Technical Assistance for Modeling, Indicator Species Research, and Monitoring for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)


Introduction

Protection of biological diversity has been identified at the global, national, state, and local level as a critical component of protection native ecosystems (Noss and Cooperrider 1994). Major goals of the South Florida Everglades Restoration Initiative are to restore and maintain native biological diversity of South Florida, and to recover threatened and endangered species. Effective protection of an area's ecological integrity involves havingthe ability to measure and define ecological integrity, and to evaluate and monitor effects of restoration. Objectives of this project are to provide a scientifically based assessment of the effects of Everglades restoration alternatives on modeling initiatives in Southwest Florida, as well as the effects of Everglades restoration on indicator species and communities such as amphibians and alligators.