Ecology February 2013
Predicting Ecological Changes in the Florida Everglades
under a Future Climate Scenario
February 14 & 15, 2013
Florida Atlantic University Boca Campus
Purpose:
The purpose of this technical meeting was to (1) have experts in Everglades ecosystems predict how key attributes may respond to specific future climate scenarios that include increased temperature, altered rainfall and runoff, higher evapotranspiration, rising sea level, greater climate extremes, and elevated atmospheric CO2; and (2) identify gaps in scientific information leading to unacceptable levels of uncertainty in ecological predictions, including changes in environmental parameters needed by ecologists to predict how these ecosystems may respond; and (3) to consider options for future resource management and scientific needs and capabilities to support management adaptations.
Outcomes:
The workshop identified that the effects of climate change must be carefully considered and that those effects which are deemed likely to influence the outcome of Everglades restoration must be taken into consideration in the planning and implementation of regional projects. The workshop also identified that major uncertainties exist, from those associated with climate projections to those about specific changes in ecological structure and function. These uncertainties must be prioritized and then reconciled with timely research that can support decisions by resource managers.
Steering Committee:
- Leonard Berry, Director, CES, FAU
- G. Ronnie Best, Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystems Science, USGS
- Karl E. Havens, Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida
- Jayantha Obeysekera, Hydrologic & Environmental Systems Modeling, SFWMD
- Nick Aumen, Everglades National Park
- Glenn Landers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
- Vasu Misra, Meteorology, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, FSU
- Martha Nungesser, South Florida Water Management District
- Leonard Pearlstine, National Park Service, US Department of the Interior
- Stephanie Romanach, U.S. Geological Survey
- Dave Rudnick, Everglades National Park
- Russ Weeks, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Steve Traxler, US Fish and Wildlife Service