Geological History of the Everglades

Flocculent Material

-suspended material that slowly accumulates near the benthos
food for detritivores
-not settled
-constantly moving
-food sour

RT depth modeling

-high accuracy
-EDEN

Water Surface models

-network of automatic guages verified by ground truthing
-model shows where the top of the water surface is in relation to sea level

Ground Elevation models

-relative to sea level

Oligotrophic

-low nutrients

anthropogenic sources of phosphorous

-failing septic systems
-wastewater treatment plants
-poorly treated stormwater
-soil erosion
-pet wastes
-leaves and grass clippings
-fertilizer
-phosphorous containing detergents
-

Ecosystem changes caused by phosphorous

-excessive growth of cattails (crowd out native species)
-increases growth (e.g. algae, duckweed)
-decreases growth of natural communities of algae or periphyton
-loss of water DO produced by periphyton
-impair water quality

Sulfur contamination

-excess originated from canal draining
-ingredient in common fertilizers
-copper sulfate and magnesium sulfate is used to treat soil deficiencies

-factor in mercury methylation and bioaccumulation
-enables phosphorous movement
-can be toc

Mercury Contamination

-atmospheric deposition
-coal combustion
-waste incineration

-imposes a risk to animal and h

Efforts for nutrient control

-reducing phosphorous before water leaves the farm
-STA construction to remove P before it enters the Everglades
-Clean water act limits amount of P and other nutrients into te

Personally Reducing P Impact

-phosphate free soap and detergent
-pick up after pet
-use water efficiently
-wash car on lawn or in car washes
-use fertilizer responsibly
-

Sources of Organic Carbon

-Trees and other plants
-peat
-coal and oil deposits
-detritus and decaying matter

Wet Season Carbon levels

-CO2 absorbed by plants
-stays trapped under water in biomass
-carbon sink

Dry Season Carbon

-CO2 released
-carbon source

Carbon Negative response to climate change

NEE increases because of rising temperature
shift in precipitation changes NEE
increased salinity exposure decreases plant carbon uptake
long term carbon accumulation is less than average in peatlands

NEE

net ecosystem exchange

Carbon positive responses to climate change

-near CO2 eutral status
-higher atmospheric CO2=enhanced carbon sink capacity in sloughs

Problems with SLR and Carbon Cycle

-peat collapse
-decreased plant productivity and microbial respiration
-constraints on rates of sediment and carbon accretion

Salinity-carbon balance

-losing peat soils and loss of live roots

Blue carbon

-organic c sequestered and stored by coastal/marine ecosystems