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An Ecosystem-Level Study of Florida’s Major Spring Systems

This study aims to investigate the ecosystem-level dynamics of 12 major spring systems in Florida, analyzing factors affecting ecosystem productivity and their ability to support fish and wildlife. The study will provide valuable insights into the impact of physical, nutrient, and flow factors, as well as recreational activities on spring ecosystems. The research will help update and expand on previous baseline studies, with a summary report expected by December 2009.

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An Ecosystem-Level Study of Florida’s Major Spring Systems

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  1. An Ecosystem-Level Study of Florida’s Major Spring Systems Jackson Blue Springs Working Group Tuesday, January 13, 2009 Robert L. Knight, Ph.D.

  2. An Ecosystem-Level Study of Florida’s Major Spring Systems • A State Wildlife Grant administered through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission * • Funding Partners- • Three Rivers Trust, Inc. • St. Johns River Water Management District • Southwest Florida Water Management District • Florida Springs Initiative & Florida Park Service • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission * http://myfwc.com/wildlifelegacy/

  3. OBJECTIVES & BENEFITS • Ecosystem level study of 12 of Florida’s major spring ecosystems, using quantitative and reproducible sampling methods. • Ten of which have historic data (50+ years ago). • Have trends occurred? • Analysis of the environmental factors affecting ecosystem productivity • and therefore the systems’ ability to support fish and wildlife. • We can address the question, “What factors affect a springs ecosystem (and metabolism) the most?” • Physical? Nutrients? • Flow? SAV type (none, vascular, algal)? • Recreation? Other?

  4. Selected Springs • De Leon • Homosassa • Ichetucknee • Jackson Blue • Madison Blue • Manatee • Ponce De Leon • Rainbow • Silver Glen • Silver • Wakulla • Weeki Wachee

  5. Selection of Study Springs

  6. Springs Selection – Range in Nitrate Concentrations:

  7. PROJECT TIMELINE • July – September 2008 – project planning and mobilization • October 2008 – September 2009 – synoptic sampling of 12 springs • De Leon, Homosassa, and Madison Blue completed • Sampling Jackson Blue this week • October – December 2009 – data analysis and reporting

  8. PARAMETERS • Physical characteristics of the spring run segments (length, width, cross sections, discharge and estimated volume)

  9. PARAMETERS cont. • Incident solar radiation and vertical light attenuation measured continuously in each spring segment

  10. PARAMETERS cont. • Diffusion of oxygen from air to water measured

  11. PARAMETERS cont. • Water temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, chloride, color, nutrients - at the upstream and downstream end of each spring run segment

  12. PARAMETERS cont. • SAV characterized in each spring segment - species, percent cover estimates for macroalgae and vascular plants

  13. PARAMETERS cont. • Aquatic insect (adult Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Lepidoptera) emergence rates measured using floating, pyramid traps;

  14. PARAMETERS cont. • Particulate export measured using plankton net;

  15. PARAMETERS cont. • Visual counts of macro fauna (reptiles, fish, birds, mammals)

  16. PARAMETERS cont. • Human use observations such as park attendance numbers, recreation, etc.

  17. PARAMETERS cont. • Ecosystem metabolism • Gross and net primary production [GPP & NPP], • Community respiration [CR], • P:R ratio, • Photosynthetic efficiency) • in a single, representative spring run segment, • using the upstream-downstream dissolved oxygen change method • for a continuous 72-hour period (or more);

  18. Benthic algae oxygen production • Sunfish respiration

  19. Why measure metabolism (via changes in dissolved oxygen)? • Integrated measure of the spring ecosystem (includes biotic and abiotic factors) • Provides an estimate of primary productivity (organic carbon production with the release of oxygen) • Provides a rate (typically in grams of oxygen per square meter per day) that can be extrapolated in time and/or space

  20. Silver Springs Ecosystem Metabolism(6,390 g dw/m2/y) Top Consumers Bass, Birds, and Alligators (1.53 g/m2) 1o Consumers Fish and Midges (10.7 g/m2) Herbivores Turtles, Snails, Mullet (36.8 g/m2) Primary Producers (Submersed Aquatic Vegetation community) Sagittaria kurziana w/ periphyton (809 g/m2)

  21. EXAMPLE DETERMINATION OF ECOSYSTEM METABOLISM BASED ON UPSTREAM-DOWNSTREAM DISSOLVED OXYGEN DATA

  22. Summary • Ecosystem study methods will help to synthesize spring response to a variety of stressors • Last spring-wide baseline conducted in 1950s – this study will update and expand on that work • Jackson Blue field work is being conducted this week. A summary report is due by December 2009.

  23. Discussion…

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