UF Water Institute

Projects

Summary and Synthesis of the Available Literature on the Effects of Nutrients on Spring Organisms and Systems

Funding Organization: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Principal Investigator: Mark T. Brown, Center for Environmental Policy, Center for Wetlands

Other Investigators: Matt Cohen, Jason Evans, Tom Frazer, Patrick Inglett, Kanika Inglett, Chuck Jacoby, Bob Knight, Ed Phlips, Kelly Chinners Reiss, Ramesh Reddy, Wendy Graham

Project Coordinator: Kathleen McKee, UF Water Institute

Water Institute Affiliation: WI-assisted Project

Project Background and Goals:
A report is being prepared by UF investigators for the FDEP (due March 2008) that will be a literature review intended to address the influence of rising nutrient levels on trophic dynamics and ecological processes within Florida and other regions with spring ecosystems. Synthesis of available literature (including published, peer reviewed documents and gray literature reports) will identify cause and effect relationships between nutrients and biological response at all affected trophic levels. The final, synthetic literature review will present what we know as guidance for public policy, information gaps that inject substantial uncertainty, and suggested research to address these gaps.

Related Web pages:
    http://floridasprings.org
    FDEP Springs Pages

Project Documents:
Final Report (submitted May 4, 2008 to FDEP Springs Initiative):
    Executive Summary and Table of Contents
    Chapter 1 Springs as Ecosystems
    Chapter 2 Springshed Nutrient Loading, Transport and Transformations
    Chapter 3 Biogeochemical Processes and Implications for Nutrient Cycling
    Chapter 4 Nutrient Effects on Spring Flora and Fauna
    Chapter 5 Ecosystem Implications of Invasive Aquatic Plants and Aquatic Plant Control in Florida Springs
    Chapter 6 Effects of Nutrients on Spring Ecosystems
    Chapter 7 Managing Nutrient Inputs to Florida Springs: The Legal Framework
    Chapter 8 Synthesis of Nutrients and Springs: Knowns, Unknowns, Research Priorities and Management Implications

Project Activities:

June 4, 2007 - Intermediate Seminar
Presentation to FDEP (pdf)

August 21, 2007 - Science Workshop
Agenda (pdf)
Attendee List (pdf)
View Video of Workshop Presentations

Mark Brown – Workshop Introduction (ppt)

Matt Cohen - Transformations and Sinks of nutrients (ppt)

Patrick Inglett - Biogeochemical Processes (ppt)

Tom Frazer – Plants, Algae, Animals (ppt)

Jason Evans - Invasive Species and Management

Bob Knight - Ecosystem Processes

Mark Brown - Synthesis: Springs management and Research needs (ppt)

Lists of “Known Unknowns” (pdf)

Morning Breakout Sessions

Macrophytes, Algae: T. Frazer, Kanika Inglett - notetaker, Dina Liebowitz - facilitator

Vertebrates, Invertebrates: C. Jacoby, Kendall Harr - notetaker, Kathleen McKee - facilitator

Nutrient Transformations, Biogeochemistry: M. Cohen, Charlie Carton - notetaker, Kelly Reiss - facilitator

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Science and Policy – Mark Brown & Kelly Reiss

Science and Policy – Bob Knight & Kathleen McKee

Workshop Wrap (pdf)
Post Workshop Questionnaire (doc)

November 8
Regulatory Discussion
Registrants
Agenda
Notes