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What does an RCW biologist do at Three Lakes?  Why?

RCW biologists track, trap and tag RCW's, and create cavities for them to nest in.  RCW's only live in cavities of live longleaf pine trees, but the cavities typically take 2 years for the bird to make.  Therefore, the biologists help create artificial cavities, which they check daily to make sure no predators have found the spot.

Due to the RCW's preference of longleaf pine trees, they have become a flagship species for the longleaf pine ecosystem (an icon for the habitat).

They are not found everywhere in Florida, because longleaf pine ecosystems are not present everywhere.

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What role does hunting play in conservation?

Hunting is a mechanical method of conservation that acts as a limiting factor; carrying capacity and trophic levels are put into balance.

Invasive and predatory species are reduced.

Hunting maintains populations at levels compatible with human activity and land use.

Overcrowding of species is prevented (the carrying capacity is brought down to a normal level, where it will fluctuate around a specific population size) as well as the presence of trophic cascades.

Trophic cascades occur when predators decrease the amount of prey in an ecosystem (the next trophic level is released from predation).  If hunters suppress the abundance of predators, then trophic levels will not undergo trophic cascades.

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What are the biologist doing at Three Lakes to help save the FLorida Grasshopper Sparrow population?

Biologists at Three Lakes are observing spotted skunks, which are natural predators to the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow.  If the skunks are monitored, then the Fl Grasshopper Sparrow will not be in as much danger.

Biologists are also trapping the sparrows for captive breeding purposes where they can then encourage reproduction.  Captive-bred sparrows will then be released back into the wild where new populations can be established.

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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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The Florida grasshopper sparrow is at the brink of extinction. At Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County in central Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is researching the sparrow with the goal of reversing its decline. For more information visit: http://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/birds/florida-grasshopper-sparrow/

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Why do the biologists at Three Lakes want hunters to donate their harvested deer heads?

Deer heads are being donated so that the biologists at Three Lakes can perform necropsy's on them

In a necropsy, biologists look for signs of CWD (chronic wasting disease) for cause of death.

CWD is a transmissible, neurological disease found in deer that produces small lesions in the brain

Environmentally, the disease is severely reducing the population of deer in Florida, who help maintain the environment by eating shrubs/herbs

Economically, a lot of money goes towards surveillance programs and research projects that were established to find out more about the disease

Biologists also use the deer's jaw bone to determine its age by examining the cartilage of the bone, and counting/observing each tooth

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Radio telemetry is a tracking technique that uses radio waves for transmitting information about the location of certain species

After attaching the transmitter to a certain animal’s movements, a signal is broadcasted in the electromagnetic spectrum, which allows for detection

Biologists can find out locations of animals, perhaps endangered species

This helps towards species management, because you can track their numbers and location (how they spread)

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Animal Position With Radio Telemetry Data

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A basic introduction to the art of telemetry.

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Why are the biologists at Three Lakes WMA monitoring the spotted skunk population?

The biologists at Three Lakes WMA are monitoring (via radio telemetry) the spotted skunk population because they prey on Florida Grasshopper Sparrows

The spotted skunk population is native to Florida, so they shouldn't be killed off

However, they need to be monitored and managed because the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow is highly endangered (on the brink of extinction).

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Are our lakes healthy or not based on our sampling?  How do you know?

Our lakes somewhat healthy- mayfly and dragonfly larvae was found.

Mayflies are sensitive to pollution

Dragonflies are somewhat sensitive to pollution

If these organisms were able to survive, then our lakes must be mainly free of pollution

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Why is the presence of caddisflies an indicator of a healthy lake?

Caddisflies are in Group 1 of Taxa- organisms that are hypersensitive to pollution (hey would quickly perish in polluted waters)

If caddisflies are able to survive in a lake, the lake must have been healthy with no signs of pollution

They are a bioindicator of water quality.

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What is the definition of bioindicators?
A bioindicator is an organism whose status in an ecosystem indicates the health of that ecosystem/environment.

They are used by biologists to monitor the health of a certain area

They respond in clear ways to changes in the environment

Sensitive to poor environmental conditions- will NOT be found in polluted ecosystems

They can tell us about the effects of certain pollutants in an ecosystem, and how long a problem may have been present- physical/chemical testing cannot tell you this

Ex: Caddisfly: bioindicator of good water quality
Lichen: bioindicator for air pollution

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What is the difference between group 1, 2, and 3 taxa?

Group 1 taxa is sensitive to pollution, which means that they require plentiful amounts of dissolved oxygen in water.  They can't survive if the water is polluted.

caddisfly

mayfly

water penny

riffle beetle

stonefly

Group 2 taxa is somewhat pollution tolerant.

dragonfly nymphs

beetle larvae

sowbug

cranefly

crayfish

clams

Group 3 is tolerant of pollution.  They do not need dissolved oxygen in water to survive- they can live in polluted waters.

aquatic worms

pouch snails

leeches

blackfly larvae

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Algae

main chemicals: Nitrogen and Phosphorus

monitoring Phosphorus: measure low concentrations down to 0.01 mg/L. Even these low concentrations of Phosphorus make have a negative impact on water purity.

Fertilizer

Fecal Matter

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What are we looking for with biological lake monitoring?

In biological lake monitoring, biologists observe plants and macroinvertebrates over time.  The health of these organisms allows biologists to see the quality and purity of the water.

Biologists collect macroinvertebrates by using an Ekman bottom grab sampler, which drops down in the lake and scoops up a layer from the bottom

Biological monitoring also detects acute and chronic pollutant impacts.

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What major variables are measured using chemical monitoring?  What do they tell us about lake health?

In chemical monitoring, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen levels, turbidity, depth, weather conditions, chlorophyll levels and conductivity are measured.

pH: shows acidity (unhealthy) or basicity (healthy) of an aqueous solution

temperature: the higher the temperature, the levels of dissolved oxygen decreases (poor lake quality- organisms need oxygen)

total dissolved solids: total amount of mobile charged ions, minerals, salts, or metals dissolved in water; a measure of combined content of inorganic and organic substances cotnained in a liquid- directly related to purity of water

dissolved oxygen levels: used by all forms of aquatic life; measured to assess the health of lakes- higher the level of dissolved oxygen, the healthier the lake is

turbidity: cloudiness of water- directly related to water's health

cloudy water= poor quality

chlorophyll levels: measures the amount of algae growing in water

more algae= poorer quality

conductivity: measures the ability of water to pass an electrical current- affected by the presence of inorganic dissolved solids and the geology of the area

more nutrients--> more ions--> more conductivity

possibly poor water quality

A water chemistry collection is also taken during chemical monitoring, which consists of nutrients, total suspended solids, alkalinity, color, biological oxygen demand and coliform/clorophyll levels

nutrients: causes the growth of algae; the more nutrients a waterbody has, the poorer its quality

color: not an indicator of water quality; natural metallic ions, and wastes affect the color of water

coliform levels: coliform bacteria is found in fecal waste- indicators that pathogens may be present. High levels of fecal coliform results in low dissolved oxygen levels, which is bad for water quality (organisms need oxygen)

Through these measurements, we are able to see the purity of water (how tolerant of ions the water is, and if minerals have dissolved, etc.)

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What is the difference between chemical and biological monitoring?  Compare and contrast them.

Chemical monitoring- short term quality monitoring; gives biologists a mere snapshot of the purity of water.  It is collected quarterly, and it measures turbidity, depth and conductivity of water.

Biological monitoring- long term quality monitoring; provides a long term point of view of water quality. Plants and macroinvertebrates are observed over time.

However, they are similar in that they both are observing and measuring quality/purity of water.

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http://www.npr.org/2016/10/20/498736786/last-gasp-to-save-the-florida-grasshopper-sparrow-from-extinction

SERV Lake Monitoring Presentation

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Bmx67358VzfU7eyRgkVy4J4MShAxnbdGa28V6pEeoFo/edit#slide=id.p6

Three Lakes WMA Discussion Assignment

https://trinityprep.instructure.com/courses/1224/discussion_topics/3883?module_item_id=148579

Q&A Lunch Sessions Questions Answered

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PJ0BaSHfHkyLjukYtD8t5eOqrIEajsIBQlboJOXYT1Q/edit