Hydrologic Variation and Ecological Processes in the Mangrove Forests of South Florida: Response to Restoration

The focus of this research is (1) quantifying groundwater and and surface-water flow dynamics within the coastal mangrove zone and within the adjacent freshwater marsh, (2) defining the response of fluid flow characteristics to changes in weather and water management practices, and (3) deriving relationships between hydrologic conditions and vegetation indices of the mangrove-marsh ecotone.

Our co-located sampling networks allow us to track the interaction of hydrology, sediment, and vegetation over time, and will provide the opportunity to monitor the progress of the Everglades restoration and to gauge its success.