Jon C. Cline¹, Jerome J. Lorenz² and Eric D. Swain^3
1Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
²Audubon of Florida, Tavernier Science Center, Tavernier, FL, USA
³USGS Center for Water and Restoration Science, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA

The Across Trophic Levels System Simulator (ATLSS) is a collection of ecological models designed to assess the impact of changes in hydrology on a suite of higher trophic level species of the southern Florida ecosystem. ATLSS requires hydrologic input to assess the effects of alternative proposed restoration scenarios on trophic structure. An ATLSS model (ALFISH) for functional fish groups in freshwater marshes in the Everglades of southern Florida has been extended to create a new model (ALFISHES) to evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of fish density in the resident fish community of the Everglades mangrove zone of Florida Bay. The ALFISHES model combines field data with hydrologic data from the Southern Inland and Coastal System (SICS) model to assess the impact of salinity on fish biomass. Model outputs from both SICS and ALFISHES are used as input for another ATLSS model, a Spatially-Explicit Species Index (SESI) model, which has been designed to assess effects of restoration scenarios on the relative potential for breeding and/or foraging success of the Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja), a key indicator species, in northeastern Florida Bay.

To facilitate linkage of hydrologic and ecological model components, we used a multi-modeling approach. We report on recent advances in the development of a generic multi-level modeling framework for ecological modeling. The model framework includes an XML-based metadata format, support for a model repository allowing dynamic loading of model components specified by metadata, and a simulation server that provides a DEVS (Discrete Event System Specifications) environment for assembling and running hierarchical, modular models. An object model that includes support for open geospatial data standards for grid coverages and simple features is used to exchange model state information between model components and between the simulation server and a user-friendly GIS client.

Contact Information: Jon C. Cline, Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-7080, Phone: 216-368-3561, Fax: 216-368-4672, Email: jon.cline@case.edu

(This abstract is from the 2006 Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference.)

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