Monitoring life in the Indian River Lagoon.

Ultimately, when we talk about the health of the Indian River Lagoon we are talking about whether it can sustain life. ORCA’s Vital Signs program measures the health and survival of a variety of sentinel species such as oysters – but including other filter feeders and bioaccumulators – deployed throughout the Lagoon.

Adult oysters are sessile, which means they don’t move around, and they are filter feeders, which means they can provide an integrated measure of what’s happening in the water at their particular location.  If that location is reaching a tipping point, due to a buildup of chemical contamination, toxic algae or acidification, the oysters can warn us.

Citizen Scientists grow oysters and other sentinel species in cages off of docks and other fixed structures. These Citizen Scientist can periodically collect and analyze subsets of the species in their cages, or the can partner with a student to complete that part of the project.

Results will be posted on our website, providing a report card from the true residents of the lagoon – those that must live in its waters.

Fill out this form to get involved as a Citizen Scientist.