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Paper nailwort (Paronychia chartacea ssp. chartacea) is an endemic and threatened herb restricted to central Florida. There is limited information on seed propagation for this species. We tested the effects of temperature [22/11 °C (winter), 27/15 °C (spring), 29/19 8C (fall), and 33/24 °C (summer)], substrate (filter paper vs native soil), provenance (two collection locations), and time in dry storage on seed germination in three experiments. Germination was generally higher in cooler temperatures (~50-70%; winter or spring) compared to warmer temperatures (~0-25%; fall and summer), with overall germination highest at the spring temperature. We also found that germination increased up to 94% for seeds at fall and summer temperatures when they were transferred to winter temperatures at 32 days (i.e., warm stratification improved germination), and increased from 1% to 24% when seeds were sown at 15/5 °C and transferred to 27/15 °C. No significant differences were found between substrate or provenance. Overall germination rates increased over time in dry storage. These data indicate seeds of paper nailwort are non-dormant, non-deep physiologically dormant, or a combination of the two, prefer cooler to warmer temperatures for germination overall, prefer a warm pretreatment, and can be dry stored for at least four months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In southwest Florida, several important tidal creek studies have included the development of conceptual models describing various aspects of tidal creek function to advance the science underlying tidal creek management. However, the intermittent nature of individual research has thus far limited the establishment of a fully utilized management paradigm for these creeks. In this paper, we propose the development of a centralized repository of tidal creek information and a method to develop a community of practice using open science principles to accelerate the science-based management of tidal creeks. Developing a central repository for information on tidal creek research with a focus on using existing conceptual models to test and refine hypothesis will build confidence in science-based management practices for these systems. Having access to such a repository will facilitate future grant proposals, future studies, and integrate and accelerate the science on tidal creeks while also continuing to inform natural resource managers on best management practices to prioritize limited resources for tidal creek protection and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment framework for Tampa Bay Water's Hydrobiological Monitoring Program (HBMP) has been established based on the relationship between freshwater flow and primary environmental indicators monitored under the HBMP. The underlying paradigm is based on the understanding that reduced flows can result in water quality conditions adverse to biological populations if these conditions exceed a specific magnitude and/or are beyond a certain duration. HBMP water quality parameters identified as primary indicators include salinity (due to osmotic pressure controlling distribution of fish, benthos, and vegetation among other ecological effects), dissolved oxygen (due to the aerobic stress to fish and benthos that can occur due to depressed dissolved oxygen concentrations), and chlorophyll-a (due to excessive phytoplankton blooms that may increase biological oxygen demand and can result in depressed dissolved oxygen concentrations). These primary indicators were identified because they specifically relate to linkages in the HBMP conceptual model as well as State of Florida water quality standards and a great deal of effort has been allocated to understanding these relationships. To this end, special studies have been implemented to further scientific information related to the effects of flows and withdrawals on the magnitude, duration, and distribution of phytoplankton as one aspect of the larger HBMP assessment framework. In this paper, we provide a summary of recent special studies completed in the lower Alafia River, focused on in situ fluorometer chlorophyll-a measurement, interpretation, and predictive capability. We share lessons learned and our steps for moving forward in efforts to relate flow (and withdrawal-related effects) on phytoplankton in the lower Alafia River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities very obviously impact the environment. From pollution, to deforestation, to the introduction of invasive species, human activities often cause noticeable effects within an ecosystem. Knowledge of the cause and effect relationship between an action and its consequences makes up the bulk of effects pathways management. Describing land development proposals using data concerning Effects Pathways is often employed to minimize the harmful effects of developing that land. This data includes a list of the activities involved, the kinds of cause-and-effect interactions that are known to exist, and the methods by which stressors finally result in consequences in the environment. This study aims to uncover and catalog the resource needs for every life stage of 64 imperiled plant species, some of them being endemic to the state of Florida. This data could then be used to identify cause-and effect relationships between Human actions and the wellbeing of these endangered species. Most data collected was obtained by way of ECOS, most notably through the use of the "Five-year review" papers when they were available. Additional data was collected through the use of various peer-reviewed articles. Raw data in the form of papers, articles, and reports were mostly processed visually and the pertinent data from the raw data was recorded manually. This was done through careful reading and note-taking. The resource needs and life stage data was then added into a spreadsheet where data for each plant was recorded. From the data collected from the life stages and resource needs of the plant species used in this study several trends between the species involved arose. These trends Include low genetic diversity, persisting only in habitats exclusive to Florida, poor defenses against competing or invasive species, and benefitting from regular wildfires. The information gathered in this study is sure to be instrumental in allowing the effects pathways management team of the USFWS to effectively and efficiently manage and maintain Florida's ecosystems through understanding of their life cycles, resource needs, and the effects that certain actions or inactions from humans cause on them. This information allows us to understand not only the relationship between humans and the ecosystem, but the relationships between the organisms that live in them as well. There are several instances in which one plant on the list often lives near or relies on another plant from the list for its survival. This shows that the act of protecting one species is often the same as acting to protect the other species that rely upon it. This holistic approach to ecosystem management via the protection of one species that benefits several others can be very effective in ensuring the survival of several uniquely Floridian ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion is a serious phenomenon which can be accelerated beyond sustainable levels by anthropogenic activities such as military training. Soil erosion modeling can be utilized in an effort to identify accelerated erosion and concomitant sedimentation before they reach unsustainable levels. Regrettably, most models are deficient in the way they account for topographic heterogeneity. While occasionally producing reasonable estimates of total soil erosion and sediment production from within a watershed, they provide no information regarding sources and sinks of eroded sediments within the watershed. Thus, placement and sizing of erosion and sedimentation control efforts can be deficient. This paper discusses the application of the new generation Unit Stream Power Erosion and Deposition (USPED) model at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. We incorporated a novel approach that compared model results with observed soil erosion and sediment deposition at 60 spatially distributed points within the watershed. The model results agreed with spatial observational estimates 83% of the time, exceeding a pre-determined threshold of 80% agreement to define acceptability. The USPED model is relatively simple to apply. Broad application of the model by the cognizant international scientific community suggests that, despite the large number of models available, the USPED model offers valuable capabilities that are either unavailable or operationally unfeasible in other models due to data demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental injustices impact many communities, and prior studies have not identified regional variations and statistical linkages between exposures to air pollution and health outcomes. We address these gaps in environmental justice studies by establishing the relationships between exposure to air pollution, socio-economic factors, and health consequences or outcomes. At various governmental levels, policy initiatives to reduce energy use and increase energy efficiency offer the added benefits of improving air quality, human health, and climate change mitigation. By integrating annualized daily concentrations of ozone, PM 2.5, and Air Quality Index (AQI) from industrial facilities and electric utility plants in zip codes within TECO's service area, this study enhances our understanding of quantitative environmental justice by correlating air pollution against socioeconomic factors (e.g., poverty, age. sex, and race) and health outcomes (e.g., mortality, fertility, access to health insurance, and disease, and well-being). Zip codes with disproportionate exposure to air pollution are identified and stratified according to relevant indicators. Through this, we can identify inequalities related to the risk of air pollution and its effects on health. This paper provides a methodology to evaluate the cumulative effectiveness of environmental policy efforts that address both climate change and human health, as well as a framework for identifying communities that are at a higher risk of adverse health outcomes from exposure to air pollution. Policymakers can use this information to identify vulnerable communities, prioritize air pollution mitigation, and improve access to healthy foods and insurance assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of Florida is karstic as a result of the dissolution of limestone. The dissolution processes are slow and usually imperceptible in terms of a human lifespan. Even so, Florida experiences numerous sinkhole events every year. These depressions in the land surface form as a result of migration or collapse of overlying sediments into pre-existing voids developed as a result of limestone dissolution. This paper discusses the causes of these sinkhole features in the context of Florida’s development and water use over the last few decades. Many of these cover-collapse sinkholes form as a result of human and natural perturbations in Florida’s groundwater and recharge events. The two most obvious causative factors for sinkhole development are groundwater withdrawals, and loading of the land surface and surficial aquifer with water during extreme rainfall events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to being the main source of water supply, groundwater in Florida is the primary source of recharge to the state’s many springs. This paper describes four regulatory mechanisms for addressing groundwater quality and quantity concerns: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs), Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) and MFLs recovery and prevention strategies. TMDLs are water quality restoration targets for impaired water bodies where water quality standards are not met. Most TMDLs for the state’s springs address excessive nitrate concentrations. Nine BMAPs, which are plans developed to address and restore impaired waters, are completed or under development for impaired springs. More than 370 MFLs, which represent the limit at which further water withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area, have been established. Few MFLs have been developed explicitly for groundwater systems, although many developed for surface waters, including springs, implicitly address groundwater protection. Recovery and prevention strategies are being developed and implemented to ensure MFLs are met. In combination with other regulatory mechanisms such as water-use permitting and water-supply planning, use of TMDLs, BMAPS, MFLs and recovery/prevention strategies supports protection of Florida’s groundwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]