Inside FWRI
Meet BOB088
Meet bobcat mom BOB088 as she raises another litter of kittens in Florida! Thanks to GPS collars and trail cameras, FWC biologists have documented her successfully raising four litters over the past three years while gathering valuable data on bobcat behavior, survival, and reproduction.
Bobcats are also being monitored alongside Florida panthers as researchers investigate Feline Leukomyelopathy (FLM), a neurological disorder that causes rear leg weakness and difficulty walking in some wild felines.
Science on Social Media
Florida's Native Bees
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Florida is home to approximately 315 species of native bees that play essential roles in pollinating Florida’s wild plants and maintaining healthy ecosystems.
A Summer Filled With Science
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As the 2026 Steidinger Scholars season comes to a close, we’re celebrating a summer full of one of a kind, hands-on experiences.
Name That Species
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Every year, staff with the Florida Biodiversity Collection spend hours meticulously identifying and categorizing specimens collected from Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) sampling sites throughout the Gulf.
Publication Spotlight
Restoring Corals in the Face of Disease
Can coral restoration succeed on Florida’s Coral Reef even when stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is still present? New research suggests it can.
From May 2021 to April 2023 researchers outplanted more than 1,165 colonies of SCTLD-susceptible coral species across Florida’s Coral Reef and monitored them for two years to understand how disease and other factors affected their survival.
At the end of the study, 77% of the outplanted corals were still alive. Researchers found that the chance of a coral becoming infected with SCTLD during any monitoring period was generally only about 1% to 2%. Instead, factors such as where corals were planted, the species being restored and where the corals were raised before outplanting played a greater role in their survival.
These findings can help researchers refine restoration strategies, from selecting suitable reef habitats to improving how corals are raised and prepared for life on the reef, giving outplanted corals their best chance of long-term survival.
Sharp WC, Parsons KT, Shea CP, Voss JD, Hunt JH, et al. 2026. Assessing the efficacy of coral restoration along Florida’s coral reef under the chronic persistence of stony coral tissue loss disease. Front Mar Sci. 13:1835479.
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As the research division within FWC, FWRI operates programs statewide that focus on obtaining
the wide-ranging data and information needed by fish, wildlife, and ecosystem resource managers.
The FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute seeks to fill positions with caring and qualified individuals. FWRI recruits primarily scientists and science technicians. Business services and facility maintenance also require the expertise of qualified management, administrative, public information, clerical and maintenance staff. FWRI also offers both internship and limited volunteer opportunities. FWRI interns are college-level students or post-graduates who spend a semester working with a mentor to obtain career guidance and experience. FWRI volunteers provide general assistance to FWRI for a variable period of time.
MarineQuest
We invite you to join us for MarineQuest, FWRI's annual open house. This award-winning event is an opportunity for you and your family to learn about Florida's fish and wildlife and FWRI's exciting research.
