CESI Modeling Project 06-2

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Effects of Hydrological Restoration on Manatees:
Integrating Data and Models for the Ten Thousand Islands
Catherine Langtimm

MOD06-2BodyImage — Everglades National Park provides habitat for a substantial population of manatees.
NPS Photo by Douglas Morrison

Manatees were first afforded federal protection in 1967, and a significant portion of Florida's population resides in the waters of Everglades National Park. Manatees remain at risk, largely due to low reproductive rates, a decline in suitable habitat, and accidental collisions with motor boats. It is important for managers to understand what impact intended Everglades restoration activities might have on this endangered species.

This CESI-funded project developed integrated, regional hydrologic models covering nearly the entire southwest coast south of Naples, providing a much needed tool for evaluating restoration effects on coastal, estuarine, and freshwater ecosystems. This data was then incorporated into an individual-based model for the purposes of evaluating how completion of restoration projects (particularly the Picayune Strand) might affect the availability of the freshwater, forage, and refugia upon which manatees depend.

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Langtimm, C. A., R. Dorazio, B. Stith, T. Doyle. In press. A new aerial survey and hierarchical model to estimate manatee abundance. Journal of Wildlife Management.

Langtimm, C.A. Swain E.D., Stith, B.M., Reid, J.P., Slone, D.H., Decker, J.D., Butler, S.M., Doyle, T., and Snow, R.W., 2009, Integrated Science: Florida Manatees and Everglades Hydrology: USGS Fact Sheet 2009-3002, 4p.

Stith, B. M., J. P. Reid, C. A. Langtimm, E. D. Swain, T. J. Doyle, D. H. Slone, J. D. Decker, L. E. Soderqvist. 2011. Temperature inverted haloclines provide winter warm-water refugia for manatees in southwest Florida. Estuaries and Coasts 34:106-119 DOI 10.1007/s12237-010-9286-1.

Swain, E. D., and J. D. Decker. 2009. Development, testing, and application of a coupled hydrodynamic surface-water/ground-water model (FTLOADDS) with heat and salinity transport in the Ten Thousand Islands/Picayune Strand restoration project area, Florida. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5146. Reston, Virginia, USA.

Swain, E. and J. Decker. 2010. A measurement-derived heat-budget approach for simulating coastal wetland temperature with a hydrodynamic flow model. Wetlands 30:635-648.

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