provided to Santiva Chronicle
The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club awarded two graduate students at the University of South Florida over $6,800 in separate grants in late 2019.
Nicole Seiden received $2,462 to study the life history traits of the Florida horse conch to determine how rapidly they reach reproductive maturity, and how long they live and reproduce. Populations of these conchs in west Florida are declining and this study will help determine what level of commercial harvest is sustainable.
Jamie Rogers received $4,400 to conduct a comparison study of modern vs. historic oysters to determine how they have changed over the last 200 years. Tampa Bay has lost approximately 90% of its oyster reefs since the early 1900’s, and this study will assist with efforts to restore the reefs by providing answers to gaps in the current understanding of oyster biology.
The Shell Club awards grants from the proceeds of their annual Shell Show. Grants are given in the fields of conchology and malacology, as well as the fields of conservation and water quality, primarily in Southwest Florida. New members are welcome! Please visit the Shell Club’s website for more information at sanibelshellclub.com
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