Abstract Introduction Marl Prairie Habitat & Community Everglades Hydrologic History Methods Results Discussion > Conclusions Acknowledgements References Figures & Tables PDF

1) Prior to the 20^th century, sawgrass marshes occupied these sites west of the Shark River Slough; the existence of longer hydroperiods than today allowed accumulation of a peat substrate.

2) Sediments deposited during the 20^th century are marls or marly peats; grass and sedge pollen abundance was roughly double its pre-drainage abundance, indicating the presence of grass-dominated marl prairie vegetation.

3) Pollen assemblages and lithologic patterns indicate that post-drainage hydroperiods in these sites were significantly shorter than those before the 20^th century.

Hydrologic modifications associated with water management altered the predrainage sawgrass marshes to the marl prairies that occupy the sites today. The present distribution of marl prairies west of Shark River Slough appears to be a direct result of water management practices begun in the 20^th century, rather than a natural feature of the Everglades landscape. Further sampling and analyses are necessary to reconstruct the pre-drainage distribution of the marl prairie ecosystem.