Biscayne Bay's "hidden flora" is island's life force

Like a mirage on the horizon, the deep green forests of Virginia Key rise from a languid and transparent sea that is Biscayne Bay.

The life force that stirs beneath those clear, calm waters is described by Commodore Ralph Munroe in The Commodore's Story, his account of sailing and living on Biscayne Bay beginning in the late 1800's:

“No sea-lover could look unmoved on the blue rollers of the Gulf Stream and the crystal-clear waters of the Reef, of every delicate shade of blue and a green, and tinged with every color of the spectrum from the fantastically rich growths on the bottom, visible to the last detail through this incredibly translucent medium.”

Munroe undoubtedly was speaking of the seagrasses, those “rich growths” that anchor one of the most dynamic and diverse ecosystems of the 40-mile-wide bay.

Combined with the mangroves that stabilize the shoreline and provide shelter for marine life as well as birds and other animals, the lush seagrass beds found throughout Biscayne Bay and in the waters surrounding Virginia Key, form the food chain for everything for the Florida spiny lobster to shrimp, fish, sea turtles and manatees.

And for those who love to fish and/or love to eat fish, listen up: Seventy percent of Florida’s marine recreational fish depend upon seagrass communities sometime throughout their lives.

There are about 52 species of seagrasses in the world, but only seven species are found in Florida’s waters, including Johnson’s seagrass, a threatened species under federal law that is found on Virginia Key.

The shallow waters of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve that surround Virginia Key contain Johnson's seagrass, turtle grass, manatee grass and shoal grass. The area serves as an important undisturbed spawning area for many species of fish and invertebrates, including a large variety of sponges, invertebrates and algae.

Learn more: March is “Seagrass Awareness Month” and the launch of Baynanza, the annual celebration of Biscayne Bay. Hear about Seagrasses, Biscayne Bay’s “hidden flora” at a special presentation by the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve staff, Wed., March 31, 6 - 7:30 p.m., at the University of Miami’s Rosentiel School (RSMAS), Seminar Room 2nd Floor, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key. Info: www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/biscayne (305) 795-3485.

Photo mural: Artist Xavier Cortada's mural, "Discover Biscayne Bay" represents the vital connection between people and the environment. It can be seen at the Miami Children's Museum. According to Citizens for a Better South Florida, which commissioned the artwork, the mural "is one component of a comprehensive education program designed to raise awareness about issues relating to Biscayne Bay like storm water run-off, deterioration of marine habitat, visual and physical access and boater safety."

Other resources:
How much do you know about Biscayne Bay? Take the quiz:
http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/quiz/bay/home.asp

Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/biscayne/

Artist Xavier Cortada: http://www.cortada.com/
Citizens for a Better South Florida: http://www.abettersouthflorida.org/

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Also on Facebook: join Friends of Virginia Key

Kayaking the Key

The Virginia Key “experience” is as much about the waters surrounding the 1,000 acre island as it is the wilderness of its tropical hammocks and dunes.

The island is surrounded by the protected waters of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, which includes 67,000 acres of sovereign submerged lands. The Preserve shares the bay with Biscayne National Park, whose watery boundary begins just to the south. (If you’ve ever sailed past Stiltville in Biscayne Bay, you’ve been in National Park territory.)

Biscayne Bay’s shallow, clear waters make it a haven for nature lovers who can peer over the edge of the vessels to see all manner of critters that make their home in the soft sediments of mud or sand or among the seagrasses, including Johnson’s seagrass, a threatened species found only in southeast Florida.

And then there’s the wildlife swimming alongside, on the edges or flying above.

The fact there’s a major metropolis just over the horizon makes the experience even more thrilling and startling:

Siobhan Morrissey, who rows in the early mornings in the Marine Stadium lagoon, paints the picture:

“Perhaps the best place to see the moon over Miami is from a boat that sits a mere six inches off the water and glides silently along with a cityscape for a backdrop.

We also see dolphins breaching above the water. Occasionally a manatee may become intrigued enough to investigate us as our oars silently slip into the water and propel us along.

The lagoon by the rowing club provides a refuge for other animals, as well. On any given day we see blue herons wading at the shoreline, pelicans in formation, pods of leopard rays and an occasional shark or crocodile.
It’s amazing to see such wildlife in the midst of Miami.

TRIP! Experience this watery world of Virginia Key on a kayaking trip sponsored by the Tropical Audubon Society Sat., Feb. 20 that combines adventure with nature photography. Bring your own kayak ($10) or rent one for $35. Reservations and information can be made by calling or emailing Tropical Audubon: 786-543-1926 or tropicalaudubon@gmail.com

More info:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/biscayne/
http://www.tropicalaudubon.com


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On Facebook: Friends of Virginia Key