Everglades

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) have broad diets; they hunt and scavenge a variety of birds, small and mid-sized mammals, and reptiles (Jones & Smith, 1979; Maehr & Brady, 1986; Tewes et al., 2002). In Florida, birds make up approximately 16% of bobcat prey items (Maehr & Brady, 1986) and their diets likely include eggs within nests (see Malone et al., 2019). Indeed, in Georgia they have been documented predating Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) nests, with eggs comprising up to 19% of their diet in Georgia (Schoch, 2003; Staller et al., 2005). Although there are few reports of bobcats targeting reptile nests in Florida, up to ~2% of seasonal marine turtle nest mortality has been attributed to bobcat depredation (Lindborg et al.,

This paper considers issues raised while working at the intersection of anthropology and visual art in Everglades National Park and during the months that followed. Based on a May 2019 residency as an AIRIE (Artist in Residence in Everglades) fellow, the material expression of my efforts consists of volumes of visual fieldnotes and what I call anthro-artists' books. For this paper I take an intimate route, one that foregrounds the experience of being in a place and attempting work at disciplinary intersections. Set against a backdrop of theoretical issues in both anthropology and art as well as overarching social, cultural, ecological, and political concerns of the region, the resulting journals and handmade books are meant to create an emotional, emplaced, and bodily experience for the people who engage with them. — The paper is available https://doi.org/10.1086/718320

This research develops an integrated methodology to determine the economic value to anglers of recreational fishery ecosystem services in Everglades National Park that could result from different water management scenarios. The study first used bio-hydrological models to link managed freshwater inflows to indicators of fishery productivity and ecosystem health, then link those models to anglers' willingness-to-pay for various attributes of the recreational fishing experience and monthly fishing effort. This approach allowed us to estimate the foregone economic benefits of failing to meet monthly freshwater delivery targets. The study found that the managed freshwater delivery to the Park had declined substantially over the years and had fallen short of management targets. This shortage in the flow resulted in the decline of biological productivity of recreational fisheries in downstream coastal areas. This decline had in turn contributed to reductions in the overall economic val...

Endosulfan is an insecticide–acaricide used in South Florida and is one of the remaining organochlorine insecticides registered under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act by the U.S.EPA. The technical grade material consists of two isomers (α-, β-) and the main environmental metabolite in water, sediment and tissue is endosulfan sulfate through oxidation. A comprehensive probabilistic aquatic ecological risk assessment was conducted to determine the potential risks of existing exposures to endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate in freshwaters of South Florida based on historical data (1992–2007). The assessment included hazard assessment (Tier 1) followed by probabilistic risk assessment (Tier 2). Tier 1 compared actual measured concentrations in surface freshwaters of 47 sites in South Florida from historical data to U.S.EPA numerical water quality criteria. Based on results of Tier 1, Tier 2 focused on the acute and chronic risks of endosulfan at nine sites by comparing distributions of surface water exposure concentrations of endosulfan [i.e., for total endosulfan (summation of concentrations of α- and β-isomers plus the sulfate), α- plus β-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate (alone)] with distributions of species effects from laboratory toxicity data. In Tier 2 the distribution of total endosulfan in fish tissue (whole body) from South Florida freshwaters was also used to determine the probability of exceeding a distribution of whole body residues of endosulfan producing mortality (critical lethal residues). Tier 1 showed the majority of endosulfan water quality violations in South Florida were at locations S-178 followed by S-177 in the C-111 system (southeastern boundary of Everglades National Park (ENP)). Nine surface water sampling sites were chosen for Tier 2. Tier 2 showed the highest potentially affected fraction of toxicity values (>10%) by the estimated 90th centile exposure concentration (total endosulfan) was at S-178. At all other freshwater sites there were <5% of the toxicity values exceeded. Potential chronic risk (9.2% for total endosulfan) was only found at S-178 and all other sites were <5%. Joint probability curves showed the higher probability of risk at S-178 than at S-177. The freshwater fish species which contain tissue concentrations of endosulfan (total) with the highest potential risk for lethal whole body tissue residues were marsh killifish, flagfish and mosquitofish. Based on existing surface water exposures and available aquatic toxicity data, there are potential risks of total endosulfan to freshwater organisms in South Florida. Although there are uncertainties, the presence of tissue concentrations of endosulfan in small demersal fish, is of ecological significance since these fish support higher trophic level species, such as wading birds.

American Flamingos are among the most iconic—and rarest—of Florida’s
native birds. Though historical large flocks were decimated by hunting, small groups of flamingos of unknown origin persist in Florida today. Here, we report a satellite telemetry study of an American Flamingo in Florida Bay, Florida, USA, over a 22-month period. The flamingo used an extensive tidal flat at Snake Bight (Everglades National Park) and numerous mangrove-fringed mudflats inside keys within Florida Bay. Movement patterns varied by time of day and time of year and indicated that movements were tracking hydroperiod and prey availability across a landscape mosaic of spatially and temporally variable resources. We used a community science platform (eBird) to assess reporting probability for this flamingo; reporting probability was very low despite the conspicuous
nature of the species. Though our telemetry data are from a single individual, this study represents the first empirical field study of any wild flamingo in Florida. Our findings on habitat selection and movement will be foundational to developing evidence-based conservation strategies for flamingos.

The Across Trophic Levels System Simulator (ATLSS) is a suite of ecological models designed to assess the impact of changes in hydrology on biotic components of the southern Florida ecosystem. ATLSS implements a multimodeling approach that utilizes process models for lower trophic levels, structured population models for middle trophic levels (fish and macroinvertebrates), and individual-based models for large consumers. ATLSS requires hydrologic input to assess the effects of alternative proposed restoration scenarios on trophic structure. An ATLSS model (ALFISH) for functional fish groups in freshwater marshes in the Everglades of southern Florida has been extended to create a new model (ALFISHES) to evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of fish density in the resident fish community of the Everglades mangrove zone of Florida Bay. The ALFISHES model combines field data assessing the impact of salinity on fish biomass with hydrologic data from the Southern Inland and Coastal S...

One contribution to Pathways , a series of short papers written in light of Thomas Abercrombie’s sudden and premature passing in April of 2019. -- In the series of contributions to the Society for Contemporary Anthropology's "Theorizing the Contemporary," authors write about the pathways that Tom carved and sowed as a teacher, mentor, scholar, and friend, examining how key concepts from Tom’s eclectic and interdisciplinary work shaped intellectual trajectories. -- The whole series is available at: https://culanth.org/fieldsights/series/pathways  This particular paper: https://culanth.org/fieldsights/topographs