Coupling Human and Natural Interactions in the
Dynamic Coastal Landscape of the Florida
Everglades
Daniel L. Childers, Florida International Univ.

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS:
Florida International Univ (Biology,
Chemistry, Earth Sci, Environ.Studies,
SERC, IHC)
College of William & Mary
Rutgers University
Texas A&M University
University of Louisiana-Lafayette
University of Miami
University of North Carolina-Wilmington
University of South Florida
University of Virginia
Everglades National Park
South Florida Water Management District
U.S.G.S., BRD & WRD
National Audubon Society

The FCE LTER Central Theme:
Following water as it flows from canal to the Gulf of Mexico through 2 different Everglades wetland basins
FLORIDA
Long-term scenarios affecting landocean interactions include:
1. Increased freshwater flows (Everglades
Restoration)
2. Sea level rise
3. Possible coastal eutrophication
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
Land-ocean interactions: The
“upside down” estuary concept:
• Oligotrophic, P-limited freshwater
Everglades.
• Marine source of limiting nutrient to estuaries.

The FCE LTER Central Theme:
Following water as it flows from canal to the Gulf of Mexico through 2 different Everglades wetland basins
FLORIDA
Long-term scenarios affecting landocean interactions include:
1. Increased freshwater flows (Everglades
Restoration)
2. Sea level rise
3. Possible coastal eutrophication
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
Land-ocean interactions: The
“upside down” estuary concept:
• Oligotrophic, P-limited freshwater
Everglades.
• Marine source of limiting nutrient to estuaries.

Simple Conceptual Diagram of FCE I Research

FLORIDA
The FCE LTER Central Hypothesis:
Tracking water and ecosystem productivity along these transects from canal to the Gulf of Mexico
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
A freshwater
Shark River Slough
Taylor Slough/Panhandle
Freshwater inputs
Low [P]
High [N]
Mod. [DOM]
0-10 ppt
Saltwater inputs
High [P]
Low [N]
Mod. [DOM]
10-30 ppt salinity zones
>30 ppt
B

The “Upside Down” estuaries:
In the oligotrophic Everglades, the Gulf of Mexico is the primary source of the limiting nutrient (P) to the estuaries
FLORIDA
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
A freshwater
Shark River Slough
Taylor Slough/Panhandle
Freshwater inputs
Low [P]
High [N]
Mod. [DOM]
0-10 ppt
Saltwater inputs
High [P]
Low [N]
Mod. [DOM]
10-30 ppt salinity zones
>30 ppt
B

The FCE LTER Central Theme:
We originally hypothesized a peak in ecosystem productivity in the oligohaline region of our SRS transect…
FLORIDA
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
A freshwater
Shark River Slough
Taylor Slough/Panhandle
Freshwater inputs
Low [P]
High [N]
Mod. [DOM]
0-10 ppt
Saltwater inputs
High [P]
Low [N]
Mod. [DOM]
10-30 ppt salinity zones
>30 ppt
B

FLORIDA
The FCE LTER Central Theme:
.
..and we hypothesized no such peak in ecosystem productivity in the oligohaline region of our southern
Everglades transect
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
A freshwater
Shark River Slough
Taylor Slough/Panhandle
Freshwater inputs
Low [P]
High [N]
Mod. [DOM]
0-10 ppt
Saltwater inputs
High [P]
Low [N]
Mod. [DOM]
10-30 ppt salinity zones
>30 ppt
B

FLORIDA
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
The Shark River Slough
Transect
Characteristics:
1. Direct connection to the
Gulf of Mexico.
2. Largest Everglades drainage.
3. Historically = dominant freshwater flow path.
4. Current freshwater inputs controlled by canals & structures.

A virtual boat trip down the Shark River Estuary
SRS-4: Freshwater ecotone, farthest from marine influence

A virtual boat trip down the Shark River Estuary
SRS-5: Intermediate site

A virtual boat trip down the Shark River Estuary
SRS-6: Closest to marine influence

FLORIDA
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
The Southern
Everglades (TS/Ph)
Transect
Characteristics:
1. Connection to the Gulf of Mexico only via the shallow Florida Bay estuary.
2. Smaller drainage.
3. Current freshwater inputs controlled by canals & structures.

FCE LTER program quantifies major ecosystem components to follow major energetic and biogeochemical pathways

FCE I: What we originally hypothesized

FCE I: What we actually learned

And on to FCE II…..

The Context: Everglades Restoration

Simple Conceptual Diagram of FCE II Research

FLORIDA
SRS
Transect
TS/Ph
Transect
FCE II and Tamiami Trail
Characteristics:
1. Road build in 1920s.
2. Forms a major barrier to north-south water flow.
3. Only 4 W.C. structures
& small culverts.
4. Decompartmentalize the landscape by removing the levee.

The Grand Experiment
Freshwater flow will increase along the SRS transect
(3.2 km Tamiami Trail Bridge) during FCE II

Humans and the Everglades, or… can a biophysical scientist talk about social science?
Dramatic and rapid changes in the Everglades landscape and hydroscape in the last 100+ years

Fresh water: A key ecosystem service provided by the Everglades
South Florida’s primary water source is the shallow Biscayne Aquifer, which is recharged by the Everglades

BOTE valuation of ecosystem service purveyance of fresh water to > 6 million people
• South Florida’s primary water source is the shallow Biscayne Aquifer, which is recharged by the Everglades
Replacement Cost:
$913,000,000 per year

Land use change as a key human driver putting numerous stresses on the Everglades

•Established in
1975
•Did not appear on
Comprehensive
Development
Master Plan Land
Use Map until
1983

•Has been
“amended” many times since 1975
•Primarily for residential development
(central & south)
& rock mining
(north)

UDB represents conflicts between environmental & quality of life concerns and economic expansion
(“affordable” housing?)

•Most recent
“amendment” request in late 2005.
•9 large development projects, including several close to the
N.Dade wellfields.

Dec 05: M-D County Commission remanded decision to SFRPC
Jan 06: SFRPC Rejection

Why a Human Dimensions effort in FCE II?
Preparing for LTER Network-level science
From: LTER Group of 100 Meeting, Nov. 2004 (Sklar et al.)

Human behavior
(society, policy, economics)
Biotic structure rank-dominance curves, life-history traits
Longterm “press” e.g., N deposition, species invasions, temperature
Shortterm “pulse” e.g., fire, storms
Ecosystem functioning
1

/ 2
 production, decomposition, nutrient cycling
Ecosystem services food, pest/disease control, erosion control, soil fertility

Human behavior
(society, policy, economics)
How do press & pulse disturbances interact to alter structure & the functioning of different ecosystems?
Longterm “press” e.g., N deposition, species invasions, temperature
Shortterm “pulse” e.g., fire, storms
Q1
Biotic structure rank-dominance curves, life-history traits
Q2
Ecosystem functioning
1

/ 2
 production, decomposition, nutrient cycling
How is biotic structure both a cause and consequence of ecological fluxes of energy & matter?
Q3
Ecosystem services food, pest/disease control, erosion control, soil fertility
How do changes in vital ecosystem services feed back to alter human behavior?

linkages: impact scenarios, management
Longterm “press” e.g., N deposition, species invasions, temperature
Human behavior
(society, policy, economics)
Shortterm “pulse” e.g., fire, storms
Biotic structure rank-dominance curves, life-history traits linkages: adaptive modeling, valuation, forecasting
Ecosystem services food, pest/disease control, erosion control, soil fertility
Ecosystem functioning
1

/ 2
 production, decomposition, nutrient cycling linkages: experimental/observational results identify change