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Title: The cascading impacts of vegetation on peat soil properties and crayfish survival in the Florida everglades.
Creator: Chapman, Alexander, Benscoter, Brian, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Changes in vegetation may influence the quality and quantity of the underlying organic peat soils and have impacts on faunal populations. My goal was to determine whether shifts from native slough communities to invasive cattail in the Florida Everglades could affect peat characteristics that could cascade to impact the dry season survival of crayfish (Procambarus fallax). I contrasted peat soils from native slough and cattail-invaded sites as alternative dry-season burrowing substrates for...
Show moreChanges in vegetation may influence the quality and quantity of the underlying organic peat soils and have impacts on faunal populations. My goal was to determine whether shifts from native slough communities to invasive cattail in the Florida Everglades could affect peat characteristics that could cascade to impact the dry season survival of crayfish (Procambarus fallax). I contrasted peat soils from native slough and cattail-invaded sites as alternative dry-season burrowing substrates for crayfish. Cattail peat had higher average bulk density and inorganic content within the first ten centimeters of the soil profile. Crayfish showed marginally greater initial burrowing success in slough peat than in cattail peat but survival was equivalent in both peat soils and high overall. Understanding these indirect linkages between vegetation and crayfish populations in the Everglades can provide insight on the consequences of plant invasion on ecosystem trophic dynamics.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004091, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004091
Subject Headings: Crayfish (Ecology), Ecosystem management, Everglades National Park (Fla.), Vegetation dynamics -- Florida -- Everglades National Park
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Cascading effects of vegetation on peat soil properties and crayfish survival in the Florida Everglades.
Creator: Chapman, Alexander, Benscoter, Brian, Dorn, Nathan, Graduate College
Date Issued: 2013-04-12
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3361281
Subject Headings: Everglades (Fla.), Peat soils, Crayfish, Cattails, Multitrophic interactions (Ecology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Everglades education: analysis of the” everglades on you program”.
Creator: Scarafia, Rachel, Meltzer, Carol, Graduate College
Date Issued: 2011-04-08
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3164689
Subject Headings: Everglades (Fla.), Interdisciplinary approach in education, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Using Hydrogeophysical Methods for Investigating Carbon Dynamics in the Greater Everglades Watershed: Implications for the Spatial and Temporal Variability in Carbon Stocks and Biogenic Gas Fluxes.
Creator: McClellan, Matthew D., Comas, Xavier, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Peat soils store a large fraction of the global soil carbon (C) pool and comprise 95% of wetland C stocks. They also have the capability to produce and release significant amounts of greenhouse gasses (CO2, CH4) into the atmosphere. Most studies of wetland soil C and gas flux dynamics have been done in expansive peatlands in northern boreal and subarctic biomes. However, wetlands in temperate and tropical climates are vastly understudied despite accounting for more than 20% of the global...
Show morePeat soils store a large fraction of the global soil carbon (C) pool and comprise 95% of wetland C stocks. They also have the capability to produce and release significant amounts of greenhouse gasses (CO2, CH4) into the atmosphere. Most studies of wetland soil C and gas flux dynamics have been done in expansive peatlands in northern boreal and subarctic biomes. However, wetlands in temperate and tropical climates are vastly understudied despite accounting for more than 20% of the global peatland C stock and storing large amounts of biogenic gasses Although studies investigating greenhouse gas dynamics from peatlands have increased during the last decade, the spatial and temporal distribution of these gases still remains highly uncertain, mainly due to the limitations in terms of spatial and temporal resolution and invasive nature of most methods traditionally used. This thesis combines a series of field and laboratory studies at several sites in the Greater Everglades as examples to show the potential of hydrogeophysical methods to better understand: 1) the belowground C distribution and overall contribution to the global C stocks of certain wetlands (Chapter 2); and 2) the spatial and temporal variability in both C accumulation and releases from peat soil monoliths from several wetland sites in the Greater Everglades (Chapter 3 and 4). To estimate belowground C in the field, I used a combination of indirect non-invasive geophysical methods (GPR), aerial imagery, and direct measurements (coring) to estimate the contribution of subtropical depressional wetlands to the total C stock of pine flatwoods landscape at the Disney Wilderness Preserve (DWP, Orlando, FL). Three-dimensional (3D) GPR surveys were used to define the thickness of stratigraphic layers from the wetland surface to the mineral soil interface within depressional wetlands. Depth-profile cores in conjunction with C core analysis were utilized to visually confirm depths of each interface and estimate changes in soil C content with depth and were ultimately used to estimate total peat volume and C stock for each depressional wetland. Aerial photographs were used to develop a relationship between surface area and total wetland C stock, that were applied to estimate total landscape C stock of all depressional wetlands throughout the entire preserve. Additionally, low-frequency GPR surveys were conducted to image the stratigraphy underneath the peat basin of depressional wetlands to depict lithological controls on the formational processes of depressional wetlands at the DWP. Spatial and temporal variability in biogenic greenhouse gas (i.e. methane and carbon dioxide) production and release were investigated at the laboratory scale. Two 38 liter (0.5 m x 0.23 m x 0.3 m) peat monoliths from two different wetland ecosystems in central Florida (sawgrass peatland and a wet prairie) were compared in order to understand whether changes in matrix properties influence gas dynamics in a controlled environment (i.e. constant temperature). Gas content variability (i.e. build-up and release) within the peat matrix was estimated using a series of high frequency (1.2 GHz) GPR transects along each sample about three times a week. An array of gas traps (eight per sample) fitted with time-lapse cameras were also used in order to constrain GPR measurements and capture gas releases at 15-minute intervals. Gas chromatography was performed on gas samples extracted from the traps to determine CH4 and CO2 content. Also, at the lab scale, temporal variability in biogenic gas accumulation and release was investigated in a large 0.073 m3 peat monolith from the Blue Cypress Preserve in central Florida. An autonomous rail system was constructed in order to estimate gas content variability (i.e. build-up and release) within the peat matrix using a series of continuous GPR transects along the sample. This system ran virtually nonstop using high frequency (1.2 GHz) antennas. GPR measurements were again constrained with an array of gas traps (6) fitted with time-lapse cameras and gas chromatography. The aim of this study is to better constrain temporal scale, and better understand the heterogeneous nature (both in time and space) of gas releases from peat soils.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013238
Subject Headings: Greenhouse gases, Everglades (Fla.), Peatlands, Carbon, Bogenic gas
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: MONITORING AND ANALYZING THE SEASONAL WETLAND INUNDATION DYNAMICS IN THE EVERGLADES FROM 2002 TO 2021 USING GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE.
Creator: Hasan, Ikramul, Liu, Weibo, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Previously published in Geographies 2023, 3(1), 161-177 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies3010010) Inundation dynamics coupled with seasonal information is critical to study the wetland environment. Analyses based on remotely sensed data are the most effective means to monitor and investigate wetland inundation dynamics. For the first time, this study deployed an automated thresholding method to quantify and compare the annual inundation characteristics in dry and wet seasons in the...
Show morePreviously published in Geographies 2023, 3(1), 161-177 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies3010010) Inundation dynamics coupled with seasonal information is critical to study the wetland environment. Analyses based on remotely sensed data are the most effective means to monitor and investigate wetland inundation dynamics. For the first time, this study deployed an automated thresholding method to quantify and compare the annual inundation characteristics in dry and wet seasons in the Everglades, using Landsat imagery in Google Earth Engine (GEE). This research presents the long-term time series maps from 2002 to 2021, with a comprehensive spatiotemporal depiction of inundation. In this paper, we bridged the research gap of space-time analysis for multi-season inundation dynamics, which is urgently needed for the Everglades wetland. Within a GIS-based framework, we integrated statistical models, such as Mann–Kendall and Sen’s Slope tests, to track the evolutionary trend of seasonal inundation dynamics. The spatiotemporal analyses highlight the significant differences in wet and dry seasons through time and space. The stationary or permanent inundation is more likely to be distributed along the coastal regions (Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay) of the Everglades, presenting a warning regarding their vulnerability to sea level rise.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014244
Subject Headings: Everglades (Fla.)--Environmental conditions--Remote sensing, Google Earth
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Mapping wetland vegetation with LIDAR in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA.
Creator: De Stoppelaire, Georgia H., Xie, Zhixiao, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Knowledge of the geospatial distribution of vegetation is fundamental for resource management. The objective of this study is to investigate the possible use of airborne LIDAR (light detection and ranging) data to improve classification accuracy of high spatial resolution optical imagery and compare the ability of two classification algorithms to accurately identify and map wetland vegetation communities. In this study, high resolution imagery integrated with LIDAR data was compared jointly...
Show moreKnowledge of the geospatial distribution of vegetation is fundamental for resource management. The objective of this study is to investigate the possible use of airborne LIDAR (light detection and ranging) data to improve classification accuracy of high spatial resolution optical imagery and compare the ability of two classification algorithms to accurately identify and map wetland vegetation communities. In this study, high resolution imagery integrated with LIDAR data was compared jointly and alone; and the nearest neighbor (NN) and machine learning random forest (RF) classifiers were assessed in semi-automated geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) approaches for classification accuracy of heterogeneous vegetation assemblages at Everglades National Park, FL, USA.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004276
Subject Headings: Everglades National Park (Fla.)--Environmental conditions., Geographic information systems--Florida--Everglades Region., Ecosystem management--Florida--Everglades Region., Vegetation monitoring--Florida--Everglades National Park., Wetland management--Florida--Everglades National Park., Coastal zone management--Remote sensing--Florida--Everglades National Park., Environmental mapping--Florida--Everglades National Park., Environmental monitoring--Remote sensing--Florida--Everglades National Park.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Biotic phase-shifts in Florida Bayand fore reef communities of the Florida Keys: linkages with historical freshwater flows and nitrogenloading from Everglades runoff.
Creator: Lapointe, Brian E., Matzie, William R., Barile, Peter J.
Date Issued: 2002
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007397
Subject Headings: Florida Bay (Fla.), Florida Keys (Fla.), Reefs--Florida, Eutrophication, Coastal ecology, Everglades (Fla.)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Estimating the vulnerability of Everglades peat to combustion.
Creator: Johnson, James., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
Abstract/Description: Fire occurrences in the Everglades have increased since hydrologic alterations began, yet the vulnerability of Everglades peat to combustion during wildfires has yet to be determined. Natural fire regimes help maintain ecosystem functions and services and disruptions of natural disturbance regimes can have detrimental impacts, jeopardizing ecosystem health. Severe peat combustion can destroy native vegetation, alter microtopography, and release large amounts of stored carbon into the...
Show moreFire occurrences in the Everglades have increased since hydrologic alterations began, yet the vulnerability of Everglades peat to combustion during wildfires has yet to be determined. Natural fire regimes help maintain ecosystem functions and services and disruptions of natural disturbance regimes can have detrimental impacts, jeopardizing ecosystem health. Severe peat combustion can destroy native vegetation, alter microtopography, and release large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere. To create a better understanding of the mechanistic controls on Everglades ground fires, the soil's physical properties within several sites of Water Conservation Area 3 and how changes in water table affect these physical characteristics were determined. Areas disturbed by hydrologic alterations contain higher mineral content and therefore require lower water content to combust when compared to preserved regions. Changes in water tables have a significant effect on soil moisture and lower water tables drastically increase the vulnerability of a region.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358594
Subject Headings: Ecological engineering, Conservation of natural resources, Fire ecology, Ecology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Determining the Effects of Fire on Ridge Shape Complexity In the Central Everglades.
Creator: Dombrowski, Jacob, Benscoter, Brian, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Self-organized spatial patterning of microtopographic features is a trademark characteristic of the Everglades landscape. Anthropogenic modifications to Everglades’ hydrology have reduced and degraded pattern, where ridges occur at higher elevations and spread into open water sloughs under dryer conditions. Wildfire is an important ecological force in the central Everglades and may maintain ridge-slough patterning through reducing ridge size and complexity, and thus preserve habitat...
Show moreSelf-organized spatial patterning of microtopographic features is a trademark characteristic of the Everglades landscape. Anthropogenic modifications to Everglades’ hydrology have reduced and degraded pattern, where ridges occur at higher elevations and spread into open water sloughs under dryer conditions. Wildfire is an important ecological force in the central Everglades and may maintain ridge-slough patterning through reducing ridge size and complexity, and thus preserve habitat heterogeneity. To investigate fire as a patterning mechanism in the central Everglades I examined the shape complexity and area distribution of ridges along a chronosequence of time since fire. Shape complexity did not change following fire, but small and large ridges became more prominent and eventually spread as time since fire increased, suggesting fire may maintain ridge area distribution. Documentation of fires’ effect on ridge size will inform ecosystem and conceptual models detailing the complex interactions that maintain the Everglades ridge-slough patterning.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004683, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004683
Subject Headings: Burning of land -- Environmental aspects, Everglades National Park (Fla.) -- Environmental conditions, Fire ecology -- Florida -- Everglades National Park, Landscape ecology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Civic environmentalism: A model for Everglades restoration and a sustainable South Florida.
Creator: Jabour, Teresa U., Florida Atlantic University, Lenz, Timothy
Abstract/Description: The Everglades restoration is now the centerpiece for environmental policymaking in South Florida. The 1991 settlement of the Everglades lawsuit marked a new era of environmental politics known as civic environmentalism. Concepts of civic environmentalism are used in this study to determine if policies developed since the 1991 lawsuit settlement support a successful Everglades restoration and a sustainable South Florida, a vital connection that ensures the socio-economic health of the built...
Show moreThe Everglades restoration is now the centerpiece for environmental policymaking in South Florida. The 1991 settlement of the Everglades lawsuit marked a new era of environmental politics known as civic environmentalism. Concepts of civic environmentalism are used in this study to determine if policies developed since the 1991 lawsuit settlement support a successful Everglades restoration and a sustainable South Florida, a vital connection that ensures the socio-economic health of the built environment as well as the environmental health of South Florida's unique ecosystems. Indicators reveal that legislation supports a democratic process, but a nonformal model of civic environmentalism demonstrates that there are weaknesses in many areas, especially on the local level. Results of the study suggest that even though civic environmentalism prevails in some cases, stronger policies that connect both the built and natural environment will be necessary to ensure a successful Everglades restoration and a sustainable South Florida.
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Date Issued: 2003
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13014
Subject Headings: South Florida Water Management District (Fla), Restoration ecology--Florida--Everglades, Sustainable development--Florida, Environmental policy--Florida--Everglades
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Foraging Habitat Modeling and Nesting Ecology of Wood Storks in Everglades National Park.
Creator: Herring, Heidi K., Gawlik, Dale E., Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description: Understanding the foraging and nesting ecology of Wood Storks will play an important role in Everglades restoration because this species has specific resource requirements during the breeding season which ultimately affect nest success. I conducted a foraging habitat use and selection study, which indicated that Wood Storks from coastal colonies, Paurotis Pond and Rodgers River Bay, require a narrow range of water depths in the mangrove-saltwater marsh ecotone near their colonies as well in...
Show moreUnderstanding the foraging and nesting ecology of Wood Storks will play an important role in Everglades restoration because this species has specific resource requirements during the breeding season which ultimately affect nest success. I conducted a foraging habitat use and selection study, which indicated that Wood Storks from coastal colonies, Paurotis Pond and Rodgers River Bay, require a narrow range of water depths in the mangrove-saltwater marsh ecotone near their colonies as well in the freshwater marsh habitats of the inland Everglades. Wood Storks nesting at the inland colony, Tamiarni West, relied heavily upon nearby freshwater marsh habitat and selected foraging sites associated with shrub swamp habitat as well as optimal water depths. The observational nesting ecology study of Wood Storks showed marked differences in parental nest attendance and food delivery rates between the two years of study, 2005 and 2006, which had different hydrological patterns.
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Date Issued: 2007
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000761
Subject Headings: Habitat selection, Animal behavior, Wood stork--Habitat, Bird populations--Florida--Everglades National Park, Everglades National Park (Fla )
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Development, evaluation, and application of spatio-temporal wading bird foraging models to guide everglades restoration.
Creator: Beerens, James M., Noonburg, Erik G., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: In south Florida, the Greater Everglades ecosystem supports sixteen species of wading birds. Wading birds serve as important indicator species because they are highly mobile, demonstrate flexible habitat selection, and respond quickly to changes in habitat quality. Models that establish habitat relationships from distribution patterns of wading birds can be used to predict changes in habitat quality that may result from restoration and climate change. I developed spatio-temporal species...
Show moreIn south Florida, the Greater Everglades ecosystem supports sixteen species of wading birds. Wading birds serve as important indicator species because they are highly mobile, demonstrate flexible habitat selection, and respond quickly to changes in habitat quality. Models that establish habitat relationships from distribution patterns of wading birds can be used to predict changes in habitat quality that may result from restoration and climate change. I developed spatio-temporal species distribution models for the Great Egret, White Ibis, and Wood Stork over a decadal gradient of environmental conditions to identify factors that link habitat availability to habitat use (i.e., habitat selection), habitat use to species abundance, and species abundance (over multiple scales) to nesting effort and success. Hydrological variables (depth, recession rate, days since drydown, reversal, and hydroperiod) over multiple temporal scales and with existing links to wading bird responses were used as proxies for landscape processes that influence prey availability (i.e., resources). In temporal foraging conditions (TFC) models, species demonstrated conditional preferences for resources based on resource levels at differing temporal scales. Wading bird abundance was highest when prey production from optimal periods of wetland inundation was concentrated in shallow depths. Similar responses were observed in spatial foraging conditions (SFC) models predicting spatial occurrence over time, accounting for spatial autocorrelation. The TFC index represents conditions within suitable depths that change daily and reflects patch quality, whereas the SFC index spatially represents suitability of all cells and reflects daily landscape patch abundance. I linked these indices to responses at the nest initiation and nest provisioning breeding phases from 1993-2013. The timing of increases and overall magnitude of resource pulses predicted by the TFC in March and April were strongly linked to breeding responses by all species. Great Egret nesting effort and success were higher with increases in conspecific attraction (i.e., clustering). Wood Stork nesting effort was closely related to timing of concurrently high levels of patch quality (regional scale) and abundance (400-m scale), indicating the importance of a multi-scaled approach. The models helped identify positive and negative changes to multi-annual resource pulses from hydrological restoration and climate change scenarios, respectively.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004078, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004078
Subject Headings: Everglades National Park (Fla.) -- Environmental conditions, Restoration ecology -- Florida -- Everglades National Park, Water birds -- Florida -- Geographical distribution, Water birds -- Habitat -- Florida -- Everglades National Park, Wetland restoration -- Florida -- Everglades National Park
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Serum chemistry values for nestling bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park.
Creator: Mealey, Brian K., Parks, G. M., Pages, C. M., Millsap, B. A., Bass, O. L., Bossart, Gregory D., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 2004
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3340512
Subject Headings: Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Bald eagle, Serum--Analysis, Hematology, Everglades National Park (Fla.), Florida Bay (Fla.)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Evaluating the effectiveness of seed banks for the recovery of sawgrass in A.R.M Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
Creator: Yeyati, Nestor, Lange, James J., Benscoter, Brian
Date Issued: 2013-04-05
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3361240
Subject Headings: Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Fla.), Cladium, Everglades (Fla.), Soil seed banks
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: CHANGES IN PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE PEAT SOIL MATRIX ACROSS A SALINITY GRADIENT IN THE EVERGLADES: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACCELERATING PEAT COLLAPSE DURING SEA LEVEL RISE.
Creator: Florey, Maxwell, Comas, Xavier, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Peatlands are areas with an accumulated layer of peat soil that are considered global stores of carbon, acting as a net sink of carbon dioxide and a net source of methane. Recent studies in coastal peatlands have shown how that a rise in sea level may contribute to the degradation of peat soils due to the inland progression of the saltwater interface, which may result in physical changes within the peat matrix that may eventually result in peat collapse. For example, earlier studies in boreal...
Show morePeatlands are areas with an accumulated layer of peat soil that are considered global stores of carbon, acting as a net sink of carbon dioxide and a net source of methane. Recent studies in coastal peatlands have shown how that a rise in sea level may contribute to the degradation of peat soils due to the inland progression of the saltwater interface, which may result in physical changes within the peat matrix that may eventually result in peat collapse. For example, earlier studies in boreal peat soils described the effect of pore dilation as a result of increased salinity in peat soils, while recent studies in Everglades peat soils showed specific salinity thresholds that may represent a permanent loss of the structural integrity of the peat matrix that may represent early stages of peat collapse. While most of these previous efforts have focused on drivers, recent work has also explored conceptual models to better understand the mechanisms inducing peat collapse. However, few datasets exists that consistently compare differences in physical properties under different in‐situ salinity conditions. In this study differences in the physical properties of peat soils across a salinity gradient along the western edge of Big Cypress National Preserve are investigated to test how differences in salinity may induce physical changes in the soil matrix. The physical properties targeted for this study include porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and carbon content. Measurements are conducted at the laboratory scale using peat cores and monoliths collected at selected locations to investigate: 1) how overall soil physical properties change spatially over a salinity gradient at the km scale moving from permanently saline to freshwater conditions; and 2) how physical properties change spatially at specific sites as dependant on vegetation boundaries and proximity to collapsed soils. This study has implications for better understanding the potential relation between physical changes of the soil matrix and the phenomena of peat collapse in the Everglades as saltwater intrusion progresses inward and alters freshwater ecosystems. Furthermore, a better mechanistic understanding of the peat collapse phenomenon can potentially help mitigate its occurrence.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013809
Subject Headings: Peat soils, Salinity, Sea level, Big Cypress National Preserve (Fla.), Everglades (Fla.)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Diet and foraging ecology of diamondback terrapins (malaclemys terrapin) in Everglades National Park, FL.
Creator: Denton, Mathew, Demopoulos, Amanda W. J., Hart, Kristen, Oleinik, Anton E., Baldwin, John D., Graduate College
Date Issued: 2013-04-12
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3361924
Subject Headings: Diamondback terrapin--Ecology--United States, Malaclemys terrapin, Everglades National Park (Fla.)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: ASSESSMENT OF SMALL MAMMAL DEMOGRAPHICS IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.
Creator: Chapman, Julia, Noonburg, Erik, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: The massive decline in mammal populations in Everglades National Park (ENP) has likely disrupted the fragile ecosystem unique to South Florida. Mammals populations in the park are a mere fraction of what they have been historically. However, very few studies have investigated some of the smaller mammals which are still widely present. Mark-recapture trapping was used over 4.5 years on tree islands in ENP to analyze the communities of three focal species: the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon...
Show moreThe massive decline in mammal populations in Everglades National Park (ENP) has likely disrupted the fragile ecosystem unique to South Florida. Mammals populations in the park are a mere fraction of what they have been historically. However, very few studies have investigated some of the smaller mammals which are still widely present. Mark-recapture trapping was used over 4.5 years on tree islands in ENP to analyze the communities of three focal species: the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus), marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris), and cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus). We assessed the reproduction, effect of water levels and seasonality, and density of all three species over time. There was no significant association between water levels and reproductive activity for the cotton mouse or cotton rat, while the rice rat showed more reproductive adults during periods of standing water. The overall densities of all three species were higher in times of dry ground versus when the landscape was inundated. Average and maximum density estimates yielded higher numbers of rodents than observed in ENP.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013365
Subject Headings: Everglades National Park (Fla), Mammal populations, Hispid cotton rat, Cotton mouse, Oryzomys
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Wading Bird Foraging and Prey Concentration in the Ridge and Slough Landscape of the Everglades.
Creator: Binkley, Erin, Dorn, Nathan, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
Abstract/Description: The hydrological and topographical variation of wetlands can affect the behavior, population growth, and local densities of aquatic species, which in turn can drive the behavior and density dynamics of gleaning predators. Prey availability, primarily determined by prey density and water depth in wetlands, is an important limiting factor for nesting wading bird populations, top predators in the south Florida Everglades. The Everglades is able to support large colonies of nesting wading birds...
Show moreThe hydrological and topographical variation of wetlands can affect the behavior, population growth, and local densities of aquatic species, which in turn can drive the behavior and density dynamics of gleaning predators. Prey availability, primarily determined by prey density and water depth in wetlands, is an important limiting factor for nesting wading bird populations, top predators in the south Florida Everglades. The Everglades is able to support large colonies of nesting wading birds because of the microtopographic variation in the landscape. Some types of prey concentrate in flat, shallow sloughs or become trapped in isolated pools as they move down from higher elevation ridges with receding water levels. Manipulations to the hydrology and landscape of the Everglades has negatively impacted nesting wading bird populations in the past, and may continue to be detrimental by allowing flat, shallow sloughs to be intersected by deep canals, a potential refuge for wading bird prey. In addition, the subtle elevation differences between the ridge and slough landscape may be an important mechanism for increasing slough crayfish (Procambarus fallax) prey availability for the most abundant and seemingly depth-sensitive Everglades wading bird, the White Ibis (Eudocimus albus). I implemented a 2-year experimental study in four replicated manmade wetlands with controlled water recession rates in order to determine the effects of proximate deep water (akin to canals) on fish prey concentrations in the sloughs, as water levels receded similarly to a natural Everglades dry season. I also calculated average daily wading bird densities with game cameras (Reconyx PC800 Hyperfire) using timelapse imagery over 60 days to determine when and where wading birds responded to changing prey concentrations. I completed an additional observational study on White Ibis and slough crayfish prey from the first year of data (2017). Crayfish make up the majority of the diet for nesting White Ibis, and literature has suggested crayfish are most abundant at slough depths much deeper than previously proposed foraging depth limitations for White Ibis. This study specifically compared recent determinations about crayfish movement dynamics in the ridge and slough system with White Ibis foraging behavior and depth limits. Results from the first experimental study suggest that canals might be an attractive refuge for relatively large prey fishes (> 3 cm SL) in sloughs, but it is uncertain if the fencing blocked all prey fish movement. The second observational study determined White Ibis foraging activity was primarily driven by a down-gradient crayfish flux from ridge to slough, with the majority of foraging activity occurring at much deeper slough depths than previously suggested water depth limitations for White Ibis. Results from both of these studies support the importance of preserving the ridgeslough landscape of the Everglades to sustain high prey availability for wading birds.
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Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013124
Subject Headings: Wading birds, White ibis, Everglades (Fla)--Environmental conditions, Foraging behavior in animals, Predator & prey
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Investigating biogenic gas dynamics from peat soils of the Everglades using hydrogeophysical methods.
Creator: Wright, William J., Comas, Xavier, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Peat soils are known to be a significant emitter of atmospheric greenhouse gasses. However, the spatial and temporal variability in production and release of greenhouse gases (such as methane) in peat soils remains uncertain, particularly for low-latitude peatlands like the Florida Everglades, as the majority of studies on gas dynamics in peatlands focus on northern peatlands. The purpose of the work outlined here is focused on understanding the spatial and temporal variability in biogenic...
Show morePeat soils are known to be a significant emitter of atmospheric greenhouse gasses. However, the spatial and temporal variability in production and release of greenhouse gases (such as methane) in peat soils remains uncertain, particularly for low-latitude peatlands like the Florida Everglades, as the majority of studies on gas dynamics in peatlands focus on northern peatlands. The purpose of the work outlined here is focused on understanding the spatial and temporal variability in biogenic gas dynamics (i.e. production and release of methane and carbon dioxide) by implementing various experiments in the Florida Everglades at different scales of measurement, using noninvasive hydrogeophysical methods. Non-invasive methods include ground-penetrating radar (GPR), gas traps, time-lapse cameras, and hydrostatic pressure head measurements, that were constrained with direct measurements on soil cores like porosity, and gas composition using gas chromatography. By utilizing the measurements of in-situ gas volumes, we are able to estimate gas production using a mass balance approach, explore spatial and temporal variabilities of gas dynamics, and better constrain gas ebullition models. A better understanding of the spatial and temporal variability in gas production and release in peat soils from the Everglades has implications regarding the role of subtropical wetlands in the global carbon cycle, and can help providing better production and flux estimates to help global climate researchers improve their predictions and models for climate change.
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Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013146
Subject Headings: Peat soils, Gas dynamics, Carbon cycle (Biogeochemistry), Everglades (Fla), Biogenic gas
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: IMPORTANCE OF FRESHWATER PREY FOR NESTING WHITE IBIS EUDOCIMUS ALBUS IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA WETLANDS.
Creator: Cocoves, Tasso C., Dorn, Nathan, Florida Atlantic University, Environmental Studies Program, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Avian reproduction is generally resource dependent, and resource availability can vary through time and space. Wading birds breeding activity in southern Florida wetlands is limited by availability of aquatic prey, which is largely influenced by seasonal hydrodynamics. Restoration of natural hydrologic patterns is expected to increase populations and return breeding activity in the southern Everglades, but which prey support successful breeding at coastal colonies is unknown. To address this,...
Show moreAvian reproduction is generally resource dependent, and resource availability can vary through time and space. Wading birds breeding activity in southern Florida wetlands is limited by availability of aquatic prey, which is largely influenced by seasonal hydrodynamics. Restoration of natural hydrologic patterns is expected to increase populations and return breeding activity in the southern Everglades, but which prey support successful breeding at coastal colonies is unknown. To address this, I examined prey use of nesting White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) at coastal colonies in Everglades National Park (ENP) in a two-year observational study. I also examined ibis diets at nesting colonies located in three regions of the Everglades to better understand regional variation in trophic support of ibis reproduction. I found that crayfish and fish were used extensively in ENP in a year with exceptional ibis breeding activity, and I provide evidence that lengthened hydroperiods in higher elevation marl prairies may enhance crayfish production and availability in the southern Everglades. I found that crayfish were the most important prey type in all regions of the Everglades when reproductive effort was highest. These results add to the growing body of evidence that crayfish are important prey for ibis reproductive success in all parts of the Everglades, and suggest that increasing water flowing into the southern Everglades may incite greater nesting at historic colony locations. With this knowledge we can forecast how wading birds, and more generally wetlands of southern Florida, will respond to a changing environment and potential restoration scenarios.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013367
Subject Headings: Eudocimus albus, White ibis, Birds--Reproduction, Nest building, Crayfish, Wetland hydrology, Everglades National Park (Fla)
Format: Document (PDF)

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