hear what's behind the process and the progress and why federal agencies say it doesn't create an "open season," in Changing the List of Endangered Species, this week on the Florida Environment.

A recent federal report on wetlands in the United States, shows them still losing ground, but at a dramatically reduced rate (80% lower than the decade prior). Based on this there's optimism that losses might end altogether in the future, replaced by gains in U.S. wetland acreage. Hear about Florida's role in this process, what's behind the reduction, and where some of the wetland gains might come from, in Wetland Losses on the Decline, this week on the Florida Environment...

The first four months for a statewide strike force on environmental crimes, have resulted in more than 150 arrests and more than 300 charges for the alleged dumping of thousands of tires and tons of toxic and solid waste. State environmental officials say it's a changing climate for environmental crimes, and that Florida is leading the fight. Find out more in Operation Green Lightning: Striking Environmental Crimes, this week on the Florida Environment....

It's no secret that watering lawns and landscapes uses a great deal of Florida's available water--as much as 30 percent by some estimates. But a new program seeks to avoid using drinking-quality water, by advocating lower-quality shallow wells instead. The savings from the first stage of this program in Pinellas County alone could be close a half million gallons of drinking water a day. Find out more in Incentives for Shallow Well Irrigation, this week on the Florida Environment.

By at least one indicator, pollution is on the decline in the Everglades. Levels of Mercury found in the feathers of Great Egret chicks have declined by almost 75 percent in the past three years of consecutive reductions. This is especially good news because at one time, the mercury levels from these tests were among the highest in the world. We'll hear more about the causes and cures in Everglades Mercury Reductions, this week on the Florida Environment.

Among Florida's State Parks, only one has the distinction of being called a State Wildlife Park. It is Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, which houses the natural springs at the head of the Homosassa River. It is the only state park with captive wildlife on display and its springs attract a regular population of Florida Manatees. Find out more about this commercial tourist attraction turned State Park in Florida Places: Homosassa Springs, this week on the Florida Environment.

Shallow coral reefs in Florida and around the world are regularly harmed when marine vessels are grounded on them. So imagine the damage made by the grounding of a US Navy nuclear submarine on a reef off Broward County. That damage has prompted a reef repair project that promises to tell scientists the fastest way to make up for damage done to these fragile underwater structures. Find out more in Repairing Coral Reefs, this week on the Florida Environment.

When you think of endangered species, mammals and birds are likely to come to mind first, perhaps followed by some fresh water creatures. But a national group of scientists says salt water fish -- many of them found around Florida -- now face extinction. Find out about the new attention focused on marine and estuarine areas, the reasons behind the threat, and how some popular fish species head the list in Salt Water Fish at Extinction Risk, this week on the Florida Environment...

Now that Congress has approved funding for restoration of Florida's Everglades, we await the start of the 30-year, 8 (B) billion dollar environmental reengineering project. But where does it begin? What projects--and more important--what effects will we see first? Find out what happens first as scientists and engineers plan to fix Florida's plumbing in the First Steps of Everglades Restoration, this week on the Florida Environment...

It's quite common for public lands to be set aside for conservation purposes, offering protection for wildlife. Now, there's a recommendation that the same kind of protection be offered in marine areas, underwater. Hear about these Marine Protected Areas, why a national science panel feels they're necessary, and how they might affect Florida waters, in Tools for Protecting Marine Areas, this week on the Florida Environment...

Scientists have just completed an unusual deep sea mission -- unusual because it was not in deep, open-ocean trenches, but rather the deepest waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where plants and animals literally live off of oil and gas seeping from the underwater floor... Hear about the mission, this unusual food web, and how its exploration might impact us on land, in Life Without Light at the Edge of the Gulf, this week on the Florida Environment.

What we call "Red Tide" is a fact of life in Florida... an algae bloom that kills fish, makes shellfish toxic to humans, and releases an aerosol that prompts scratchy throats for people near the beaches. Now scientists believe they know what starts the process: Dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa. And that moves them one step closer to an early warning system. Hear about Red Tides from Desert Dust this week in the Florida Environment.

In an effort to control a plant that invaded Florida from afar and has all but taken over some areas, scientists are turning to biological warfare -- literally importing bugs whose only food source is the prolific invader: Melaleuca. You'll hear how weevils might help slow the spread of the papery tree through areas including Florida's Everglades, in Importing Bugs for Invading Trees, this week on the Florida Environment.

It's an environmental paradox: Florida's power companies are using more efficient methods to generate electricity, which means in part that they're discharging less heated water into rivers and bays. But Manatees have come to depend on the warm water to get them through the winter. Plus, even natural springs appear to be cooling. You'll hear about efforts to keep the waters warm in Cool Winter for Manatees, this week on the Florida Environment.

After years of regrowth, seagrasses on Florida's Gulf Coast are declining. That's concerning, because they are both an indicator of environmental health and an important breeding ground for the lower tier of the marine food chain. What's behind the decline? Where is it most severe? And what's the likely impact? Find out in Declines in Gulf Coast Seagrasses, this week on the Florida Environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is advertising a website that tells you the quality of the drinking water from your specific utility. But since you can't just change water companies, why would you want to know? Find out who benefits most, what you're likely to find in the reports, and what you can do with what you learn, in Drinking Water: What's in it for You? This week on the Florida Environment.

As much attention was given to this month's 100th space shuttle launch, few were thinking of what NASA means to earth-bound plants and animals. The 140,000 acre Kennedy Space Center property is actually one of the largest protected wildlife areas in the state. Hear how it became home of both the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore in NASA's Space for Wildlife, this week on the Florida Environment...

Most of us learned in school that more than two-thirds of the world's surface was made up of oceans. But with only five percent explored, there continues to be a great deal we don't know. And with the Florida peninsula's dual coasts on the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, we benefit from a recent acceleration of ocean knowledge. We'll hear more in Exploring the Oceans, this week on the Florida Environment.

A recent report to congress tells of dramatic threat from coastal erosion, saying that one in four beachfront homes will be lost unless something is done. It recommends changes in Federal flood insurance to account for the erosion threat. With one of the nation's longest coastlines, Florida beaches get special attention. Find out more in the Evaluation of Erosion Hazards, this week on the Florida Environment...

Last month, what is believed to be a shark attack, took the life of a swimmer near St. Petersburg Beach. While fatal attacks are rare in Florida -- this was the first in more than 10 years -- it is a reminder that sharks do populate both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Find out why such attacks are so unusual, how sharks are being studied for medicine, and hear about concerns for their future, in The Facts of Florida Sharks, this week on the Florida Environment...

Last year, one national group gave Florida a Gold Medal for having the best state parks in the U.S.; this year, a national parks group called Florida's parks among the nation's most threatened. Why the disparity? What is the condition of Florida's state parks? And what does their future hold? We'll hear about some of the threats and some of the opportunities in The Legacy of Florida's State Parks, this week on the Florida Environment...

As scientists continue to learn more about the human body and disease through gene mapping and other inside-the-body technology, others are seeking disease and cure knowledge from the outside. Or in one case, from sea creatures. We'll hear from a Florida researcher who's both a noted marine biologist and a medical doctor on what he thinks can be learned from Medical Treasures From the Sea, this week on the Florida Environment.

When a homeowner illegally dumps yard waste it's a crime. But when commercial operators start illegal dumping or companies illegally dump waste or chemicals to save money, state enforcement agents call it organized crime, and they've begun a new initiative to combat it. Hear about Florida's new Environmental Crimes Strike Force in Fighting Environmental Crime, this week on the Florida Environment.

Florida is known worldwide for its unique flora and fauna. But even within the state, there is a place that is unique, even by Florida standards. It's an ancient sand dune system that runs down the middle of state for 150 miles from Orlando, due south. Hear about the plants and animals found there and nowhere else in the world in Florida's Desert Islands: The Lake Wales Ridge, this week on the Florida Environment...

It's a reasonable assumption that better shade in your yard would help keep you cooler. But new research takes that assumption a step farther, saying that a city's better regulation of trees helps keep a community's electricity bills lower. Find out about a new technique for measuring the density of a tree canopy and how municipal ordinances might promote denser tree cover in Promoting Urban Forests, this week on the Florida Environment.

If you're confused by what you hear about complex environmental matters like global warming, marine pollution and sea level rise, at least one Florida scientist is trying to make the facts easier to comprehend. She's one of only 20 top scientists selected to help bridge the gap between published findings and popular knowledge. Meet her and find out more in Making Environmental Science More Accessible, this week on the Florida Environment.

Florida's black bear population has dropped to an estimated 2,000. But as human population grows, we encounter the bears more often than ever. Most of their diet is seeds and berries, but as human-provided food sources grow more accessible, it can be a real problem. Where exactly are Florida's bears, what's their threat to livestock, and why are humans bears biggest threat, Find out in The Wildlife Ambassador, Florida's Black Bear, this week on the Florida Environment

It's been just over a year since work began on a half (b) billion dollar restoration of the Kissimmee River in south-central Florida. It is a man-made solution, to a man-made problem, which began when the winding river and its wetlands were turned into a deep-channel canal in order to reduce flooding risk. Hear some of the project's history, an impressive return of wildlife, and the expected long-term benefits in Restoring the Kissimmee River, this week on the Florida Environment.

Just like herds and crops raised above ground, Florida's aquaculture industry raises plants and animals underwater. With hundreds of farms, the biggest crop is tropical fish for aquariums, but table fare like clams and catfish are farmed here as well. Find out how this might take pressure off fisheries in the wild and what's being done to grow a better fish in Aquaculture: Florida's Underwater Farms, this week on the Florida Environment.

Tens of thousands of Florida Sea Turtles have made trips ashore this season to lay their eggs. And scientists say their numbers look good for the future of the species. We're in the midst of nesting season with hatchings getting underway. Find out about the important role Florida plays in Sea Turtle survival, hear about the success of turtle protection and what might be ahead in Sea Turtles: Tending the Nest, this week on the Florida Environment.

Perhaps no animal is tied to the image of Florida so much as the bottlenose dolphin. Partly because of a 1960s television series, and partly because of a natural fascination with the marine mammal, humans have befriended the creature. But is our perception of the bottlenose accurate? Are they as smart and as people-loving as we think? Find out in Bottlenose Dolphin: King of the Sea? this week on the Florida Environment.

As summer weather patterns begin to take hold, we are reminded that Florida is the lightning capital of the United States -- more lightning strikes per year than anywhere in the nation, making lightning damage the state's most common insurance claim. Find out what conditions make the area so right for lightning, what's going on at the state's lightning research laboratory and what you can do for protection in Summer Lightning Ahead, this week on the Florida Environment.

Much like living in a spaceship, scientists are spending up to 10 days at a time, submerged in the world's only underwater research laboratory in the Florida Keys. It's called Aquarius, and the underwater motorhome allows researchers to spend days instead of hours submerged on the reef. Find out how the project works, what it's like to live underwater and what might be ahead for the reef research, in Living and Diving on a Coral Reef, this week on the Florida Environment...

Imagine having a house on a lake, and the lake disappears. Or a huge hole suddenly appears in place of the road you're driving on. That's the reality of a sinkhole -- as many as 150 are reported each year in Florida, and there's concern the problem is growing. Find out what causes sinkholes, what contributes to the phenomenon, and the dangers they pose to our drinking water in Sinkholes to the Rivers Below, this week on the Florida Environment.

Seaweed has taken over a three square-mile reef near Palm Beach and is slowly choking out the corals, plants and animals that usually flourish there. As a result, some are calling it "killer seaweed," and are blaming coastal pollution for helping it to spread. Find out what's behind this deep water bloom, why pollution is suspected, and why it's almost uncontrollable, in Killer Seaweed on South Florida Reefs, this week on the Florida Environment.

A dry start to the year is slowing the beginning of Florida's mosquito season. The buzzing and biting that usually follows wet weather is correspondingly lower when the weather is dry. That's good news for reducing the threat of disease from one mosquito species -- but expect its relatives to be out in force when the rains begin. Find out what's expected for summer months in A Dry Season for Florida Mosquitoes, this week on the Florida Environment

If you've been seeing more alligators recently, that's because it's mating season and some of Florida's biggest gators are up and moving. But their seemingly sudden appearance near human populations alarms some, and sets off events that could result in 'gators being killed. Hear what's behind the alligator activity, what constitutes a nuisance animal, and what becomes of them in The Perils of Alligator Mating Season, this week on the Florida Environment.

There's new emphasis on the danger of flooding from hurricanes. The Centers for Disease Control have calculated that more than 40% of hurricane fatalities are from drownings during and after a storm. Hear what this means to Florida hurricane preparations, how new forecasting might include better flood information, and some special precaution for evacuations in New Attention to Hurricane Flooding, this week on the Florida Environment...

A new predatory invader is making a home in south Florida. Scientists are concerned that the Asian Swamp Eel -- discovered recently near both Tampa and Miami -- could pose a serious problem for Florida wildlife, especially in the Everglades. Hear why there's concern, what makes it such a threat, and why the Everglades is a ripe target as Florida Braces for Asian Swamp Eels, this week on the Florida Environment...

You won't have to look too hard to see that Love Bug season is upon us again. The pairs of tiny flies are showing up on windshields and grills of cars and trucks around Florida. Where do they come from? What brings them to our roadsides? And is anything being done to control the nuisance? Find out in Little to Love About Love Bugs, this week on the Florida Environment...

Some government agencies in Florida have begun planning for sea level rise. Often attributed to global warming, this slow rise -- a foot in the past 100 years -- is causing Florida's coastlines to move inland. What's ahead for Florida's beaches? What's being done in preliminary plans? And what's the long-term prospect for coastal wetlands and the Everglades? Find out in Public Plans for Sea Level Rise, this week on the Florida Environment...

Florida's coral reefs will see greater protection under a new plan from the federal Coral Reef Task Force. That's in response to reports that 70% of the world's reefs might die off in the next 50 years. Florida's coral reef is not only the third largest barrier reef in the world, but it gets more use than any reef on earth. Find out how that use and protection might go hand in hand in Concern and Protection for Coral Reefs, this week on the Florida Environment.

Nearly a third of the coastal areas in the U.S. are severely affected by high levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorus pollution, causing environmental damage on all the nation's coasts. A new government report says that's the cause of Red Tides and fish kills, contaminated shellfish and dead seagrasses. Find out where the concentrations come from, and what's being done to stop them in Nutrient Pollution in our Coastal Waters, this week on the Florida Environment.

The waters around Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center were closed for security reasons, and that closing has created a boon for fish and wildlife as well as anglers. More fish, more kinds of fish and bigger fish are found -- not only in the protected area -- but also in the open areas around it. Hear what might be learned from this protection, how other fishery preserves are doing, in Protecting Fish to Improve Fishing, this week on the Florida Environment.

Starting this month, the National Park Service bans the use of personal watercraft in national parks. While some areas will be excluded, two of Florida's national park areas will see an outright ban. This is the first system-wide regulation of what's being called "mechanized recreation." Hear what conflicts prompted the ban and how popularity worked against the watercraft in