2,095 research outputs found
Conceptual model of salt marsh management on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida: final report
Diking and holding water on salt marshes ("impounding" the marsh) is a
management technique used on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
(MINWR) and elsewhere in the Southeast to: a) prevent the reproduction of
saltmarsh mosquitos, and b) attract wintertering waterfowl and other marsh,
shore, and wading birds. Because of concern that diking and holding water
may interfere with the production of estuarine fish and shellfish,
impoundment managers are being asked to consider altering management
protocol to reduce or eliminate any such negative influence. How to change
protocol and preserve effective mosquito control and wildlife management is
a decision of great complexity because: a) the relationships between
estuarine organisms and the fringing salt marshes at the land-water interface
are complex, and b) impounded marshes are currently good habitat for a
variety of species of fish and wildlife. Most data collection by scientists
and managers in the area has not been focused on this particular
problem. Furthermore, collection of needed data may not be possible before
changes in protocol are demanded. Therefore, the purpose of this document
is two-fold: 1) to suggest management alternatives, given existing information,
and 2) to help identify research needs that have a high probability
of leading to improved simultaneous management of mosquitos, waterfowl,
other wildlife, freshwater fish, and estuarine fish and shellfish on the
marshland of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. (92 page document
Categorized bibliography for a conceptual model of salt marsh management on Merritt Island, Florida
Enclosed is a bibliography of 556 published articles,
technical reports, theses, dissertations, and books that form the
basis for a conceptual model of salt marsh management on Merritt
Island, Florida (Section 1). A copy of each item is available on
file at the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit,
Gainesville. Some relevant proprietary items and unpublished
drafts have not been included pending permission of the authors.
We will continue to add pertinent references to our bibliography
and files. Currently, some topics are represented by very few
items. As our synthesis develops, we will be able to indicate a
subset of papers most pertinent to an understanding of the
ecology and management of Merritt Island salt marshes.
(98 page document
A Brief Study of Some of the International Legal and Political Aspects of the Guantanamo Bay Problem
Issues and options related to management of Silver Springs rhesus macaques
Management options for the Silver Springs free-ranging
rhesus macaque population range from removal to active
maintenance of the population in situ. Selection of a management
option is dependent upon which issues are perceived to be true
problems. Management options are presented along with their
effectiveness in dealing with issues previously described.(31 page document
Some considerations on coastal processes relevant to sea level rise
The effects of potential sea level rise on the shoreline and shore environment
have been briefly examined by considering the interactions between sea level rise and
relevant coastal processes. These interactions have been reviewed beginning with a
discussion of the need to reanalyze previous estimates of eustatic sea level rise and
compaction effects in water level measurement. This is followed by considerations on
sea level effects on coastal and estuarine tidal ranges, storm surge and water level
response, and interaction with natural and constructed shoreline features. The
desirability to reevaluate the well known Bruun Rule for estimating shoreline recession
has been noted. The mechanics of ground and surface water intrusion with reference to
sea level rise are then reviewed. This is followed by sedimentary processes in the
estuaries including wetland response. Finally comments are included on some probable
effects of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems.
These interactions are complex and lead to shoreline evolution (under a sea level
rise) which is highly site-specific. Models which determine shoreline change on the
basis of inundation of terrestrial topography without considering relevant coastal
processes are likely to lead to erroneous shoreline scenarios, particularly where the
shoreline is composed of erodible sedimentary material.
With some exceptions, present day knowledge of shoreline response to hydrodynamic
forcing is inadequate for long-term quantitative predictions. A series of interrelated
basic and applied research issues must be addressed in the coming decades to
determine shoreline response to sea level change with an acceptable degree of
confidence. (PDF contains 189 pages.
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