The Buoys

My mom and I went for a walk on the beach a few days ago. There recently has been a huge dredging project on Lido beach (please check out http://www.oceanpreservers.org/2015/01/dredging.html for more information). That day we waled down south from where we normally walk. On this walk we found many broken pieces of sand dollar that have recently been killed by the dredging process, lots of trash, and the two huge buoys and cable shown in the picture. We dragged it back to one of the condos which was not gated in so we could drive over to remove it (it weighed a lot). After the back aching work, we drove over and removed it. We plan on recycling the cable and possibly reusing the buoys. The hardware alone weighed eight pounds and my dad removed the rust and it looks almost new. We will also try to reuse the hardware.

Chestnut Turban

The chestnut turban (Turbo castanea) are a species of mollusk in the gastropod class. Their colour ranges from brown-tan, to white and ginger stripes, to swirled shades of brown. On some of the specimens pictured, the outer layer of shell has broken off, reveling the pearly white inner shell. They are very important grazers of algae.

Sunray Venus Clam

The sunray venus clam (Macrocallista nimbus), is given its common name for the patterns on its shell. They are often found off of Florida's coast. Their colours vary from dark brown, to light tan on the outside, while the inside of their shells are white. They can get to be six inches long.

Lesser Butterfly Ray

The lesser butterfly ray (Gymnura micrura) also sometimes known as smooth butterfly rays. They have no venomous barb. Some of their prey includes fish, crustaceans, and bivalves. Their dorsal side varies in colour from grey, to brown, to almost greenish. They prefer sandy environments and are often found in estuaries, bays, and off beaches.

Pinfish

Juvenile Pinfish near Jetty

Lagodon rhomboides, or more commonly known as the pinfish, is a species of fish in the family Sparidae, along with the breams and porgies. It is the only member in its genus that is known. Pinfish rarely swim in schools. Adults can reach 4.5" in length. The adult pinfish live in deeper waters of 30'-50', while juveniles prefer shallower waters around pilings, jetties, and seagrass beds. Their range includes Bermuda, and down the United States Coast from Massachusetts, down to the Mexican Gulf Coast.

Turkey Wing

The turkey wing clams (Arca zebra), are also called zebra arks because their reddish brown stripes resemble zebra stripes. Turkey wings live attached to rocks. They have a gap at either side of their shells which allows them to attach themselves to the rocks with their byssal threads. They can grow up to be four inches across. Their range is from North Carolina, down to the West Indies.

Common Snook

Common snook off Lido

Common snook off Lido

Common snook off Lido

 The common snook (Centropomus undecimalis), is a species of snook common to Florida. Their lateral lines are very distinct and their lower jaw protrudes farther than their upper jaw. The common snook can reach lengths of up to four feet. There are five currently known species of snook in Florida waters, the common snook, the tarpon snook, the small scaled fat tarpon, the swordspine snook, and the large scaled fat snook. The tarpon snook has big eyes and dark tips on their anal fins. The swordspine snook is said to be shinier than the other species, and it's anal fin spike can sometimes reach it's tail. Scaled fat snooks have a broader body shape than

 other snooks. The large scaled fat snook is a more recently discovered species. Snook are usually thought of as a game fish, but there is so much more to snook than just being on the end of a line. Mote Marine Laboratory is doing a lot of research on the common snook, and are raising snook to restore native populations.