🎣 Next weekend! The 2026 SWFL CISMA Invasive Freshwater Fish Roundup is April 24–26. Help remove invasive fish and support LAKEWATCH mercury research. Donate part of your catch. Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-swfl-...

💗 Roseate Spoonbill Feeding Fact: Roseate Spoonbills sweep their spoon‑shaped bills through shallow water to catch fish, crustaceans, and insects. Their pink color comes from carotenoid‑rich foods. 🦐🌅 📘 Learn more: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

🎉 Congrats to Abbey Belchior! 🎉 Florida LAKEWATCH MSc student Abbey was named the 2025 Teaching Assistant of the Year by @ufifas-ffgs.bsky.social. Her mentoring, thoughtful feedback, and strong leadership kept the course running smoothly and supported student success throughout 📚🏆 Well deserved! 👏

🪶 Bird Spotlight: Least Bittern! One of Florida’s most secretive marsh birds, often heard more than seen. Learn about its behavior, amazing camouflage, and marsh habitat in our latest article: new.express.adobe.com/webpage/RA0K...

Bowfin are ancient Florida fish that live in slow, vegetated waters. They are strong predators that eat fish, insects, and crayfish, and they can gulp air to survive in warm, low‑oxygen habitats. 🐟🌿 📸 Zach Randall, Florida Museum of Natural History

This week we celebrate LAKEWATCH graduate students and the impact they make every day. From fieldwork and data analysis to outreach and research, your dedication supports Florida’s lakes and strengthens UF’s legacy of science. Thank you for all you contribute statewide.

You can jog around Lake Alice -- or you can go out on it. Students in our FAS 4305C Introduction to Freshwater Fishery Science course are currently doing a mark/recapture study to estimate the Florida bass abundance of Lake Alice. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu35...

💜 Purple Gallinule Feeding Fact: Purple Gallinules walk across floating plants using long toes to reach seeds, fruits, insects, snails, frogs, and occasional small fish. 🌿🐌🐸 📘 Learn more: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

LAKEWATCH volunteers just reported a new species: the Florida Paddle Pawed Lake Gator, a tiny reptile that rows across the lake with its oversized front feet. It is friendly, helpful, and occasionally returns lost sampling bottles. Happy April 1! 😄🌊

#MondayMood 🐠 Museum technology is shifting how specimens are processed, providing more accessibility for research, education, outreach and collaboration. Explore our online exhibit: Inner Beauty 🩻 Skeletons Revealed from the Museum’s Fish Collection www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/exhibits/onl...

The University of Florida is hiring for an Assistant Professor of Freshwater Fish and Habitat Management! This role is not within LAKEWATCH but works closely alongside our program. 🗓 Apply by May 30, 2026 🔎 Requisition #539316 👉 explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/53...

Now hiring: OPS LakeWatch Program (part‑time) at UF 🌊 Support hands‑on freshwater monitoring with citizen scientists. Lab prep & sample processing, no experience required. $14–$16/hr. Apply by Mar 31: explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/53...

Bluespotted Sunfish are small but vibrant residents of Florida’s marshes and slow streams. Their bright blue spots shimmer in the light, and they feed on insects, crustaceans, and zooplankton, helping keep aquatic ecosystems healthy. 🌿🐟 📸 Zach Randall

📬 The new Florida LAKEWATCH Newsletter is here! Learn about lake science, microplastics, water monitoring history, and featured species like the Seminole Killifish and Least Bittern. Read it now: new.express.adobe.com/webpage/RA0K...

🌊 LAKEWATCH Grad Student Spotlight! Baylor is tracking how mercury moves through Florida lake food webs. Early results show top predator mercury can remain high even in productive lakes, highlighting the need to understand subtropical mercury cycling to better guide future monitoring and management.

Pied‑billed Grebes are stealthy divers that chase small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects underwater. They even swallow their own feathers to form protective pellets that shield their stomach from sharp bones. 🦴🐟🐦 Learn more: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

🌊 LAKEWATCH Grad Student Spotlight! Anthony is reviewing how freshwater wildlife are used to monitor PFAS. His work shows why finding the species that best reflect contamination is crucial for understanding how these chemicals move through freshwater ecosystems and shaping future research.

Bluefin Killifish are tiny, colorful Florida natives. Males flash bright blue fins in breeding season, and these little fish feed on insects, algae, and zooplankton in clear, vegetated waters. 🌿🐟 📸 Zach Randall, Florida Museum of Natural History

🌊 LAKEWATCH Grad Student Spotlight! Abigail studied tiny bottom-dwelling critters along the Ocklawaha River and found their communities shift with habitat, seasons, and storms like Hurricane Milton. These small species reveal big insights about Florida’s freshwater ecosystems.

🦅 Ospreys are expert fish hunters, relying almost entirely on live fish. Their reversible outer toes, barbed foot pads, and powerful plunge‑dives let them grip slippery prey and lift it straight from the water. 🎣🌊 Learn more: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

🌊 LAKEWATCH Student Spotlight! Our grad students recently shared their research at the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Symposium. This month we’ll highlight projects on river critters 🪱, PFAS monitoring 🧪, and mercury in lake food webs 🪱➡️🐟. Stay tuned!

🔍 Measuring dissolved oxygen is key to lake health. Most programs use electronic meters for quick readings, while the Winkler method is traditional but slow. Learn more in Part 4 of LAKEWATCH’s Circular: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

🐟 Blue Tilapia aren’t native to Florida! Introduced decades ago, they compete with native species for food and habitat. 🌿🐠 Learn more about Florida’s freshwater fish: go.ufl.edu/florida-fres...

🪶 Bird Spotlight: Belted Kingfisher! Heard a loud rattling call near water? It might be this striking bird. Learn about its behaviors and role in Florida ecosystems in our latest article: new.express.adobe.com/webpage/0ujS...

🐟 Oxygen and temperature shape lake life, from algae to fish. Highly productive lakes swing in oxygen, plants can block light, and sudden temperature drops stress fish. Learn more in Part 3 of LAKEWATCH’s Circular: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

🪶 Little Blue Heron Feeding Fact: Little Blue Herons slowly stalk their prey in shallow waters, using deliberate movements to sneak up on fish, frogs, and insects before striking with precision. 🐟🌿 Learn more about Florida’s aquatic birds: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

🎣 Florida Bass Spotlight! Discover what makes these bass unique in our latest article by LAKEWATCH’s Dan Willis. Learn about their biology, importance, and appeal to anglers. Read here: new.express.adobe.com/webpage/0ujS...

🌡️ Lake temperature affects oxygen, fish habitats, and mixing. Sunlight and air temp are key, but depth, wind, and water color matter too. Learn more in Part 2 of LAKEWATCH’s Oxygen & Temperature Circular: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

🐟 Black Crappie are ambush predators feeding at dawn and dusk, using sharp eyesight to strike prey! 🌅🐠 Ever caught one? What’s your favorite bait? Share below! 👇 Learn more: go.ufl.edu/florida-fres...

🎉 2025 LAKEWATCH Milestones! New rewards: 10 yrs = dry bag, 30 yrs = plaque in Hall of Fame. This year: 10 plaques (30 yrs), 5 shirts (20 yrs), 7 paddles (15 yrs), countless dry bags. THANK YOU volunteers for powering Florida’s lake research! 💙

🌊 Oxygen is vital for lake life, but levels can drop at night or in warm water, stressing fish. Most fish kills are natural, not pollution. Learn more in LAKEWATCH’s Oxygen & Temperature Circular: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

Those thousands of water samples collected by @ufifaslakewatch.bsky.social volunteers throughout Florida are in good hands. #sffgsredcarpet Learn more: lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu www.instagram.com/p/DUTllp5CfkQ/

🪶 Limpkins are snail specialists! Their curved bill extracts apple snails with precision. 🐌🌿 Learn more about Florida’s aquatic birds: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

📊 Explore LAKEWATCH Reports! Get insights on Florida lakes: water quality trends, fish communities, and mercury levels. Perfect for volunteers, researchers, and educators. 👉 lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/data--report...

🌊 Watery Word: Fetch! 🌊

🐟 Lined Topminnow Fun Fact 🐟 Lined Topminnows are small fish with bold horizontal stripes, often found near the surface in slow-moving or still waters. 🌊✨ 📘 Learn more: ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00000131/0...

📊 Explore the LAKEWATCH Water Quality Data Dashboard! Search lakes, view trends, compare key parameters, and download data for reports or projects. Start now: lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/data--report...

👏 Celebrating Chris Capkovic for 30 years of sampling Lake Brant in Hillsborough County! A matching plaque at UF Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences honors his lasting impact. 💙🌊

🪶Killdeer Feeding Fact: Killdeer forage by running, stopping, and pecking at insects and small invertebrates on open ground. Their quick movements help them spot prey in short grass or mudflats. 🐛🌾 📘 Learn more about Florida’s aquatic birds: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

Florida LAKEWATCH Data Hub is live! Access interactive water quality dashboards, request data, view reports, find citation guidance, SOPs, and FAQs all in one place. 📊 Explore now: lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/data--reports/

🌅 A Dock for Dan In memory of LAKEWATCH founder Dr. Dan Canfield, UF Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences faculty, staff, and students funded new docks for educational ponds. The first dock honors Dan’s legacy. Learn more: new.express.adobe.com/webpage/0ujS...

🌟 Yellow Bullhead Fun Fact 🌟 Yellow Bullhead catfish use their “whiskers” (barbels) to sense food in murky waters. Their yellowish-brown color helps them blend in! 🌊✨ 📘 Learn more: ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00000131/0...

📍 Find Your Nearest Collection Center Dropping off samples is easier than ever! Use our interactive map to locate centers, get contact info, and find freezers for sample drop-off and supply restocking. ✅ Explore now: lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/for-voluntee...

🎉 Honoring Yvonne Stoker for 30 years with Florida LAKEWATCH! She monitors Lake James in Hillsborough County. A plaque celebrates her service at UF Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 💙🌊

🪶 Great Egret Feeding Fact: Great Egrets use a “stand-and-wait” strategy, staying motionless in shallow water until the perfect moment to spear fish with their sharp bill. 🐟🌿 📘 Learn more about Florida’s aquatic birds: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

Volunteers are the heart of Florida LAKEWATCH! Our updated Volunteer Resources page makes it easy to find training guides, videos, field sheets, safety info, and coordinator contacts. ✅ Explore now: lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/for-voluntee...

🚨 Our New Website is Live! 🚨 The Florida LAKEWATCH site has a fresh design, easier navigation, and new tools for volunteers. Check our the NEW interactive Data Dashboard! ✅ Explore now: lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu

🐟 White Catfish have white bellies and tolerate a wide range of conditions, often found in slow or still waters. 🌊 Curious about Florida’s lake fish? Explore the Handbook of Common Freshwater Fish: ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00000131/0...

😬 Nuisance = native species that cause management issues or property damage. In Florida, cattails can clog waterways and limit recreation when nutrient-rich runoff helps them spread. Learn more: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...

📣 Congrats to Greg Smith! At the Pasco County meeting, Greg received his 15-Year Volunteer Paddle after monitoring Lake Jovita for 25 years. Thank you, Greg, for your dedication and the invaluable data you’ve contributed! 💙