Accounting for the Impact of Management Scenarios on Typha Domingensis (Cattail) in an Everglades Wetland.
The coupled regional simulation model, and the transport and reaction simulation engine were recently adapted to simulate ecology, specifically Typha domingensis (Cattail) dynamics in the Everglades. While Cattail is a native Everglades species, it has become invasive over the years due to an altered habitat over the last few decades, taking over historically Cladium jamaicense (Sawgrass) areas. Two models of different levels of algorithmic complexity were developed in previous studies, and are used here to determine the impact of various management decisions on the average Cattail density within Water Conservation Area 2A in the Everglades. A Global Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis was conducted to test the importance of these management scenarios, as well as the effectiveness of using zonal statistics. Management scenarios included high, medium and low initial water depths, soil phosphorus concentrations, initial Cattail and Sawgrass densities, as well as annually alternating water depths and soil phosphorus concentrations, and a steadily decreasing soil phosphorus concentration. Analysis suggests that zonal statistics are good indicators of regional trends, and that high soil phosphorus concentration is a pre-requisite for expansive Cattail growth. It is a complex task to manage Cattail expansion in this region, requiring the close management and monitoring of water depth and soil phosphorus concentration, and possibly other factors not considered in the model complexities. However, this modeling framework with user-definable complexities and management scenarios, can be considered a useful tool in analyzing many more alternatives, which could be used to aid management decisions in the future.
Room 202, Rabie Saunders Building, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, 3209, South Africa. Lagerwall@ukzn.co.za.
Gareth
G
Lagerwall
Frazier Rogers Hall, University of Florida, PO Box 110570, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0570, USA.|Honorary Associate Professor, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KZN, Durban, South Africa.
Gregory
G
Kiker
Frazier Rogers Hall, University of Florida, PO Box 110570, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0570, USA.
Rafael
R
Muñoz-Carpena
Hydrologic and Environmental Systems Modeling, South Florida Water Management District, 3301 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406, USA.
Naiming
N
Wang
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D029785:Cyperaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D017753:Ecosystem; D005431:Florida; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D032401:Typhaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards; D053833:Wetlands
D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus
Global uncertainty and sensitivity analysis; Management scenarios; Regional simulation model; Transport and reaction simulation engine; Trend analysis; Typha domingensis (Cattail)