{"id":1677,"date":"2020-10-29T22:39:34","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T02:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/our-work\/science\/"},"modified":"2025-06-30T16:24:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T20:24:47","slug":"science","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/our-work\/science\/","title":{"rendered":"Science"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tScience & Research\n\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tThe Conservancy of Southwest Florida Environmental Science Department conducts innovative scientific research to enhance the body of knowledge to assist in developing real-world applications in conserving, managing, and restoring our natural resources.\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Conservancy\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tWhat We Do\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t

Conservancy biologists specialize in a wide variety of research initiatives that focus on Southwest Florida’s unique habitats and wildlife, ranging from our estuaries to our uplands, urban environments, to the Western Everglades. The work of the Environmental Science Department includes ecological research, monitoring programs, restoration initiatives, and collaboration with universities, state and federal agencies, as well as community outreach. Coastal Ecology, Invasive Species, Western Everglades, and Urban Ecology are the focus areas of the department. We conduct research to enhance our understanding of the wildlife and the biological communities that are necessary to their survival.<\/p>\n

In the early 70s, after successfully saving Rookery Bay, the Conservancy turned its attention to scientific research and established the first marine research station within Rookery Bay. At the helm was Dr. Bernie Yokel, who conducted several branches of research ranging from the landmark Naples Bay Study to mangrove and fisheries research while at the Conservancy.<\/p>\n

Since this auspicious beginning, the Conservancy’s Environmental Science Department has evolved in response to changing needs for scientific information in our area. We specialize in providing impartial, objective research to advance the body of knowledge necessary to develop real-world solutions to conserve, manage and restore our natural ecosystems.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tOur Impact\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t20,174\n\t\t\t\t\tMangroves being monitored\n\t\t40,000\n\t\t\t\t\tPounds of python removed\n\t\t552\n\t\t\t\t\tRecord number of sea turtle nests protected\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tScience Department Projects\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Mangroves\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Mangrove Research<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

We monitor the health of our local mangrove systems, with particular focus on mangrove ecology and restoration.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Burmese\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Invasive Species<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

One of the primary initiatives at the Conservancy is to contribute science-based solutions to control the spread of invasive species in our region.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Loggerhead\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Sea Turtle Research<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

We have been monitoring sea turtle nesting and hatchling recruitment on Keewaydin Island continuously since 1983.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"GoTo\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Secrets of the Scrub<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Packed into 7.5 acres, the Christopher B. Smith Preserve at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center is teeming with life.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tScience Department Blog\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tConservancy surpasses 20-ton milestone in Burmese python removal, sets new record season<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJune 9, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tBaby, It’s Cold in the Water: Studying Marine Turtles in Cape Cod Bay<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 10, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tSea turtle season wrap up<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 6, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnnouncement<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t | \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tFlorida’s invasive snakes can eat bigger prey than we knew<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 24, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tConservancy science research staff presents at invasive species conference<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 17, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tThe wrath of Debby<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAugust 21, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tPreventing interactions and misidentifications with invasive cane toads<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJuly 19, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tLoggerheads, greens, and a leatherback… Oh my!<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay 31, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tBoard member joined the Burmese python research team in the field<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 15, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tData managers: The unsung heroes and heroines of science<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 12, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tShifting sands in time<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNovember 20, 2023\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tMillipedes, weevils and ants: Understanding a cane toad’s diet<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeptember 15, 2023\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tHow You can help\n\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tSupport the Work of Our Science Department\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Become\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Become a Member<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Membership helps support our work and gets you free membership to the Nature Center and many other perks. Join today!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Donate\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Donate<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The majority of our funding comes from people like you who care about protecting our environment in Southwest Florida.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Volunteer\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Volunteer<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A variety of fun volunteer opportunities are available. Interact with diverse people, learn new skills, and enhance and share your knowledge.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Science & Research The Conservancy of Southwest Florida Environmental Science Department conducts innovative scientific research to enhance the body of knowledge to assist in developing real-world applications in conserving, managing,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"parent":1663,"menu_order":27,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1677","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1677"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16311,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1677\/revisions\/16311"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}