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New field course (EFB 500) (winter break ’02-’03). Aquatic Ecosystems of the Southeastern US. K. Limburg & K. Schulz, expedition leaders. Course Philosophy. Field study of aquatic ecosystems Exploration of diverse ecosystems ‘Pristine’ systems Human-dominated systems Independent Projects.
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New field course (EFB 500) (winter break ’02-’03) Aquatic Ecosystems of the Southeastern US K. Limburg & K. Schulz, expedition leaders
Course Philosophy • Field study of aquatic ecosystems • Exploration of diverse ecosystems • ‘Pristine’ systems • Human-dominated systems • Independent Projects
Course Overview • 3 meetings before the field trip • 26 December – 14 January field trip • Prepare posters from your independent projects (on return) to be displayed in the spring 2003 SUNY ESF poster session
Chesapeake Bay/CarolinasDecember 26 - 28 seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/ IMAGES/cities/S1998029172...
Chesapeake Bay/Carolinas • Naturally productive • Oysters, crab, fish • Human population influences • Salt marshes • Mud flats • Trawling http://gis.cdc.gov/atsdr/map-library/chesapeake-npls.jpg
Crab pots in a channel on the Chesapeake http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/coastline/line0656.htm
Maryland blue crab www.photolib.noaa.gov/coastline/
Crabs and menhaden on a fishing boat deck www.photolib.noaa.gov/coastline/
www.photolib.noaa.gov/coastline/ Egret fishing in a tidal pool
Chesapeake Oyster Oyster Recovery Partnership transplants oyster reefs for recolonization www.photolib.noaa.gov/coastline/ images/line0794.jpg
Critters Cow-nosed ray Diamondback terrapin Horseshoe crabs Osprey Fiddler crab www.photolib.noaa.gov/coastline/
Problems Abandoned nets Oil boom; industrial/ag pollution Shoreline development
Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia29 – 30 December • Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge – largest forested wetland wilderness in the United States • Cypress swamps • Prarie wetlands • Pine uplands
Sapelo Island, Georgia30 December – 2 January • ‘Pristine’ • Salt marsh • Beaches • Trawling trip
Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades3 January – 6 January • Massive human engineering projects • High natural diversity • Hydrologic disruption • Exotic species What it was…
What we did to it… http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/threats2.htm www.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/lib/ graphics/structures/s77-1.gi
Slight changes in elevation (only inches), water salinity, and soil create entirely different landscapes, each with its own community of plants and animals. http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/habitats.htm
Lake Okeechobee www.pilothouseonline.com/.../ Lake%20Okeechobee.jpg
Everglades native slash pine (Pinus elliottii) Prescribed burning in sawgrass (Cladium jamaicensis) to maintain marsh www.uni-freiburg.de/fireglobe/ photos/florida/florida.htm
Florida Bay/Keys 6 January – 12 January • Florida Institute of Oceanography; Keys Marine Laboratory • Tour • Boating Expedition • Independent Projects
Keys • Within ½ hour of: • Coral reefs • Florida Bay • Grass flats • Sandy beaches • Mud flats • Mangrove forest • Oceanic waters (Gulf Stream / Florida Straits)
Long Key State Park http://thefloridakeys.com/parks/lignum.htm
Anne’s Beach, Long Key http://thefloridakeys.com/parks/lignum.htm
LIGNUMVITAE KEY STATE BOTANICAL SITE http://thefloridakeys.com/parks/lignum.htm
What you should get from this course • A good overview of southeastern estuarine, freshwater and nearshore marine ecosystems • Some critters & green stuff • Ecology • Ecosystem processes • Human impacts • A chance to do independent research in aquatic systems – either individually or in a small group • Learn how to develop a poster on your research