Using spatial analysis to assess bottlenose dolphins as an indicator of healthy fish habitat

Florida Bay, which lies at the southern tip of the Florida peninsula (Figure 27.1), is the terminus of the largest ecosystem restoration project ever attempted in the United States. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP), with the ambitious goal to improve the quality, quantity, and timing of freshwater inputs into the South Florida ecosystem, covers over 29,000 km2 (18,000 square miles) and will require 30 years to complete (1999-2029). Quantifying the spatial and temporal changes in species distributions, abundance, and diversity in Florida Bay is essential to gauge the success of this ambitious restoration project. This task will require developing tangible quantitative metrics to assess the abiotic and biotic changes taking place in response to the CERP management.

Duke Scholars

Author Dean L. Urban Environmental Sciences and Policy