SFCN Periphyton Monitoring Protocol Data Package (2008 - 2024): Site Condition, Total Phosphorus, and Diatom Data

A data package consisting of diatom, total phosphorus, and related data collected in Big Cypress National Preserve as part of the SFCN Periphyton Vital Signs protocol.

Periphyton is a microbial mat community that forms the base of the aquatic food web in South Florida wetlands such as the marshes in Everglades National Park (EVER) and the Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). It is a vital component of these wetlands, contributing to critical functions such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and soil production and stabilization. Periphyton is sensitive to changes in hydropattern (water quantity and duration) and water quality. Changes to these ecosystem processes can quickly alter periphyton community structure (species composition and relative abundance), which in turn can create cascading effects through higher trophic levels. Thus, periphyton is an early and integrative indicator of local and regional changes to hydrology.

The South Florida/Caribbean Network has implemented the monitoring of periphyton communities in Big Cypress National Preserve to assess the impact of hydrologic and water quality changes on the diatom community structure and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the periphyton mats.

The specific monitoring objectives are:
1) Identify any basins in the northwest section of Big Cypress National Preserve where periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content are different from an oligotrophic (low-nutrient) and unimpacted community signal.

2) Document any temporal and/or spatial changes in the periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content showing progression towards an oligotrophic, unimpacted condition or a eutrophic (high-nutrient), impacted condition.

This dataset includes all data collected (both pilot and standard) between 2008 and 2025. 2025 sites are listed in this release alongside their field data, but lab results have yet to be received for these sites at this time.