CERP Picayune Strand - Biological Monitoring of Aquatic and Terrestrial Fauna for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project (2005-2007)

This study is a continuation of an aquatic faunal monitoring program that has been conducted under contract with the Big Cypress Basin - SFWMD since 2001. The scope of the original monitoring project was modified to reflect a more accurate assessment of the final restoration design described in the Picayune Strand Restoration Project (PSRP) Project Implementation Report (PIR). The purpose of the current study was to develop baseline data for aquatic and terrestrial fauna that can serve as indicators of ecosystem change in response to the hydrologic restoration of the Picayune Strand State Forest (PSSF). Sampling sites for a suite of taxa were established in the immediate vicinity of SFWMD water level monitoring wells: 27 in PSSF and two in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge (TTINWR) . Three reference sites in each of the three major habitats in Picayune were also established within nearby relatively undisturbed areas to provide taxa restoration targets: six in Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve (FSSP) and six in Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (FPNWR) . Each aquatic fauna sampling site was coordinated with other monitoring efforts to avoid impacts to water quality and vegetation sampling sites. Sites located in PSSF, TTINWR, FSSP and FPNWR were given a prefix of SG, TT, FS and FP, respectively. Sampling sites were also established in representative major habitat types found in the immediate vicinity of SFWMD water level monitoring wells. Designated codes for each habitat are as follows: C = cypress slough; Cg = cypress with graminoid understory; G = wet prairie; Pm = mesic pine flatwoods; Ph = hydric pine flatwoods; Hh = hydric hammocks; Hm = mesic hammocks; Mf = freshwater marshes; and Ms = saltwater marshes. Aquatic fauna includes small fishes, amphibians, macro-invertebrates such as crustaceans, insects, snails and worms. Many aquatic organisms are not only indicators of ecosystem recovery but are vital elements in a complex food web. Ants and grasshoppers were used as surrogates for terrestrial invertebrate community diversity and as indicators of changes in plant communities and hydrologic conditions. Each faunal group (fish, amphibians, invertebrates) were monitored at each sampling site from 2005-2007. Hydrology and water quality parameters were also closely monitored at each sampling site. Each of the aforementioned indicator groups were analyzed using species compositions, relative abundances, diversity measures, and graphical multivariate methods to assess the effects of restoration activities over time. A copy of the final report and SOW for this study can be found in DOCUMENTUM SOUTH at the following location: Cabinets/CERP Project/Picayune Strand Restoration/11 Project Implementation Monitoring/11.02 Inland Monitoring/Aquatic Fauna and Terrestrial Invertebrates/CSWFL_2005_2007