ADMIN NOTE: I welcome project contributors to comment on this controversial story from earlier this year regarding the release of genetically modified mosquito larvae to control the population of the introduced Aedes aegypti. All opinions welcomed, and please keep it civil and informed.

"Non-biting male mosquito larvae part of controversial program to curb spread of diseases such as dengue, Zika and yellow fever

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/28/florida-keys-genetically-modified-mosquito-larvae

Wed 28 Apr 2021 03.00 EDT

The Florida Keys will this week see the release of genetically modified, non-biting male mosquito larvae as part of a controversial program designed to curb the spread of insect-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika and yellow fever.

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District and British firm biotech Oxitec announced last week that 12,000 of the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito species are expected to emerge each week for twelve weeks from six locations: two on Cudjoe Key, one on Ramrod Key and three on Vaca Key.

Eventually it is planned that hundreds of millions of the mosquitoes might be released."

Woman who collected queen conch seashells in Florida sentenced to jail
USA TODAY NETWORKAshley May, USA TODAY Published 11:05 a.m. ET July 18, 2018 | Updated 10:50 a.m. ET July 19, 2018
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/07/18/tourist-collected-queen-conch-seashells-florida-sent-jail/794883002/

"A Texas tourist who collected 40 queen conchs seashells from Key West, Florida, is going to jail for 15 days.

A Florida judge also sentenced Diana Fiscal-Gonzalez of Dallas to serve six months of probation and pay a $500 fine, plus $268 for court costs, for taking 40 queen conchs from the waters that surround Key West, the Miami Herald reports."

Thanks to all who contribute to this project and who helped it reach the 10,000 observation milestone! We look forward to what fascinating creatures will be documented in the next 10,000.

From climate change to kidnappings, the threats are adding up against these tiny, adorable cervids.

by Jason Bittel November 17, 2017

Way down in the Florida Keys live about 950 miniature relatives of the white-tailed deer. Since the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago, the species has become so adapted to island living that it has shrunk down to no more than 32 inches tall, about the height of a toddler. So when Hurricane Irma struck Florida in September, it’s no surprise that people were worried that the six-foot storm surge might sweep the tiny deer into the sea of extinction.

But these little guys are tougher than they look. In the two months since the storm, wildlife managers at the National Key Deer Refuge have determined that nearly all of the endangered Key deer survived. Just 21 of them died from storm-related causes, says Kristie Killam, a ranger for the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges, a group of four refuges spread among the islands.

https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/floridas-endangered-key-deer-survived-hurricane-irma-their-future-stormy

By Kevin Wadlow
kwadlow@keynoter.com

A new round of conversation and controversy over the possible harvest of Goliath grouper starts Aug. 1 in the Florida Keys.

http://www.flkeysnews.com/news/local/environment/article158021524.html

"MARATHON, Fla. (AP) — Experts are meeting in the Florida Keys this week to discuss the latest research on the lucrative spiny lobster."

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160711/APN/307119892

"Imagine lush mangroves, romantic background music and about two dozen good looking members of the opposite sex. Sounds like the perfect place to meet your mate. At least that's what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is going for, as it tries to get the Magnificent Frigatebirds of the Florida Keys to relocate their nesting sites."

Full story linked here:
http://wlrn.org/post/new-dating-hotspots-open-florida-keys-time-frigatebirds

Welcome contributors and viewers to the new Florida Keys Biodiversity project! The goal of this project is to serve as a portal for all those with an interest in learning more about the bounty of wildlife that can be found in the Florida Keys, and to encourage everyone to contribute their past and future sightings here. If you have a collection of photos from past trips to the Keys that you just haven't had a chance to submit to iNaturalist, I encourage you to do so! Also, if you know other naturalists that are visitors to the keys who may not have signed up for iNaturalist yet, please invite them to do so, which will allow all of us to view, help identify and enjoy their observations!

Please return here often to view updates other contributors have made, and read about the latest news and events regarding Keys wildlife. If you have an event that you would like posted here, contact me with a web link to the item via iNat Mail.

As always, I welcome any thoughts and opinions about this project that you may have.

Sincerely,

Jay Keller,
Project Administrator