The ecological impact of man on the south Florida herpetofauna

Abstract

These objectives have been achieved but not without massive aherations in the natural systems of south Florida. Among the mostly detrimental effects are: (1) reduction of the storage capacity of the system, severely decreasing the amount of holdover of wet season water to meet dry season needs; (2) increase in loss of fresh water to the sea; (3) increase in the severity of droughts, extent of salt water intrusion, and frequency of fires; (4) eutrophication of Lake Okeechobee; (5) creation of more distinct but smaller storage units;(6) intensification of dependence on energy intensive technology to solve water management problems (Browder, Littlejohn, and Young 1977). These effects continue to the present day.Climatic changes. -WisXoncdiWy , south Florida received about 75% of its rainfall during the six wet season months from May through October, a rainfall pattern typical of tropical areas to the south. The resulting freshwater was held in the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades catchment basin to moderate drought during the dry-season months. However, south Florida has experienced several droughts since the dry-season of 1970-1971, and each was severe enough to rank with the worst during the previous hundred years.Furthermore, predictions of future world weather patterns suggest that south Florida may be entering a dry period of approximately 30 years duration (Fairbridge 1974; Browder. Littlejohn, and Young 1977). It can be expected that the dry season effects, enhanced by the water management practices in south Florida, will be intensified. Such changes will be aggravated, by an increasing demand for water

Annual and seasonal survival of adult female Mottled Ducks in southern Florida, USA

“…To be sure, the heroic lone ranger seems hopelessy outnumbered by the legion of taliban-minded invasion biologists such as Daniel Simberloff whose metaphorical depiction of Florida as a paradise threatened by nonnative species (i.e. foreign immigrants) is a travesty (Simberloff et al, 1997; but see Wilson and Porras, 1983;Butterfield, Meshaka and Guyer, 1997). A fellow neo-conservationist begins his book with the following disclaimer: "At first glance, invasion biology can look like some sort of xenophobia in disguise" (Bright, 1998: 198).…”

Race to Displace: A Game to Model the Effects of Invasive Species on Plant Communities

“…In some places overgrazing in the past has contributed to rangeland degradation and domination by noxious weeds (134). Many Federal land managers consider the currently widespread and growing distribution of noxious weeds to be a significant management concern (136). Noxious weed control programs generally are small and underfunded, however.…”

“…1331 e( se9). BLM, much more is needed (136). Weed management is a small component of rangeland management, receiving only about $1.2 million annually (100,136).…”

“…Weed management is a small component of rangeland management, receiving only about $1.2 million annually (100,136). A 1991 internal evaluation concluded that even though noxious weed problems are widespread and growing, their control program is seriously underfunded and lacks adequate staff (136). Moreover, existing staff lack technical training or an awareness of noxious weed problems (136).…”

Ecology, Impacts, and Management of Invasive Rodents in the United States

“…It was introduced to Florida in the early 1970s, likely via nursery plants (Austin and Schwartz 1975;Wilson and Porras 1983). It became established on the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra and Vieques and two U.S. Virgin Islands in the late 1970s and early 1980s (Rivero 1978;MacLean 1982).…”