USGS Gulf Coast Science Conference and Florida Integrated Science Center Meeting: Proceedings with Abstracts, October 20-23, 2008, Orlando, Florida Edited and compiled by Dawn Lavoie, Barry Rosen, Dave Sumner, Kim Haag, Ann Tihansky, Betsy Boynton, and Renee Koenig Open-File Report 2008-1329 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2008 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Suggested citation: The reference to the whole1 or a part2 of this report should be written as follows: 1Lavoie, D.L, Rosen, B.H., Sumner, D.M., Haag, K.H., Tihansky, A.B, Boynton, Betsy, and Koenig, R.R., (eds.), 2008, USGS Gulf Coast Science Conference and Florida Integrated Science Center Meeting: Proceedings with Abstracts, October 20-23, 2008, Orlando, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1329, 157 p. http://ngom.usgs.gov/gomsc/meetings/gcsm2008/abstract.html 2Dadisman, S.V., Flocks, J.G., Wertz, R.R., 2008, Overview of USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program Data Management and Analysis Tools for Geologic and Hazards Information [abs.], in Lavoie, D.L., Rosen, B.H., and others, (eds.), USGS Gulf Coast Science Conference and Florida Integrated Science Center Meeting: Proceedings with Abstracts, October 20-23, 2008, Orlando, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1329, p. 34-35. http://ngom.usgs.gov/gomsc/meetings/gcsm2008/abstract_gom_pres6.html Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. USGS Gulf Coast Science Conference and Florida Integrated Science Center Meeting: Proceedings with Abstracts October 20-23, 2008 Orlando, Florida Open-File Report 2008-1329 Edited and compiled by Dawn Lavoie, Barry Rosen, Dave Sumner, Kim Haag, Ann Tihansky, Betsy Boynton, and Renee Koenig Welcome! The USGS is the Nation’s premier source of information in support of science-based decision making for resource management. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring together a diverse array of USGS scientists, managers, specialists, and others from science centers around the Gulf working on biologic, geologic, and hydrologic issues related to the Gulf of Mexico and the State of Florida. We’ve organized the meeting around the major themes outlined in the USGS Circular 1309, Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges—U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007–2017. USGS senior leadership will provide a panel discussion about the Gulf of Mexico and Integrated Science. Capstone talks will summarize major topics and key issues. Interactive poster sessions each evening will provide the opportunity for you to present your results and talk with your peers. We hope that discussions and interactions at this meeting will help USGS scientists working in Florida and the Gulf Coast region find common interests, forge scientific collaborations and chart a direction for the future. We hope that the meeting environment will encourage interaction, innovation and stimulate ideas among the many scientists working throughout the region. We’d like to create a community of practice across disciplines and specialties that will help us address complex scientific and societal issues. Please take advantage of this opportunity to visit with colleagues, get to know new ones, share ideas and brainstorm about future possibilities. It is our pleasure to provide this opportunity. We are glad you’re here. Dawn Lavoie Barry Rosen USGS Gulf of Mexico Science Coordinator USGS Florida Integrated Science Center Director iii Contents Capstone Talks Monday PM - October 20, 2008 - Gulf Coast Science Conference ........................................................................................ 1 Understanding Ecosystems and Predicting Ecosystem Change: Ensuring the Nation’s Economic and Environmental Future Climate Variability and Change Tuesday AM - October 21, 2008 - Gulf Coast Science Conference........................................................................................ 2 Energy (plus Alternate Energy - Wind) and Mineral Resources National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment Program: Hurricanes Tuesday PM - Gulf Coast Science Conference .......................................................................................................................... 3 Wildlife and Human Health Water Census Data Integration Wednesday AM - October 22, 2008 - FISC Science Meeting .................................................................................................. 4 Ecosystems and Populations Coastal Processes Wednesday PM - USGS Senior Leadership - Gulf of Mexico and Integrated Science ................................................. 5 USGS Senior Leadership Panel Discussion Thursday AM - October 23, 2008 - FISC Science Meeting ....................................................................................................... 6 Impact of Climate Change on USGS Programs Freshwater Quality and Availability Thursday PM - FISC Science Meeting ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Environmental Health and Degradation Panel Discussion - FISC Science Directions and Opportunities Poster Sessions by Theme Monday - 6:00 PM ............................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Understanding Ecosystems Climate Variability and Change Tuesday - 6:00 PM ............................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Hazards Wildlife and Human Health Water Census Data Integration Education Northern Gulf of Mexico Project Wednesday - 6:00 PM ....................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Ecosystems and Populations Coastal Processes Freshwater Quality and Availability Environmental Health and Degradation Information Management Abstracts (In Alphabetical Order by Author) Gulf of Mexico Conference .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Florida Integrated Science Center .................................................................................................................................................. 95 iv USGS Gulf Coast Science Conference & Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC) Meeting Monday Afternoon - 10/20/08 (Gulf Coast Science Conference) Welcome, Introduction, Goals and Meeting Plans: 1:00 Dawn Lavoie (USGS Gulf of Mexico Science Coordinator) and Barry Rosen (USGS Florida Integrated Science Center Director) - Science Forum Regional Executive’s welcome: 1:15 Jess Weaver and Stan Ponce 1:30 Understanding ecosystems and predicting ecosystem change: Ensuring the nation’s economic and environmental future CAPSTONE TALKS --- Session chairs: Tom Doyle and Donald L. DeAngelis Large Scale Landscape Change and Natural Hazards in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Speaker: John C. Brock Biophysical Controls on Response of Coastal Wetlands to Climate Change, Elevated CO2, and Sea-level Rise. Speaker: Karen McKee How Does Restoration Affect the Resiliency of Coastal Louisiana Marshes? Speakers: Christopher M. Swarzenski, William Orem, Kenneth W. Krauss, Thomas W. Doyle and JoAnn Holloway USGS Research Activities in Coastal Forest Ecosystems of the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Speaker: Kenneth W. Krauss USGS Ecosystem Modeling Applications in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Speakers: Donald L. DeAngelis and Thomas W. Doyle 3:00 Break 3:30 Climate variability and change CAPSTONE TALKS --- Session chairs: Virginia Burkett and Tom Smith Natural Climate Variability in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Implications for the Future. Speakers: Richard Z. Poore, Kristine DeLong, Kathy A. Tedesco, Lisa E. Osterman, Julie Ritchey and Terrence Quinn USGS Role in Ocean Acidification Research. Speakers: Lisa L. Robbins, Kimberly K. Yates, and Ilsa B. Kuffner The USGS Role in Mangrove Ecosystem Research at Global Scales Speakers: Thomas J. Smith III, Donald R. Cahoon, Richard H. Day, Don L. DeAngelis, Amanda W. Demopoulos, Thomas W. Doyle, Chandra Giri, Kristen M. Hart, Kenneth W. Krauss, M. Dennis Krohn, Catherine A. Langtimm, Carole C. McIvor, Karen L. McKee, Beth A. Middleton, Bradley M. Stith, Eric D. Swain 6:00 Monday Poster Session and Social (appetizers) 2 Tuesday Morning - 10/21/08 (Gulf Coast Science Conference) 8:30 Energy (plus Alternate Energy – Wind) and Mineral Resources CAPSTONE TALKS --- Session chair: Deborah R. Hutchinson USGS Gas Hydrate Studies in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Speaker: Deborah R. Hutchinson A Geologic-Based Evaluation of the Potential for Undiscovered Oil and Gas Accumulations in Paleogene