Adventures in Florida

Welcome, curious travelers and nature enthusiasts, to the shores of the Indian River Lagoon and the expansive Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. I am delighted to be your academic guide this evening as we embark on a…

As we gently push our kayaks away from the shoreline and into the slow-moving currents of the lagoon, we are immediately greeted by the breathtaking spectacle of the Florida sunset. Notice how the sky transforms into a vast…

Now that complete darkness has enveloped the lagoon, dip your paddle into the water and give it a firm, sweeping stroke. The water, previously a black void, instantly ignites with a breathtaking, cloudy blue glow. …

As you marvel at the cloudy blue aura trailing your kayak, an analytical mind must naturally ask the evolutionary question: why? Why do these microscopic phytoplankton expend their hard-earned energy to produce such a brilliant…

While the dinoflagellates dominate the warm summer months, the bioluminescent landscape of the lagoon undergoes a dramatic shift as the seasons change. If you were to paddle these same waters during the cooler winter months, the…

As we navigate deeper into the sheltered coves and mangrove-lined channels of the Indian River Lagoon, the true magic of the bioluminescent ecosystem reveals itself not just in our own interactions with the water, but in the…

We have now reached the furthest point of our journey, a secluded section of the lagoon where the dense mangrove canopy blocks out any residual light from distant coastal towns. I ask you now to temporarily cease paddling. …

As the silhouettes of the launch site slowly emerge from the darkness ahead, our nocturnal expedition through the glowing waters of the Indian River Lagoon draws to a close. We are transitioning back from the ethereal realm of…