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Primary Production Nutrients and Dissolved Organic Matter At FCE LTER we are interested in how the patterns and Through this study, we hope to determine how freshwater magnitudes of primary production are controlled by changing Coastal flow and local ecosystem processes alter characteristics of dis- freshwater inputs to the sys- solved organic matter or inorganic nutrients at any given loca- tem. We are looking at how tion in the landscape. We believe this is most likely attributed to primary production is affected Long Term Ecological Research how local ecosystem processes are controlled by changes in dis- by the concentrations and solved organic matter or inorganic nutrients of the source water. characteristics of nutrients and he majority of the FCE LTER study area is located within everal scientific issues make the Everglades system At each of our freshwater and organic matter in the source Tthe boundaries of (Fig. 1). An Sinteresting and challenging for ecological study: mangrove sites, an auto-sampler water. enormous Everglades restoration effort is attempting to wOrganic matter dynamics are dominated by dissolved forms collects water samples which are improve the quantity, quality, and timing of freshwater flow in most of the system analyzed for nutrient concentra- through Everglades National Park (ENP) into and wFreshwater inputs are continually modified through the tions, dissolved organic matter the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists associated with the FCE LTER Everglades restoration project (DOM) and salinity. Cladium are collaborating with Everglades restoration projects, wThe entire system is nutrient poor and especially limited in jamaicense exchanging information, and utilizing existing data from phosphorus (sawgrass) is Everglades National Park. wThere is a large interannual variability in rainfall the dominant freshwater The Oligohaline Zone: Where freshwater meets plant in both marine water. FCE research focuses on understanding ecosystem Slough and processes along ENP’s two major drainage basins: Taylor and Taylor River Slough. Existing Slough. data reveal a peak in productivity in Shark River Slough Water chemistry is sampled We measure the aboveground biomass of Cladium within remotely in the Shark River 2 at the point where the freshwater, which is low in phos- Slough (left) and Taylor Slough. 1m plots using nondestructive allometric techniques. phorus, meets the relatively higher phosphorus marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This productivity peak has Long-term Changes: Disturbance and Perturbation Soils and Organic Matter Accumulation not been observed in Taylor Slough, which is filtered We are interested in determining how long-term changes in The elevation gradient in the Florida Everglades system is through Florida Bay, a shallow subtidal estuary that freshwater flow, which will occur primarily through the minute but significant. Water flows gradually to the estuaries scavenges marine phosphorus before it reaches the Everglades Restoration Project, will interact with long-term from a height of roughly 2 m at the northern boundary of ENP. oligohaline zone. FCE researchers expect changes in changes in the climatic and disturbance regimes and ultimate- Minor elevation differences also dictate hydroperiod, which freshwater quality and quantity to alter the dynamics of ly modify ecological pattern and process in coastal land- strongly determines soil type in Everglades wetlands. the productivity peak along the salinity gradient in these scapes. We are investigating how changes in freshwater flow or the systems. We content of source water control organic matter accumulation Fig. 1 believe that in freshwa- fires and ter and man- Secondary production and trophic dynamics Infrared image of Andrew over Dade County at 0900 UTC August 24, hurricanes 1992 Image: NOAA / National Climatic Data Center grove wet- We are sampling freshwater aquatic invertebrates and small will have land soils. 2 local effects fish using 1m throwtraps, and sampling larger fish using boat We believe at scales electrofishing. the introduc- that depend tion of nutri- on distur- ents will bance size, have a nega- but tive effect will have on soil ele- little impact vation, as on long- nutrients term Smoke plume from a distant fire on the Taylor Slough, stimulate soil respiration to exceed organic matter inputs via changes Everglades National Park. plant (peat marshes) or periphyton (marl marshes-shown affected by sea level rise, climatic change, and Everglades above) production. restoration. 1164 LTER Swamplands_S 2/14/02 11:23 AM Page 2

Aerial view of Shark River Slough, Florida Coastal Everglades Everglades National Park, Florida Long Term Ecological Research

The Florida Coastal Everglades LTER site (FCE) is part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. FCE receives additional funding from: wEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) wEverglades National Park (ENP) wFlorida Audubon Society wNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) wSouth Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) wU.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Taylor Slough restoration efforts. A new pumping structure on the canal will allow more water to be introduced to the natural head waters region of the slough.

Affiliated Institutions wSoutheast Environmental Research Center,and the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, and Geology, at Florida International University wUSGS Biological Resources Office wBiology Department, College of William & Mary wEverglades Systems Research Division, SFWMD wDepartment of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette wDepartment of Environmental Science, University of Virginia Site access: Airboats are used to travel to most freshwater study sites. wTavernier Science Center, National Audubon Society w FCE LTER Contact Information South Florida Natural Resources Center, ENP

Mike Rugge or Dan Childers Divers sample seagrass, the dominant primary producer in Florida Bay Project Manager Principal Investigator Southeast Environmental Research Center Florida International University University Park, OE 148 Miami, Florida 33199 Phone: (305) 348-6054 e-mail: [email protected]

We invite inquiries from scientists and institutions interest- ed in collaborating on any of the science described here. For more information, please see the website: http://fcelter.fiu.edu