RECOVER MAP 3.1.3.8 and 3.1.3.10 Trophic Level Primary-Periphyton Mat Cover, Structure and Composition; Aq Fauna Periphyton

The objective of this work is to gather wet season aquatic fauna (marsh fish and macroinvertebrates) population and periphyton production and community composition data across the Greater Everglades ecosystem. This effort will establish the current condition of these populations and will allow scientists to detect changes/trends in aquatic fauna and periphyton population structures as CERP is implemented. The secondary objective of this project is for the principle investigator to provide feedback in the form of annual reports and a presentation to the Adaptive Assessment Team (AAT) to explain how these dynamics relate to aquatic fauna populations and the periphyton community structure and composition, how they will be affected by CERP implementation, how they relate to CERP hypotheses from the MAP, and how to apply what is learned to the adaptive management process.
Aquatic fauna and periphyton will be sampled at sites selected using a stratified random design (Phillipi 2003), completed for RECOVER in fall 2003. The aquatic fauna (marsh fishes and macroinvertebrates) and periphyton sampling locations sites will be conjoined with crayfish sampling when possible. Information gathered about the population dynamics of these aquatic fauna and periphyton communities will be used as input for predictive models, and to interpret the relationship between wading birds and aquatic fauna populations and the periphyton community structure and composition. Understanding this relationship between the upper, primary, and secondary trophic levels will be used to assess CERP performance.

The Monitoring and Assessment Plan of CERP has established a number of biotic performance measures to assess restoration of food-web function under this long-term restoration program. The community structure (abundance, biomass, and species composition) of periphyton and fishes, and the spatial distribution of the latter in relation to hydrology, are among the key performance measures targeted for monitoring. We are using a multistage, spatially balanced sampling design to document landscape-scale patterns of these performance measures. We also conduct more intensive sampling at â sentinelâ sites, sampled twice during the dry season, to gather seasonal information aiding in the interpretation of yearly landscape-level data.  A 1-m2 throw trap is used to collect periphyton, marsh fishes, and benthic macroinvertebrates such as crayfish and dragonflies, while mangrove fishes are sampled using a 9-m2 drop net.  Our sampling design will be used as a guide for on-going CERP activities, as data resulting from restoration efforts are compiled and interpreted against results from simulation models or data collected from reference sites.

本研究的目标是在大沼泽地（Greater Everglades）生态系统范围内，收集湿季水生动物（沼泽鱼类与大型无脊椎动物）种群、周丛生物（periphyton）生产力及群落组成数据。本工作将明确上述类群的当前现状，并助力科研人员监测在综合大沼泽地恢复计划（Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, CERP）实施过程中，水生动物与周丛生物种群结构的变化及趋势。本项目的次要目标是由首席研究员以年度报告及向适应性评估团队（Adaptive Assessment Team, AAT）进行汇报的形式，反馈相关研究成果：阐释这些种群动态与水生动物种群、周丛生物群落结构及组成的关联，它们将如何受CERP实施的影响，它们与监测与评估计划（Monitoring and Assessment Plan, MAP）中的CERP假说存在何种关联，以及如何将研究成果应用于适应性管理流程。
水生动物与周丛生物的采样点位将采用分层随机抽样设计（stratified random design，Phillipi 2003）选取，该设计已于2003年秋季为RECOVER项目完成布设。在条件允许时，水生动物（沼泽鱼类与大型无脊椎动物）及周丛生物的采样点位将与螯虾采样点位合并。采集得到的水生动物种群动态与周丛生物群落数据，将作为预测模型的输入参数，并用于阐释涉禽种群与水生动物种群、周丛生物群落结构及组成之间的关联。明确顶层、初级与次级营养级之间的这种关联，将用于评估CERP的实施效果。
CERP的监测与评估计划（MAP）已确立多项生物性能指标，用于评估这项长期恢复计划下食物网功能的恢复情况。周丛生物与鱼类的群落结构（包括丰度、生物量及物种组成），以及后者与水文条件相关的空间分布，均为本次监测瞄准的关键性能指标。我们采用多阶段空间平衡抽样设计，以记录这些性能指标的景观尺度分布格局。同时，我们在“哨兵”点位开展更密集的采样，该点位在旱季会进行两次采样，以获取季节维度的信息，辅助解读年度景观尺度的监测数据。我们使用1平方米的投掷式采样器采集周丛生物、沼泽鱼类及螯虾、蜻蜓等底栖大型无脊椎动物，而红树林鱼类则采用9平方米的沉降式采样网进行采样。本抽样设计将作为当前CERP相关活动的参考指南，因为恢复工作产生的监测数据，将结合模拟模型结果或参照点位采集的数据进行整合与解读。