Celebrating Christy Horsburgh
Florida LAKEWATCH’s biologist and lab manager
Written by Florida LAKEWATCH director, Gretchen Lescord
Transitions can be hard, even under the best circumstances. And that’s what we had when I started as the new director of the LAKEWATCH program: the best possible circumstances, due largely to my predecessors, who built such a strong program. I consider it a privilege to build on the solid foundation they created. Last newsletter, you read an article from one such predecessor, former director Mark Hoyer, who recently retired. This edition, I am writing to celebrate our other recent retiree and a core part of the LAKEWATCH program: Christy Horsburgh.
Christy first met Dr. Dan Canfield, the founder of Florida LAKEWATCH, in 1983 as an undergraduate student. Dr. Canfield recruited Christy to work with him the summer of 1985, surveying aquatic plants and collecting water chemistry samples from lakes and rivers around our beautiful state. Her aptitude and excitement for the work quickly became apparent and she has been with LAKEWATCH ever since. As a LAKEWATCH biologist, Christy helped the program survey dozens of lakes across the state, gathering data that has been used in many research studies and student projects. As an aquatic plant expert, she co-authored the LAKEWATCH book titled, “Florida freshwater plants a handbook of common aquatic plants in Florida lakes” in 1996 (copies of which can be ordered from the UF library). Christy also completed her Masters of Science with Dr. Canfield in 1999, The Lake Regions of Florida: water chemistry and aquatic plant data.
In 2017, Christy transitioned from the field to the LAKEWATCH analytical laboratory (see our newsletter article about her shift!). For the past 6 years, she has been in charge of analyzing the 50,000+ samples we receive each year from our dedicated volunteers. Under her leadership, our lab collaborated closely with DEP and refined our methods to produce the most accurate data possible.
On a personal note, Christy was a huge support for me when I arrived at Florida LAKEWATCH. Her daily visits to my office were welcoming and she gave me invaluable insight into the program and feedback on my early ideas. She helped me understand our activities and the program’s rich history, as well as the volunteers and staff who made it all possible. While she is already missed, she ensured our new lab manager (Dr. Zhuona Li) and extension manager (Dr. Liz Moreau) were properly welcomed, supported, and trained before her departure.
Christy has started her retirement off right, enjoying long hikes with her dog, Sunny. She’s also been visiting her family in Texas and celebrating with friends. Please join me in thanking Christy for her decades of hard work and dedication to the Florida LAKEWATCH program! If you’d like to send Christy a message, you can reach her at: horsburg@ufl.edu.
Welcome LAKEWATCH's new Managers!
Our new faculty director, Dr. Gretchen Lescord, has brought an influx of new ideas to the LAKEWATCH program and we are hoping to grow our monitoring, research, and extension activities. Dr. Lescord has hired three new managers to facilitate these goals: former Regional Coordinator Mrs. Marina Schwartz is now the Data Manager, Dr. Zhuona (Joanna) Li is the new Scientific Laboratory Manager, and Dr. Liz Moreau is the new Extension and Field Manager.
Marina Schwartz is the new Data Manager for Florida LAKEWATCH. Marina designs and maintains LAKEWATCH’s data management and sharing systems and supports LAKEWATCH staff in research, teaching, and extension activities. Marina has been with LAKEWATCH since 2018.
Marina is a Florida native from the Tampa area. Marina received her Bachelor of Science degree in Integrative Animal Biology from the University of South Florida in 2016 and a Master of Science Degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida in 2019.
Marina and her husband, Andy, love to travel, and enjoy finding new hiking, camping, and fishing adventures across the United States. She is always in pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee. You can contact Marina at: (marinaschwartz@ufl.edu) or (352) 273-3640
Dr. Zhuona Li is the Scientific Laboratory Manager for LAKEWATCH. She is responsible for overseeing daily operations and managing the lab staff. Since 2014, she has been a resident of Florida and holds a PhD in analytical toxicology, along with master's and bachelor's degrees in environmental science. Throughout her career, Zhuona has actively participated in projects related to marine and lake environmental impact assessments.
Feel free to reach out to Zhuona at zhuonali@ufl.edu.
Dr. Liz Moreau is the new LAKEWATCH Extension Manager and will work closely with the Regional Coordinators and Director in support of the Mission and Goals of the program. She also edits the newsletter!
Liz is a newcomer to the field of limnology, coming to us with a marine ecology background. But don’t hold that against her! Having lived her first 20 years in Ohio and Michigan she gained an early appreciation for freshwater ecosystems and recreation. Since then, she has lived in four states (WA, AK, NH, SC) and two countries (Ecuador, Costa Rica) before landing in Florida in 2017 for her PhD studies at UF.
Liz brings a wealth of relevant research skills and citizen science experience to LAKEWATCH! Her research has focused on crustacean fisheries and disease ecology, working with various stakeholders to address applied scientific questions. She has also worked extensively with citizen scientists and their data in her role as a sea turtle biologist for the state of South Carolina.
In her free time Liz enjoys kayaking, scuba diving, camping, gardening, and spoiling her dog, Juniper, and cat, Huxley. She also loves traveling, learning about new cultures, and exploring naturally beautiful places.
You can contact Liz at: duermite@ufl.edu or (352) 273-3611
LAKEWATCH data is used in new research!
In 2022, UF researchers from the Department of Soil and Water Sciences published a new paper on the effectiveness of residential fertilizer bans on water quality across Florida. And they used data that you collected as part of the LAKEWATCH program! More specifically, they used data from our lakes with data from before and after fertilizer bans began in the mid 2000s. With a few other filtering criteria, this gave them 160 lakes, shown in the map below, which they then categorized by the county residential fertilizer ordinance:
- Summer ban (fertilizer is prohibited during the summer wet/growing season)
- Winter ban (fertilizer is prohibited during the winter dry/dormant season)
- Nonseasonal ban (restrictions after seeding or sodding)
- No ban (fertilizer can be used whenever)
Overall, a lot more research is needed to fully understand the effects of fertilizer bans in our state, but this study suggests that winter bans decrease nutrient loading slightly more than other types of bans. If you would like to learn more about this study or fertilizer bans in general, see the following resources:
- Manuscript: https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10279
- UF/IFAS Extension document: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SS724
- Blog post: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2022/09/06/study-shows-fertilizer-ordinances-improve-water-quality-but-timing-matters/
- Fertilizer ordinance map: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/fertilizer/
- Florida Friendly Landscaping program: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/
We are introducing a new section of the LAKEWATCH newsletter called Ask the Experts! In it, we will use our collective knowledge and enlist advice from outside experts to answer your most burning questions related to our lakes, rivers, and coastlines. So, please email your questions to fl-lakewatch@ufl.edu and include “Ask the Experts!” in the subject line. We look forward to hearing from you!
For this inaugural column we are answering a question that we’ve been asked a lot recently: I’m seeing more filamentous algae in my lake; what is causing this and how can I get rid of it?
First, what are you seeing?
There are several types of filamentous algae affecting Florida lakes. Green algae, such as Spirogyra, Pithophora, and Cladophora can grow to massive and unpleasant concentrations but do not produce toxins. On the other hand, blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, can be toxin-producing. You may have heard these filamentous cyanobacterial blooms called “Lyngbya” - even by us here at LAKEWATCH! However, using advanced molecular methods, Dr. Laughinghouse and other researchers have found a variety of algae species in Florida’s freshwater, but true Lyngbya species may not be here. One of the most common Microseira wollei, which taxonomists renamed from Lyngbya wollei. We now refer to this group of cyanobacteria species as “Lyngbya-like”.
What do they look like?
Lyngbya-like algae can produce thick mats attached to the bottom of lakes and rivers, typically in clearer waters with a lot of light available. These mats are often dark blue to black in color when they start growing. Trapped gases can cause them to detach from the lake bottom and float to the surface, turning them lighter yellow or orange in color. Often, these filamentous algae blooms disappear as quickly as they appear.
Are Lyngbya-like algae a problem?
Whether on the benthos (lake bottom) or surface, these mats are often undesirable to lake users. They can shade out other aquatic plants, can contain toxins, smell unpleasant as they decompose, and complicate fishing, swimming, and other recreational activities. At this time the cause of these blooms and why they disappear is unclear, though it is likely related to excess nutrient availability. Some reports suggest that Hydrilla removal may free up nutrients that the cyanobacteria use to grow (see Cowell and Botts 1994 for more details).
How do you control Lyngbya-like algae?
Once established, cells from filamentous algae can easily move between waterbodies on boat hulls, in bilge water, and by many animals, so it is important to implement control measures as early as possible. Many of the familiar control measures used on other aquatic weeds (outlined in our circular “A Beginner’s Guide to Water Management – Aquatic Plants in Florida Lakes”) can be helpful. Mechanical control using harvesters to remove floating filamentous mats can help with dense algae growth, but it doesn’t help prevent future problems or remove the algae attached to the lake bottom. Chemical control including algaecides control growth because they are toxic to the algae or bind nutrients to limit growth. Application of algaecides should always be done in consultation with a lake management professional and in accordance with applicable regulations.
Cowell, B.C. and Botts, P.S. 1994. Factors influencing distribution, abundance and growth of Lyngbya wollei in central Florida. Aquatic Botany 49(1):1-17.
Tom & Peggy Prevost
Santa Fe Lakes, Alachua County
Written by Florida LAKEWATCH Extension Manager, Liz Moreau
Tom and Peggy Prevost adore their lake – Lake Santa Fe and its smaller basins, Melrose Bay and Little Santa Fe Lake, which they have been sampling for LAKEWATCH for nearly 34 years! In that time, they have only missed a handful of samples, racking up 433 months of sampling from their beloved 24 foot Sea Auk, “the Big Easy”.
The boat’s name harkens back to Tom’s childhood in New Orleans; but he spent his summers in Melrose with his grandparents, who built the house that Tom and Peggy now live in, right on Melrose Bay. Thus, Tom fell in love with his lake at a young age and moved to the area upon graduating from high school. He soon met Peggy and they grew their family, raising three daughters to love the lake as well.
They spend as much time as possible on the lake fishing, bird watching, and water skiing. He claims that their impressive sampling record is simply because their schedules and abilities allow it, though it’s clear there is also deep passion for conserving the beauty and function of this precious natural resource. In addition to the regular monthly LAKEWATCH sampling, Tom and Peggy have participated in various research projects over the years. One such project involved sampling of 36 stations to assess whether nearby farmland was adding fecal coliforms to the lake water. That’s dedication!
When asked if he has a favorite memory on the lake, Tom says:
“When I look out, you never know what you’re going to see in the mornings. It’s a blessing... The natural beauty that we’re able to see...so you have an interest in keeping the lake and water quality good.”
We here at LAKEWATCH appreciate this interest and offer Tom and Peggy our sincerest thanks for being such dedicated, long-term volunteers!
Black Crappie
Scientific name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Written by Regional Coordinator, Dan Willis
You often hear the phrase “Florida is the Speckled Perch Capital of the World”, leading many cities like Okeechobee to have a Speckled Perch Festival (March 9th & 10th, 2024). Black Crappie are prized fishery and fished for sport (state record 3.83 lbs.) but in many counties in Florida, they are also a local subsistence fishery for people. The daily bag limit is 25 per person per day and the possession limit is two days bag limit per licensed angler (FWC Freshwater Fishing Regulations).
Unlike other panfish, such as bluegill and redear sunfish, they are found throughout most of their life in open water, where they will associate with structure if possible. During their spawning season (February to March) they will move inshore. The males will clear the beds for spawning and guard them. Crappie are fished for all year, but fishing pressure increases when the crappie moves inshore to the littoral areas to spawn.
Our recently retired director (Mark Hoyer) and I went out on Newnan’s Lake in January and caught some crappie for ourselves; they were delicious. It is a great time to go catch a speckled perch.
- Diet: Juveniles feed on insects, insect larvae, crustaceans, and zooplankton. Adults eat small fish such as minnows, shad, other juvenile panfish, and grass shrimp.
- Distribution: Black crappie is distributed from the Great Lakes south to Florida and west to Texas. However, they have been introduced across the United States.
- More information: FWC's Black Crappie profile.
Sandhill Crane
Scientific name: Antigone canadensis (formerly Grus canadensis)
Written by Florida LAKEWATCH Extension Manager, Liz Moreau
Our unmistakable migratory visitors are here for the winter! Though common year-round in a few parts of the state, most of Florida experiences their loud, rattling “kar-r-r-r-o-o-o" as they fly overhead or their laid back attitude as they walk (slowly) in front of your car in the winter months. These represent two subspecies: the non-migratory Florida sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis pratensis, and the migratory greater sandhill crane, A. c. tabida.
Florida is home to 4,000 to 5,000 non-migratory sandhills cranes but their population increases 6x every winter when 25,000 migratory birds that nest in the Great Lakes region join them! Cranes are often attracted to urban and suburban areas for feeding and can interfere with our property. However, it is important to remember that these birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, making it illegal to harass or harm them. Instead, admire from a distance and consult FWC’s Living with Sandhill Cranes for ideas on how to coexist with these feathered friends.
- Diet: Omnivorous. Insects, roots of aquatic plants, rodents, snails, frogs, berries, seeds.
- Threats: Habitat loss
- More information: FWC's Sandhill Crane profile, Audubon Guide
Reminders
Who you gonna call?
Make sure you are getting in touch with the right person for you! Regional Coordinators are the support for new and existing volunteers and are usually the first point of contact for the public to ask questions about Florida’s waterbodies. They train and coordinate with volunteers to collect water, help compile the data and disseminate the information back to the volunteers and the general public. There are currently two coordinators Dan Willis and Jason "MO" Bennett and they each serve a specific region of the state. The area and contact information for each Regional Coordinator can be found below. We look forward to assisting you!
Broken Bottles
The LAKEWATCH Lab has been receiving nutrient bottles that are in rough shape. These are the smaller bottles that you fill and freeze each time you sample. We reuse these bottles for as long as possible to save money for the program and keep as many lakes in the program as we can. Please follow the tips below to help us keep using these nutrient bottles:
- Please do not write on the bottles. Make sure to write on the labels only.
- Don't overfill them. The water expands as it freezes and will crack the bottles.
- Be careful when handling frozen bottles as they can crack easily.
Please complete your data sheet!
You work hard for your data so don't forget the little things. Data sheets without sampling and filtering times and dates must be entered with "qualifiers", which means they won't be as useful to DEP and researchers.
The LAKEWATCH newsletter is edited by Dr. Liz Moreau. You can reach out with questions, comments, or feedback at duermite@ufl.edu