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Florida Oceanographic Society
@floridaoceanographic

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This month marked the first biological assessment of 15 Living Docks in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary as part of a one-year pilot study. If you're new to the Living Docks scene, let's break it down for you... A Living Dock consists of 60-80 dead and dried oyster shells attached to a polyethylene mesh wrapped around dock pilings, creating an inviting habitat for filter-feeding organisms. These mats were initially deployed in April 2023. Since then, they have accumulated growth from fouling organisms and creating habitats for other mobile organisms. But why is this such a big deal? The fouling community is vast yet largely unexplored. Moreover, these organisms play a crucial role in filtering significant volumes of water. Thanks to our pilot study, we're taking important steps towards comprehending shifts in this community of organisms. This knowledge will help us identify the areas where our project can bring the most restoration benefits. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting research! #Onelagoon #LivingDocks #OysterRestoration #FoulingCommunity #FilterFeeding #WaterQuality #FloridaOceanographic