South Florida Restoration Science Forum - WWE - How will research on fishes and wading birds guide and evaluate Everglades restoration?

Last updated: October 11, 2002

How will research on fishes and wading birds guide and evaluate Everglades restoration?

Part 2: Aquatic Animal Ecology Research Program (continued)

water, aquatic animals, wading birds linkage illustration

Establishing Linkages Among Water, Aquatic Animals, and Wading Birds to Guide and Evaluate Restoration

(Click on any of the images below for a larger version.)

Effects of the C&SF Project:

Altered hydrology
Reduction in size of Everglades
Fragmentation of continuous marsh
Canals and levees as artificial habitats
Degraded water quality

Historic Water Flow
Current Water Flow

Fishes and Invertebrates

Variables:

Water depth
Hydroperiod
Timing of flooding & drying
Wading Birds

Fishes and Invertebrates
ELM computer
Modeling ATLSS Wading Birds

Fishes & Invertebrates

Problem: Historical data are unavailable to define restoration targets.
Hypothesis: Habitat loss and hydrologic changes have reduced abundances.
Solution: Use field data and modeling to establish restoration targets.

Throw trapping
Sampling Map

Field data

Size-structure

Species composition in canals and marshes

Crayfish distribution

Experimental Methods

Cages

Tagging

Levees as barriers	Habitat use related to depth	Mesocosms

Management Implications
Restored hydroperiods =

Higher animal densities
More species
Greater recruitment
Higher survival
More large fishes

Elimination of canals & levees =

Increased sheet flow
Natural species composition
Reconnection of wetlands

Wading Birds

Problem: Some populations have declined by 90% since the 1930s.
Hypothesis: Habitat loss and hydrologic changes have reduced food availability.
Solution: Define and restore critical water depths, hydroperiods, and habitats.

Field data

Vegetation type affects feeding site quality.

Experimental data

Maximum depth 28 cm for declining species.
Other species not as sensitive to deep water.

The 3 declining species need high fish density and shallow water.

Management Implications:

Restoration of habitat diversity will improve feeding conditions.
Restored hydrology will benefit declining species most.

Next: Authors and collaborators

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology
This page is: http://sofia.usgs.gov/sfrsf/rooms/wild_wet_eco/fish_bird/program.html
Contact: webmaster@sflwww.er.usgs.gov
Last updated: 11 October, 2002 @ 09:42 PM (KP)