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Prepared as part of the U.S. Geological Survey Priority Ecosystems Science Initiative

Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) Ecological Model Documentation Volume 2: Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) Landscape Habitat Suitability Index v1.0.0

Stephanie S. Romañach, Craig Conzelmann, Adam Daugherty, Jerome J. Lorenz, Christina Hunnicutt, and Frank J. Mazzotti

ABSTRACT Ecological conditions in the Greater Everglades have changed due to human activities, including the construction of canals to divert water away from the core of the landscape. Current and planned restoration projects are designed to produce a natural sheetflow of water across the landscape. This restoration of water flow should provide an increase in freshwater needed to restore natural salinities to the fringing estuarine ecosystem. In this report, we describe a Landscape Habitat Suitability Index model designed to evaluate alternative restoration plans for the benefit of a key species, the roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja). Model output has shown to be a good indicator of areas capable of supporting spoonbills. Use of this model will allow examination of the potential response of this key species to water management proposed through the Greater Everglades restoration process.

First posted October 25, 2011 Report PDF (1.3 MB) Appendix 1 (Excel file, not included in PDF) For additional information contact: Stephanie S. Romañach USGS Southeast Area 3205 College Ave. Davie, FL 33314-7799 754-264-6060 Southeast Ecological Science Center Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.

Suggested citation:

Romañach, S.S., Conzelmann, Craig, Daugherty, Adam, Lorenz, J.L., Hunnicutt, Christina, and Mazzotti, F.J., 2011, Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) Ecological Model Documentation Volume 2: Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) Landscape Habitat Suitability Index v1.0.0: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1273, 23 p., available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1273/.

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Ecological Justification for Spoonbill Model

Model State Variables and Scales

Model Process Overview

Model Requirements

Model Application User's Guide

Model Specifications

Future Use

Summary and Conclusions

References Cited

Appendix 1. Landscape Habitat Suitability Index output generated for the spoonbill model (Microsoft Excel file, see above, right)