|
Comprehensive
Sample of ESS Protocol
First, you will do an Earth
system science analysis. Then, you will make predictions, based
on the results of the ESS analysis, concerning the future of the
Florida Panther.
Following the steps below will help you to accomplish
your task for the Everglades Wildlife Refuge.
Step
1 List what is known.
Step 2 List what is needed.
Step 3 Gather information to complete
an ESS analysis. ( Event to Sphere, Sphere to Sphere)
Step 4 Present your findings.
Step
1: List What Is Known
The two columns below illustrate the parallel
jobs to be completed in Step 1. You do not need to conduct any research
to do this step. Use your current knowledge and information from
the scenario to fill in the lines provided. In the space provided
in the first column, list what you know about the Florida Panther.
Then look at the Earth System Diagram in the
second column. Notice how the arrows go to and from the event and
spheres. These arrows indicate that the cause and effect relationships
go both from the event to the spheres and from the spheres to the
event ( ).
While thinking about these relationships, list your ideas about
how the event--restoring the flow and level of water in the Everglades--could
possibly impact the four spheres that make up the Everglades ecosystem.
List prior knowledge about the Florida Panther.
- The Florida Panther is a relatively large
cat that lives mostly in and around the Florida Everglades.
- It is a relative of other large cats around
the United States such as the cougar, mountain lion, catamount,
and puma. Sometimes these names are used interchangeably.
- Like most other wild cats, it does not like
extremely wet places and spends much of its time in and around
trees during the day and hunting at night.
- It hunts small animals like raccoons for
food.
- The Florida Panther has been declared an
endangered species.
List prior knowledge of Earth system science
regarding the restoration of water levels and flow to the Everglades.
Restoration of Water
Event
Biosphere
- Terrestrial organisms moved into the Everglades
when the area began to dry up. Habitats of many land-based plants
and animals will be covered by water if flow is restored to the
Everglades. Many terrestrial organisms will be left with nowhere
to live.
- Animals that rely on wetlands organisms for
food could suffer or even starve if their food supplies are covered
by rising water levels.
- Habitats for many aquatic organisms could
be created with the restoration of water because these organisms
require water to live in:
- aquatic organisms that left the Everglades
because of a lack of water may return
- populations of endangered aquatic organisms
remaining in the Everglades may begin to recover.
Restoration of Water
Event
Lithosphere
- Groundwater supply may increase as the restored
water drains down through the soil.
- The removal of water may have caused the
soil to become so dry that it might not be able to soak up water
the way it used to. Therefore water may just flow across the surface
and not enter the ground water system. This is like what happens
in the desert. Ancient streambeds fill with water that flows through
them during the few yearly rains. The streambed is so dry and
hard that the water just rushes over it. It is not able to soak
in to the ground.
- When people began farming in land that was
formerly the Everglades, they changed the topography of the land.
As a result, restored water may not flow along the original path.
- If land becomes covered with water, it will
no longer be available for agriculture and other human activities.
Restoration of Water
Event
Atmosphere
- An increase in the surface area of water
offers a greater area from which water can evaporate. This could
lead to increased water vapor in the atmosphere and, ultimately,
increased precipitation.
Restoration of Water
Event
Hydrosphere
- Restoration of the flow and level of water
through the Everglades would increase the amount of water in the
system.
- The water cycle may be enhanced (see Event
Atmosphere).
Step
2: List What Is Needed.
Now that you have an idea of what you DO know about Florida Panther
and the impacts of the event on the spheres and the spheres on the
event, you need to think about what you DO NOT know. Below, you
will ask questions that will guide the research that may take place
on the Internet, in the library, or with other sources. In the first
column, list your questions about the Florida Panther.
Ask questions
in the second column to direct the research you will conduct in
Step 3. These questions should help you to focus your research on
finding information to complete the ESS analysis of the impacts
that restoring the flow and level of water in the Everglades could
have on the four spheres that make up the Everglades ecosystem.
List your
questions regarding the Florida Panther.
- What is the
history of the Florida Panther over the last century?
- What type
of habitat does the Florida Panther need to hide, hunt and raise
its young?
- What is the
range requirement of the Florida Panther (i.e. how much land does
it need)?
- What are
the present range limitations of the Florida Panther?
- What does
the Florida Panther eat?
- What is the
life cycle of the Florida Panther?
- What is the
gestation period of the Florida Panther?
- How many
Florida Panthers exist in the wild?
- How many
Florida Panthers are needed to sustain a population (i.e. keep
it from dying off)?
- Can the Florida
Panther breed in captivity?
List your
questions regarding the impacts that restoring the water flow and
level in the Everglades could have on the four spheres that make
up the Everglades.
- What happens
to the soil ecology by covering existing relatively dry soil or
raising the water table and saturating existing soil?
- What happens
to land plants as the water rises and covers the soil and the
roots, but not the stems and leaves?
- What will
be the source of the water used to increase the flow and level
of water in the Everglades?
- Does the
water being introduced into the wetlands contain agricultural
run-off or other pollutants?
- Will the
increase in the flow and level of water in the Everglades change
the pH, salinity, or other chemistry of the existing water in
that area?
- What is the
role of algae in the Everglade ecosystem?
- Is the depth
of the water in the Everglades important?
- Will the
increase in the flow and level of water in the Everglades result
in an increase in evaporation and a subsequent increase in humidity?
- Will the
increase in the flow and level of water in the Everglades increase
erosion?
- Will the
increase in the flow and level of water in the Everglades increase
plant decay and swamp gas?
- Will the
increase in the flow and level of water in the Everglades cause
problems for animals that have to migrate to the drier areas of
the Everglades?
- How will
the increase in the flow and level of water in the Everglades
impact the extremely dry conditions and fires of the past year?
- What are
hardwood hammocks, pine flatwoods, and thicket swamps?
- How much
water is being drained and/or diverted from the Everglades and
used for consumption?
- How much
lower is the current water level (before restoration) than the
historic water level (before draining and water use for cities
began)?
- What is the
difference in elevation between Orlando, Lake Okeechobee, and
Florida Bay?
- What is the
retention time of water in the Everglades?
- Are there
dikes separating the cropland from the Everglades?
- What is the
annual precipitation in south Florida?
Step
3: Gather information to complete an ESS analysis.
Part I: Using
the answers from your research, list any additional cause and effect
relationships you found for the event and the spheres. These
relationships should build on or be different from the ones you
listed in Step 1. The answers you find should explain the possible
causes and effects the restoration of the flow and level of water in
the Everglades could have on the spheres that comprise that
ecosystem. Keep track of where you locate information. You may need
to look it up again when you do Step 4.
Restoration of Water Event
Biosphere
- Many species
of plants and animals in the Everglades require water for habitat,
breeding and hunting grounds. Their survival depends upon having
enough water to carry out their daily activities. Restoring the
natural flow of water through the Everglades ecosystem may benefit
these species.
- Many species
of plants and animals near the Everglades require dry land for
habitat, breeding and hunting grounds. Their survival depends
upon having enough dry land to carry out their daily activities.
Restoring the natural flow of water through the Everglades ecosystem
may harm these species. An example is the Florida Panther.
- Food supplies
for many animals may be covered by rising water levels, causing
populations to move in search of new habitat and food sources.
Some organisms may not be able to escape the rising water and
might drown. An example is the Florida Panther.
- Wetlands
are natural water filtration systems, they can be used for the
treatment of wastewater, agricultural runoff, and acid mine drainage.
However, when pollutants become too concentrated, they begin to
degrade the wetland itself. This problem could occur in
areas where
too many pollutants are allowed to flow through wetlands.
Restoration
of Water Event
Lithosphere
- The restoration
of the water level and flow to the Everglades ecosystem could
completely change the soil ecology of the area by either covering
soil that is currently relatively dry or by raising the water
table and saturating soil.
- Years of
sedimentation have resulted in extremely fertile soils within
some wetlands, many of them were drained and converted to croplands.
The crops grown here may be a source of food for other animals
besides humans. Restoration of the water flow and level could
cover that cropland.
Restoration
of Water Event
Atmosphere
- The intense
heat with the large surface area of water in southern Florida
has resulted in high levels of humidity. An increase in water
surface area could lead to increased evaporation, and thus increased
humidity.
- Increased
water flow may lead to increased anaerobic decomposition, and
ultimately increased production of methane (swamp gas).
Restoration
of Water Event
Hydrosphere
- There are
three natural sources of water to the Everglades: precipitation,
overflow, and groundwater. Water from these sources is delivered
to the Everglades on regular cycles of wet periods, or hydroperiods.
Hydroperiods are based on the natural cycle of water through the
hydrosphere. Increased water flow and level to the Everglades
may not occur at the same interval as the natural hydroperiods.
- Water flows
from the Everglades into the Florida Bay. Since there has been
a decrease in freshwater flowing from the Everglades to the Bay,
the salinity (salt concentration) of the Bay has increased. If
flow of freshwater into the Everglades increases, then the amount
of freshwater flowing into Florida Bay will increase. This could
reduce the salinity of the Bay by diluting the water.
- Estuaries,
coastal rivers, low lying irrigation systems, mangrove forests,
and tidal wetlands would also be subject to increased water flows.
This could lead to flooding and changes in water chemistry in
these waterways.
- According
to "The Plan to Restore America's Everglades", water used for
restoration of the Everglades will come from the ocean or gulf.
These are both saltwater ecosystems. The Everglades is a freshwater
ecosystem. Adding saltwater to the Everglades will increase the
salinity of the water in that ecosystem.
Part II: Using
the answers from your research, list the cause and effect
relationships that occur between and among the spheres. Note: Begin
thinking about how these relationships may in turn affect the future
of the Florida Panther.
Atmosphere
Biosphere
- Some microorganisms
in a wetlands biosphere produce methane that is released into
the atmosphere. Methane is the "swamp gas" that people often smell
in wetlands.
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
- Increased
water flow should increase the surface area of water in the Everglades.
That would lead to increased evaporation and have some small impact
on the microclimate by making the air in the Everglades more humid.
- Precipitation
from the atmosphere is a major source of water for many wetlands.
This is supported by the fact that wetlands do not exist in dry
climates (i.e. areas that do not receive much rain).
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
- Certain atmospheric
gases such as carbon dioxide may be trapped in the moist soil
of a wetlands lithosphere.
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
- The restoration
of the water level and flow to the Everglades ecosystem could
completely change the biotic make-up of the area. There may be
more aquatic plants growing in the Everglades. Soon there could
also be more aquatic consumers and fewer terrestrial animals.
- Depth of
water can impact the aquatic organisms currently living in and
around the Everglades. The restoration of the water level and
flow to the Everglades ecosystem could result in deeper water
flowing through the system. The depth of the water is important
because sunlight is the source of energy for primary producers
such as plants and algae. If the water is too deep, there will
not be enough sunlight reaching these organisms that grow on the
bottom of the waterway. If aquatic plant life is affected, then
the lives of the animals that depend on them for food and cover
will also be impacted.
- Organisms
in the estuaries that the Everglades empty into rely on the water
being slightly saline. If large quantities of freshwater flow
out of the Everglades and into the estuaries, then life there
may be severely impacted.
- Aquatic organisms
in the Everglades are adapted to life in a freshwater ecosystem.
Most of them cannot survive in an estuarine or saltwater ecosystem.
If the flow and level of water in the Everglades is restored using
water from the ocean or gulf (see Restoration of Water Event
Hydrosphere), the populations of aquatic organisms that currently
live in the Everglades will decline.
- A lot of
the nation's winter produce comes from the Everglades Agricultural
Area (EAA). Farmers in the EAA divert water from the Everglades
to irrigate their fields. The restoration of water flow and level
to the Everglades may be achieved by stopping the diversion of
water from the wetlands. If they cannot use the Everglade water,
where will they get water to irrigate their crops? This could
have a serious impact on farmers and ultimately our economy. If
their supply of water decreases, then their supply of crops will
decrease. If the supply of crops decreases, then the market price
will increase.
- A more aquatic
environment could lead to an increase in emergent plant species.
These are plants that are rooted underwater in the soil, but extend
above the water's surface. Examples include cattails, pickerelweed,
arrowhead, and sedges.
- A more aquatic
environment could lead to an increase in submergent plant species.
These are plants that live almost entirely underwater. Examples
include milfoil, pondweeds, and water celery.
- A more aquatic
environment could lead to an increase in floaters. These are species
of plants that float freely on the water's surface. Examples include
duckweed and water hyacinth.
- As the Everglades
shrank, terrestrial animals like the Florida Panther slowly moved
into the newly-dried land. If water is restored to these parts
of the Everglades, then the terrestrial animals may have to retreat.
Is it possible for them to migrate back to where they originally
came from, or is that place now inhabited by humans? Landuse maps
like the one in the Remote Sensing puzzle piece of this module
show what land has been developed over the years.
- Nutrients
in agricultural runoff entering the Everglades have led to massive
algal blooms and changed the composition of biological communities.
For example, native sawgrass marshes have been replaced with ecosystems
dominated by cattails, an exotic plant species .
- Many microorganisms
and plants in the biosphere filter toxins and excessive nutrients
from the hydrosphere as water flows through the wetlands.
- There is
a gradient of salinity (saltiness) of the water that flows through
southern Florida. Water in the Everglades is fresh; water flowing
into Florida Bay is estuarine, or a mix of fresh and saltwater;
water in the ocean is saline (salty). The aquatic organisms that
inhabit these waterways have very specific salinity requirements.
If the restoration of water flow through the Everglades dilutes
the water in Florida Bay, many estuarine organisms may die.
Biosphere
Lithosphere
- Farmland
will be covered by water.
- Pines and
other trees are rooted in the pockets of soil on hammocks (see
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere below). The Florida Panther lives in these pines.
- Acids from
decaying plants dissolve the limestone around hammocks or small
islands, thus creating a natural moat. The moats hold some moisture
during the dry season and protect the hammock plants from fire.
The tall trees inside the hammock create a shaded wonderland,
allowing small patches of sunlight to filter through the canopy.
This environment provides the perfect growing atmosphere for ferns
and air plants.
- The male
Florida Panther requires approximately 250 square miles of for
its home range. The female Florida Panther requires a home range
of only 70-200 square miles.
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
- The terrain
of the pinelands is dry, rough, and rugged. The elevation is approximately
six feet (1.8 m) above sea level. Limestone bedrock extends above
ground, where years of erosion by acidic waters have carved teardrop-shaped
islands called hammocks. Throughout the jagged surfaces of the
hammocks are solution holes containing small pockets of soil.
- Fast-moving
water erodes soil and rock, carrying them away toward the ocean,
but slow-moving water--like in the Everglades--allows the soil,
or sediment, it carries to fall to the bottom of the water channel.
The sediment is often rich in nutrients. Nutrient-rich land in
the Everglades was drained to provide fertile land for farming.
The drained region set aside for farming is called the Everglades
Agricultural Area.
- Wetlands'
hydric soils have been passively destroyed as a result of the
flow of water into the wetlands being cut off.
Step
4: Present your findings
Prepare
a report or presentation of your firm's predictions about the future
of the Florida Panther based on your ESS analysis.
Predictions
based on ESS Analysis:
The
Florida Everglades is a large freshwater wetlands in southern Florida.
The hydrosphere plays a key role in this type of ecosystem. Freshwater
flows through the Everglades and into the Florida Bay where it mixes
with saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean. The Everglades is relatively
flat, so water flows slowly through the wetlands in a wide, shallow
sheet. The sheet flow provides a large area for evaporation of water
from its surface to the atmosphere. This large amount of evaporation
causes the climate of the region to be humid.
The Everglades
is a very important ecosystem. It provides habitat for many members
of the biosphere. Most of these organisms are unique to wetlands
because they have developed adaptations that require them to live
in there. Wetlands plants and animals benefit the environment in
many ways, including serving as food resources for some terrestrial,
or land-based, organisms.
Wetlands plants
also serve as environmental filters. They take up excessive nutrients
and even heavy metals that may have entered the water from agricultural
and industrial runoff. The Everglades plants filter much of these
pollutants out of the water before they can reach the Florida Bay.
In this way, the biosphere cleans the hydrosphere in the Everglades.
Removal of the
Everglades through the active and passive removal of water has resulted
in the decline in these benefits. It has become obvious that the
biosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere of the Everglades are greatly
affected by its hydrosphere. Many wetlands species have become endangered
or even extinct as a result of the loss of their habitat.
Removal of water
from the Everglades may have also caused changes in the Florida
Bay ecosystem. As the flow of freshwater from the Everglades into
the Bay decreases, the salt concentration of the water in the Bay
increases. This increase in salinity negatively impacts the organisms
living in the Bay because they have adapted to living in water with
a certain salt concentration. If the salt concentration becomes
too high, many of these organisms will die. This is another way
in which changes in the Everglades' hydrosphere negatively affect
the biosphere.
The various
negative impacts of the removal of water from the Everglades have
caused many private and public agencies to take action. One such
action is the Everglades Forever Act of 1994. It provides for the
restoration of the flow and level of water throughout the Florida
Everglades. However, restoration of the natural flow and level of
water may not be a realistic goal. Active restoration efforts may
even result in more harm than good.
The natural
inputs of water to the Everglades occur on regular cycles of wet
and dry periods called hydroperiods. Hydroperiods are based on the
cycle of water through the hydrosphere. This cycle is controlled
by atmospheric and surface temperatures.
Systems of pipes,
pumps, and dikes can be established by humans to release water to
the Everglades on a regular schedule. However, this schedule will
not necessarily be the same as that of the natural cycle of water
through the hydrosphere. Also, restored water will be released from
point sources, rather than across a large area the way water is
naturally released. Such unrealistic timing and amounts of water
delivery may result in the flooding of neighboring lands. The lithosphere
around the Everglades may end up covered and unusable.
In addition,
water naturally entering the Everglades comes from three sources:
precipitation, overflow from rivers, and groundwater. These are
freshwater sources that are generally not heavily polluted. There
is an increased chance of pollution of the Everglades' hydrosphere
if humans pipe water in from various reserves.
Because of the
above-mentioned uncertainties surrounding the quantity and quality
of water pumped into the Everglades by humans, there is no guarantee
that wetland species will return to the area with the return of
water. Therefore, altering the hydrosphere may not bring about any
positive changes in the Everglades ecosystem.
The restoration
of the flow and level of water through the Everglades may actually
harm the ecosystem. The restoration plan calls for water discharged
to the ocean or gulf to be captured in surface and underground storage
areas where it will be stored until it is needed. This water will
be saline, or salty. The restoration plan states that the water
will be directed through wetlands-based stormwater treatment areas
to remove excessive nutrients and other pollutants. There is no
mention, however, of de-salinization treatment. The addition of
saltwater to this freshwater ecosystem would destroy the wetlands
plants that are currently there. It would also make the water unusable
for animals that drink from these waterways.
There are many
other complicating issues surrounding the restoration of the flow
of water through the Everglades. For example, portions of the original
Everglades lithosphere that have dried out over the years have become
inhabited by terrestrial members of the biosphere. If water is restored
to the Everglades, it may occur at such a high rate that terrestrial
organisms may not be able to escape the rising water. These organisms
may drown. Even if the water was restored slowly, it would soon
cover their habitat. In addition, restored water may cover the food
sources of terrestrial animals that live near the Everglades.
The Everglades
Wildlife Refuge is worried that the restoration of the natural flow
and level of water through the Everglades could harm the Florida
Panther. The Florida Panther is an endangered species that once
roamed throughout southern Florida. Because of increasing pressures
by humans, the Panther has been forced to live along the edges of
the Everglades. The animal has become trapped between the Everglades
and human development.
The Everglades
Wildlife Refuge asked our team of Earth system scientists to help
them address their concern for the Florida Panther. They asked us
to perform an Earth system science (ESS) analysis of the impacts
of the restoration of the flow and level of water on the lithosphere,
hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere of the Everglades' ecosystem.
From this analysis, we made our predictions about the future of
the Florida Panther.
Although the
Florida Panther is not a wetlands animal, an ESS analysis of the
restoration of the flow and level of water through the Everglades
shows that this event would be harmful to the Panther. First, the
event would impact the hydrosphere by increasing the amount of water
in the system. This could lead to flooding. The hydrosphere would
impact the lithosphere by covering the land that the Panther uses
as its habitat. If the Panther has no place to live, it will become
extinct. The causal chain for this reaction is written as E > H
> L > B.
Another causal
chain of reactions resulting from the restoration of the flow and
level of water through the Everglades is E > H > B (> B).
The proposed source of water for the restoration event is the ocean
or gulf. As mentioned above, water from these sources is saline.
The Everglades is a freshwater ecosystem. Adding water from the
ocean or gulf to the Everglades would impact the wetlands' hydrosphere
by increasing its salinity. Many wetlands plants and animals may
not be able to use the saltwater. They may die from dehydration.
The Panther relies on wetlands animals for prey. If these animals
die from a lack of water, then the Panther will have no food. Without
food, the Panther will become extinct.
Based on this
ESS analysis, our team of Earth system scientists predicts that
the restoration of the flow and level of water throughout the Everglades
will be harmful to the Florida Panther. The event could lead to
the extinction of this endangered species.
|
