The primary purpose of my Thesis research will be to provide a greater understanding of regional landscape level ET and its contributions to the hydrological cycle in S. FL. This understanding will better prepare regional resource management agencies to deal with the dynamic and diverse hydrological systems found in S. FL in order to attain the balance between human needs and those of the naturally occurring biota.
My investigations will seek to determine the applicability of a GIS model constructed from multiple ET regression models developed, for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, in Western South Florida to a larger yet similarly composed system in Central South Florida (site yet to be determined). The applicability of comprehensive site specific ET regression/GIS models developed within specific ranges of environmental characteristics should be applicable to the wider range of similarly composed plant communities within a given region given that those environmental characteristics do not vary beyond a nominal set range. If proven true the greater GIS model could be applied to larger areas of study with similar environmental characteristics. The information gleaned from this investigation will contribute to a greater understanding of the regions hydrological regimes and the long term management of the regions water resources.
The primary objective of this project will be to determine the applicability of a GIS model, generated from datasets collected from 1981 to 1984 in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Western South Florida, to similarly composed plant communities in the region. By defining the environmental and micrometeorological drivers that contribute to the specific ET rates in a given plant community a prediction for ET can be made given explicit environmental and micrometeorological parameters are met. Most models have focused on homogenous site specific plant communities and have not been applied in a larger regional context. If the geographically confined ET models prove accurate at predicting ET spatially and temporally on a smaller scale, a permutation of individual models that comprise the various plant communities in a given region and time should prove true as well.
The major supporting goals and tasks for this project will include:
· development of the Corkscrew regression models in collaboration with Dr. Brian Bovard (FGCU) and Mike Duever (SFWMD)
· development of the GIS model encompassing the Corkscrew regression models in collaboration with Dr. Assefa M. Melesse (FIU)
· applying the model to datasets obtained from plant communities with similar environmental and micrometeorological characteristics
Biological Scientist II
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision
JW Corbett WMA
South Regional Office
8535 Northlake Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33412
Phone: 561-624-6989
Fax: 561-624-6988
william.harris@myfwc.com