Population Distribution of Liguus Fasciatus Solidus in Long Pine Key of Everglades National Park
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Population Distribution of Liguus fasciatus solidus in Long Pine Key of Everglades National Park By Jason R. Fadely A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science in Partial Fullfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida May 2009 Acknowledgements I wish to express my appreciation to my wife, Joanne, for her unyielding support. Without it, this achievement would never have been realized. I would also like to thank my parents. Because of their life choices and hard work, they were able to put their children into a position in which they have every opportunity to succeed. In addition, I am indebted to Dr. Anton Oleinik for support and guidance throughout this process. iii Abstract Author: Jason R. Fadely Title: Population Distribution of Liguus fasciatus solidus in Long Pine Key of Everglades National Park Institution: Florida Atlantic University Thesis Advisors: Dr. Anton Oleinik and Dr. Edward Petuch Degree: Masters of Science Year: 2009 The study examined the past and present spatial distribution of the Florida tree snail, L. fasciatus solidus, in the Long Pine Key area of the Everglades National Park. Remote sensing and mobile GIS were used to create a GIS database of the field research results. Collection and survey-based data were used to create a current spatial distribution map of L. fasciatus solidus throughout the Long Pine Key area. The data collected during the 2006 survey were compared to a 1931 survey of the same study area conducted by Dr. William Clench of the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) of Harvard University. The data was used to determine the success of L. fasciatus solidus from 1931 to 2006, to evaluate a correlation between hammock size and the number of color forms, and to detect migration patterns of L. fasciatus solidus within the Long Pine Key area of Everglades National Park. Based on the average success rate for the seven color forms and the hammocks, the L. fasciatus solidus population in the Long Pine Key area iv exemplifies one of a stable community. Each color form used for the analysis had a success rate between 67% and 100%. These percentages can only be the worst case scenario based on the fact that many Liguus were not observed, and any others that would have been observed, would only increase the success rate. v Population Distribution of Liguus fasciatus solidus in Long Pine Key of Everglades National Park List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... x List of Maps ....................................................................................................................... xi List of Plates ..................................................................................................................... xv 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Liguus fasciatus solidus ............................................................................................ 2 1.2 Purpose and Goals ..................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Relevance of Study ................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Study Area ................................................................................................................ 3 1.5 Thesis Organization .................................................................................................. 3 2.0 Literature Review.......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Liguus fasciatus solidus Systematic Review ............................................................ 6 2.2 Liguus fasciatus solidus Historical Review .............................................................. 7 2.3 Liguus fasciatus solidus Ecological Review ............................................................. 9 2.4 Tropical Hardwood Hammocks .............................................................................. 12 3.0 Materials and Methods ................................................................................................ 15 3.1 Collection Study...................................................................................................... 16 vi 3.2 Long Pine Key Hammocks Survey ......................................................................... 16 3.3 GIS Database .......................................................................................................... 18 4.0 Results ......................................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Color Form Comparisons ........................................................................................ 21 4.2 Osteen Hammock and Walton Hammock Comparisons ........................................ 28 4.3 Palma Vista #1, Dark Hammock and Barbour Hammock Comparisons ................ 29 4.4 Chase Hammock and Clench Hammock Comparisons .......................................... 29 5.0 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 31 5.1 Color Form Success ................................................................................................ 32 5.2 Hammock Area vs. Number of Color Forms .......................................................... 33 5.3 Migration................................................................................................................. 34 6.0 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 39 6.1 Color Form Success ................................................................................................ 40 6.2 Hammock Area vs. Number of Color Forms .......................................................... 40 6.3 Migration................................................................................................................. 40 6.4 Sources of Error ...................................................................................................... 41 7.0 Future Research .......................................................................................................... 43 7.1 Future Research ...................................................................................................... 44 8.0 Appendixes ................................................................................................................. 45 8.1 Tables ...................................................................................................................... 46 8.2 Figures..................................................................................................................... 46 8.3 Maps ........................................................................................................................ 51 8.4 Plates ..................................................................................................................... 131 vii 9.0 References ................................................................................................................. 156 9.1 References ............................................................................................................. 157 viii List of Tables Table I. Color Forms ......................................................................................................... 41 Table II. Color Form Attributes & Groups ....................................................................... 42 Table III. Success Rates .................................................................................................... 43 Table IV. Hammock Comparisons ................................................................................... 44 Table V. Hammock Area vs. # of Color Forms ................................................................ 45 ix List of Figures Figure 1. 1931 Survey, % Occurrence .............................................................................. 47 Figure 2. 2006 Survey, % Occurrence .............................................................................. 48 Figure 3. 1931 Survey, Hammock Area vs. # of Color Forms ......................................... 49 Figure 4. 2006 Survey, Hammock Area vs. # of Color Forms ......................................... 50 x List of Maps Map 1. Long Pine Key ...................................................................................................... 52 Map 2. 1931 Survey, Aurantius ........................................................................................ 53 Map 3. 2006 Survey, Aurantius ........................................................................................ 54 Map 4. 1931 Survey, Barbouri ......................................................................................... 55 Map 5. 2006 Survey, Barbouri ......................................................................................... 56 Map 6. 1931 Survey, Castaneozonatus ............................................................................ 57 Map 7. 2006 Survey, Castaneozonatus ...........................................................................