Assessment of natural resource conditions in and adjacent to Biscayne National Park.
Harlem PW, Boyer JN, Briceno HO, Fourqurean JW, Gardinali PR, Jaffe R, Meeder JF, Ross MS, National Park Service. Assessment of natural resource conditions in and adjacent to Biscayne National Park.
The report focuses on the biotic and abiotic resource components of terrestrial resources and aquatic systems, including wetlands, canals, bay waters, marine/reef areas and ground waters of Biscayne National Park (BNP). The objectives of the assessment were to: Review and compile existing information on natural resources. Identify and describe threats and stressors to park resources. Rank the threats to resources. Identify research and information needs. The U.S. Congress designated Biscayne National Monument in 1968 to protect the central and southern portions of Biscayne Bay. In 1982, the monument was expanded and dedicated as Biscayne National Park. The park covers about 172,000 acres, most of which are covered by water, including estuaries with extensive seagrass meadows and extensive coral reef areas offshore of the keys. BNP has hardwood hammocks on the keys and mangrove forests along the mainland shoreline. The park is within designated Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for spiny lobster, snapper, grouper, and the seaward waters are EFH for corals. The major threats to natural BNP resources are: Overfishing. Acidification from increasing atmospheric CO2. Atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic particulates. Nutrient enrichment. Microbial contamination from urban development. General pollutant loadings. Hydrological modifications. Marine debris. Habitat loss and fragmentation. Increasing visitor use, especially boating and fishing. Exotic and invasive species. Climate change and sea-level rise. Existing and expanded power plants. Anthropogenic threats and stressors on BNP resources are significant and their effects can be implied, but not accurately predicted. Water quality will likely change in response to growing human populations in South Florida and changing policies for managing freshwater resources in the watershed of BNP. Changes in water quality will lead to changes in the benthic communities of Biscayne Bay and potentially in the marine/reef environments seaward of the barrier islands. A synthesis of existing information and new research on benthic community relationships are needed to predict outcomes of changes in the quality or quantity of water entering the park. Terrestrial environments of BNP include hardwood hammocks and coastal wetlands. Hardwood hammocks (broadleaf forest composed of tropical upland trees) comprise a diverse mix of communities on the barrier islands that form the eastern rim of Biscayne Bay. Coastal wetlands are the entirety of mainland BNP and their role in buffering urbanized areas from storms is probably considerable. The significance of BNP hardwood forests is their contribution to biodiversity in light of the reduced regional extent of tropical hammock vegetation. Currently, local anthropogenic impacts are the primary concern; however, the accelerating rate of climate change may soon overtake local impacts in importance. Park management practices and strategies need to be continuously enhanced to mitigate visitor use of park resources. Of particular concern are threats from boating, fishing and diving. The resilience of park resources, and the potential increase in visitor numbers, must be assessed and management actions adjusted accordingly.
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- Harlem, Peter; Boyer, Joseph; Briceno, Henry; Fourqurean, James; Gardinali, Piero; Jaffe, Rudolf; Meeder, John; Ross, Michael; National Park Service
- Date of Issue
- 2012-12
- Units
- BISC , NRSS
- Keywords
- Air Quality, bay, Climate Change, coastal development, coastal geology, Coral, Estuary, Groundwater, hammock, hydrological modification, Invasive Species, Mangrove, Marine, overfishing, Power Plant, Seagrass, Soil, Stressors, Threats, Visitor Use, Water Quality, Wetland
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Coastal/Oceanographic Features and Processes , Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Marine Hydrology , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic animals , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Marine Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Estuarine Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Visitor and Recreation Use | Visitor Use