Marl Prairie/Slough Gradients; patterns and trends in Shark Slough and adjacent marl prairies (CERP monitoring activity 3.1.3.5): First Annual Report (2005)
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Material Information

Title:
Marl Prairie/Slough Gradients; patterns and trends in Shark Slough and adjacent marl prairies (CERP monitoring activity 3.1.3.5): First Annual Report (2005)
Creator:
Michael Ross
Pablo Ruiz
Jay Sah
Susana Stofella
Nilesh Timilsina
Erin Hanan
Place of Publication:
Miami, Florida
Publisher:
Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
25 pages

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Shark River Slough (Fla.)
Spatial Coverage:
Shark River Slough (Fla.)

Notes

Abstract:
The work on CERP monitoring item 3.1.3.5 (Marl prairie/slough gradients) is being conducted by Florida International University (Dr Michael Ross, Project Leader), with Everglades National Park (Dr. Craig Smith) providing administrative support and technical consultation. As of January 2006 the funds transferred by ACOE to ENP, and subsequently to FIU, have been entirely expended or encumbered in salaries or wages. The project work for 2005 started rather late in the fiscal year, but ultimately accomplished the Year 1 goals of securing a permit to conduct the research in Everglades National Park, finalizing a detailed scope of work, and sampling marsh sites which are most easily accessed during the wet season. 46 plots were sampled in detail, and a preliminary vegetation classification distinguished three groups among these sites (Sawgrass marsh, sawgrass and other, and slough) which may be arranged roughly along a hydrologic gradient from least to most persistently inundated . We also made coarser observations of vegetation type at 5-m intervals along 2 transects totaling ~ 5 km. When these data were compared with similar observations made in 1998-99, it appeared that vegetation in the western portion of Northeast Shark Slough (immediately east of the L-67 extension) had shifted toward a more hydric type during the last 6 years, while vegetation further east was unchanged in this respect. Because this classification and trend analysis is based on a small fraction of the data set that will be available after the first cycle of sampling (3 years from now), the results should not be interpreted too expansively. However, they do demonstrate the potential for gaining a more comprehensive view of marsh vegetation structure and dynamics in the Everglades, and will provide a sound basis for adaptive management.

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Southeast Environmental Research Center