Publications
Explore WARC's science publications.
Filter Total Items: 3377
Occurrence of Organic Compounds in Source and Finished Samples from Seven Drinking-Water Treatment Facilities in Miami-Dade County, Florida, 2008
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, conducted a reconnaissance study in 2008 to determine the occurrence of 228 organic compounds in raw, source (untreated) and finished (treated) drinking water at seven municipal water-treatment facilities in Miami-Dade County. Results of this sampling study showed that 25 (about 11 percent) of the 228 organi
Authors
Adam L. Foster, Brian G. Katz
First report of a Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in Cuba
Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in Florida utilize intake and effluent canals of power plants as resting and thermoregulatory habitat. We report the use of a power plant canal in Cuba by a known Florida manatee, the first documented case of movement by a manatee between Florida and Cuba. In January, February, and April 2007, two manatees (mother and calf) were reported entering a power p
Authors
Anmari Alvarez-Aleman, Cathy A. Beck, James A. Powell
Southeast Ecological Science Center
Aquatic ecosystems, from deep sea reefs and coastal marshes to freshwater springs and wetlands, are home to diverse assemblages of life. These commercially and ecologically important systems are part of our national heritage, and are often treasured places or refuges that protect rare or threatened species. In the water-rich Southeastern United States, managers face the challenge of understanding
Authors
Rachel J. Pawlitz
Spatial and stage-structured population model of the American crocodile for comparison of comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) alternatives
As part of the U.S. Geological Survey Priority Ecosystems Science (PES) initiative to provide the ecological science required during Everglades restoration, we have integrated current regional hydrologic models with American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) research and monitoring data to create a model that assesses the potential impact of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) efforts on
Authors
Timothy W. Green, Daniel H. Slone, Eric D. Swain, Michael S. Cherkiss, Melinda Lohmann, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kenneth G. Rice
Coral reef diseases in the Atlantic-Caribbean
Coral reefs are the jewels of the tropical oceans. They boast the highest diversity of all marine ecosystems, aid in the development and protection of other important, productive coastal marine communities, and have provided millions of people with food, building materials, protection from storms, recreation and social stability over thousands of years, and more recently, income, active pharmacolo
Authors
Caroline S. Rogers, Ernesto Weil
Tree growth and mortality during 20 years of managing a Green-Tree Reservoir in Arkansas, USA
Green-Tree Reservoirs (GTR) are bottomland hardwood forests that are flooded during late fall and winter to provide waterfowl habitat. Early reports suggested that increased moisture improved tree growth and mast production; however, recent reports showed reduced vigor and growth. This study examines the effects of 20 years of GTR management practices in the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Cr
Authors
Bobby D. Keeland, Rassa O. Draugelis-Dale, John W. McCoy
Development of sea level rise scenarios for climate change assessments of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Rising sea level poses critical ecological and economical consequences for the low-lying megadeltas of the world where dependent populations and agriculture are at risk. The Mekong Delta of Vietnam is one of many deltas that are especially vulnerable because much of the land surface is below mean sea level and because there is a lack of coastal barrier protection. Food security related to rice and
Authors
Thomas W. Doyle, Richard H. Day, Thomas C. Michot
Trace-metal concentrations in African dust: Effects of long-distance transport and implications for human health
The Sahara and Sahel lose billions of tons of eroded mineral soils annually to the Americas and Caribbean, Europe and Asia via atmospheric transport. African dust was collected from a dust source region (Mali, West Africa) and from downwind sites in the Caribbean [Trinidad-Tobago (TT) and U.S. Virgin Islands (VI)] and analysed for 32 trace-elements. Elemental composition of African dust samples wa
Authors
Virginia Garrison, Paul Lamothe, Suzette Morman, Geoffrey S. Plumlee
Tolerance of nonindigenous cichlid fishes (Cichlasoma urophthalmus, Hemichromis letourneuxi) to low temperature: laboratory and field experiments in south Florida
The cold tolerance of two non-native cichlids (Hemichromis letourneuxi and Cichlasoma urophthalmus) that are established in south Florida was tested in the field and laboratory. In the laboratory, fishes were acclimated to two temperatures (24 and 28°C), and three salinities (0, 10, and 35 ppt). Two endpoints were identified: loss of equilibrium (11.5–13.7°C for C. urophthalmus; 10.8–12.5°C for H.
Authors
Pamela J. Schofield, William F. Loftus, Robert M. Kobza, Mark I. Cook, Daniel H. Slone
Ecological models supporting environmental decision making: A strategy for the future
Ecological models are important for environmental decision support because they allow the consequences of alternative policies and management scenarios to be explored. However, current modeling practice is unsatisfactory. A literature review shows that the elements of good modeling practice have long been identified but are widely ignored. The reasons for this might include lack of involvement of
Authors
Amelie Schmolke, Pernille Thorbek, Donald L. DeAngelis, Volker Grimm
Intra- and interspecific facilitation in mangroves may increase resilience to climate change threats
Mangroves are intertidal ecosystems that are particularly vulnerable to climate change. At the low tidal limits of their range, they face swamping by rising sea levels; at the high tidal limits, they face increasing stress from desiccation and high salinity. Facilitation theory may help guide mangrove management and restoration in the face of these threats by suggesting how and when positive intra
Authors
Mark Huxham, Marappullige P. Kumara, Loku P. Jayatissa, Ken W. Krauss, James Kairo, Joseph Langat, Maurizio Mencuccini, Martin W. Skov, Bernard Kirui
Impacts of exotic mangrove forests and mangrove deforestation on carbon remineralization and ecosystem functioning in marine sediments
To evaluate how mangrove invasion and removal can modify short-term benthic carbon cycling and ecosystem functioning, we used stable-isotopically labeled algae as a deliberate tracer to quantify benthic respiration and C-flow over 48 h through macrofauna and bacteria in sediments collected from (1) an invasive mangrove forest, (2) deforested mangrove sites 2 and 6 years after removal of above-sedi
Authors
A.K. Sweetman, J.J. Middelburg, A.M. Berle, A.F. Bernardino, C. Schander, A.W.J. Demopoulos, C.R. Smith