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African Jewelfish Hemichromis letourneuxi |
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Understanding Everglades Invaders: Ecophysiology of the African Jewelfish Hemichromis letourneuxi. A dozen species of nonindigenous fishes have colonized the wetlands of south Florida. Although some of these species continue to spread geographically, others remain local. Information relating to their biology, ecology, and environmental tolerances has been accumulating, but data gaps remain for several common species. Learn More
Stith, B.M., D.H. Slone, and J.P. Reid, 2006, Review and Synthesis of Manatee Data in Everglades National Park. USGS Administrative Report. USGS Florida Integrated Science Center, Gainesville, FL. 126 pp. <Stith et al ENP Manatee Administrative Report.pdf 7.4 mb>
USGS Research and the FWS Review for Listing the Manatee. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing recommendations for listing the Florida manatee under the Endangered Species Act. A threat assessment model was developed by USGS at the request of USFWS as a decision-support tool for the listing review process. Documents pertaining to the recommendation and the USGS science are now available on-line. Learn More
Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005) on populations of nonindigenous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in southern Mississippi. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina impacted coastal Mississippi with strong winds and an estimated 9-meter (30-foot) storm surge. Hurricane Rita followed less than a month later, and although its impact on coastal Mississippi was much less than that of Katrina, it reflooded much of the coastal ecosystem. Although these storms likely served to disperse Nile tilapia in southern Mississippi, the extent of the spread was unknown. Learn More
The quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis), a small exotic species from Europe, has been discovered this year in Lake Mead near Boulder City, Nevada. Until this population was detected, quagga mussels had been primarily confined to the Great Lakes Region where they were introduced along with the zebra mussel in the late 1980s. Most likely the quagga mussels were introduced to Lake Mead by a boat that had recently been in infested waters.
Quagga mussels look very similar to zebra mussels. And like the zebra mussel, the quagga mussel has the potential to cause problems for water users and ecological damage to sensitive ecosystems. Even though both species of mussels have been in the United States for approximately twenty years, scientists are just beginning to understand their long-term impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Impacts for water users are more obvious; quagga mussels can clog pipes and restrict water flow.
In an effort to keep resource managers as well as the public informed, USGS is tracking the range expansion of quagga mussels and making this and other information available. Link: Zebra -vs- quagga FAQs and current distribution. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program (NAS): Distribution Records High resolution images: zebra_quagga1.JPG, zebra_quagga2.JPG Maps: U.S. Map, Tristate Map, Tristate Close-up Map, Compare Distribution Map.
Characterization of the Hydrology, Water Chemistry, and Aquatic Communities of Selected Springs in the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida, 2004. Open-File Report 2006-1107. By G.G. Phelps, S.J. Walsh, R.M. Gerwig, and W.B. Tate. The hydrology, water chemistry, and aquatic communities of Silver Springs, De Leon Spring, Gemini Springs, and Green Spring in the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida, were studied in 2004 to provide a better understanding of each spring and to compile data of potential use in future water-management decisions. Ground water that discharges from these and other north-central Florida springs originates from the Upper Floridan aquifer of the Floridan aquifer system, a karstic limestone aquifer that extends throughout most of the State's peninsula. This report summarizes data about flow, water chemistry, and aquatic communities, including benthic invertebrates, fishes, algae, and aquatic macrophytes collected by the U.S. Geological Survey, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection during 2004, as well as some previously collected data. Learn More
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