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The Everglades Foundation’s Ecologist Stephen Davis, Ph.D.

Islamorada, FL – Florida Bay: An Ecosystem on the Brink will be presented by Everglades Foundation Ecologist Stephen Davis, Ph.D., as part of the Keys History & Discovery Center Presents lecture series. The presentation is the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Keys History & Discovery Center in Islamorada. The Center opens at 5 p.m. and the presentation begins at 6 p.m.

Cost for non-Discovery Center members is $25 and includes admission to the exhibit as well as light appetizers. A cash bar will be available. Reservations are recommended and can be made at 305-922-2237 or contact us here.

A healthy Florida Bay is fundamental to the Florida Keys economy. Currently the bay is sick, partly because of acute drought conditions that developed in early 2015, but primarily because of a chronic lack of freshwater inflow from the Everglades. Record high salinity, localized fish kills, mangrove dieback, and a yellow “fog” covering dense sea grass meadows were all documented in central Florida Bay by late summer. This has been followed by a massive die-off of sea grass that continues to this day. The Everglades Foundation has been working with agency and academic scientists to coordinate information, science and monitoring on this issue. Dr. Davis has been conducting scientific research in and around Florida Bay since 1995 and discusses the ecology of the bay, the current situation, and the bay’s prognosis for recovery.

The Discovery Center is in Islamorada, MM 82, located at the Islander Resort. The Center is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $12. Admission for seniors is $10 and children 13-under are free. Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization operating the Keys History & Discovery Center.

For more information, call 305-922-2237 or go to www.keysdiscovery.com.