Okeechobee, Lake (Fla)

The relationship between water-level fluctuations and wading bird nest numbers and nesting location is well documented, yet species-specific reproductive responses of wading birds to environmental drivers and nesting habitat type is poorly understood. Here, I compared the reproductive responses of two ecologically similar species, Snowy Egret and Tricolored Heron, to foraging conditions influenced by water management and examined the effect of nestling island type on the reproductive success of three wading bird species. Reproductive responses to foraging conditions were broadly similar between Snowy Egrets and Tricolored Herons, however this study revealed specific-specific differences that could lead to different population dynamics in response to management over the long-term. I also found that these two species had lower productivity at spoil islands than marsh colonies, whereas Great Egret productivity did not vary by colony type. This study demonstrates the importance of establishing species-species relationships between productivity and environmental conditions

The objective of this thesis is to conduct a time series analysis of melaleuca growth in the littoral zone of western Lake Okeechobee, using historical aerial photography and Scientific Visualization, Image Enhancement and Image Exploration techniques are examined and compared. Problems associated with creating a time series analysis using aerial photography for use in an integrated GIS are explored. A spatial analysis of environmental factors affecting the growth of Melaleuca quinquenervia is conducted, and an analysis of the validity of such statistical inferences for use in future decision making is examined. Results indicate that managed water levels inside Lake Okeechobee did indeed have an effect on the rate of growth of Melaleuca quinquenervia. Recommendations for future data gathering and study are outlined.

Software development for ecological data systems is concentrated in the description, modeling, and standardization of large amounts of ecological data. Ecological data assembled in many formats is very difficult to reuse. This thesis develops a database model that supports the storage of heterogeneous data in standardized formats. Ecological data standardization is solved with the specification of a structure conversion system. Because input formats cannot be predicted, a scientific data description language was created to control the execution of the conversion system. System analysis is based on interviews with South Florida Water Management District scientists conducting ecosystem research, and ecological data collected at Lake Okeechobee, Florida, during a five-year study. Object-oriented and structural methods were used for analysis. Development is complemented with an introduction to user interfaces.

Water samples from Lake Okeechobee, Florida have been analyzed in order to relate pigment fingerprints to temporal and spatial variations. Chemical taxonomic identification of predominant photoautotrophs was based on pigment profiles evolved from literature reports and analysis of specific cultures. Carotenoids and chlorophylls were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-violet visible spectra obtained with a photo diode array detector (PDA). Pigments were identified by coincident matches of retention time and UV/Visible spectral properties. Chemical taxonomic identification was determined by comparison with known photoautotrophic pigment 'fingerprints'. Experimental results show pigment arrays indicative of chromophytes, chlorophytes and cyanophytes as well as photoautotrophic bacteria present in Lake Okeechobee. The lake was also found to be heterogeneous and dynamic in terms of pigment composition. Major pigment groups changed as a function of location in the lake and as a function of season. A greater pigment diversity was found to exist in the benthos due to the presence of degradation products. HPLC-PDA pigment analysis for chemotaxonomic typing of photoautotrophic communities is attainable and can be used as a rapid viable alternative to microscopic examination of plankton and epiphyte samples. Also, taxonomic typing of organic matter and photoautotrophic communities of sediments, including bacterial populations, can be accomplished using this method.

The intergovernmental relations among the agencies responsible for regulating activities in and around Lake Okeechobee, and their relations with the industries they regulate, appear to lack the coordination and cooperation necessary to effectively manage the lake's resources. The objective of this thesis is to examine the factors affecting these regulatory relationships, and explore alternatives for resolving intergovernmental conflict. Several consensus building tools are examined, including Resource Planning and Management Committees as authorized by Chapter 380, Florida Statutes, as well as committees created through gubernatorial executive orders. By analyzing and comparing these tools, as well as theories of intergovernmental relations, this study will identify the best available method for fostering intergovernmental coordination in the Lake Okeechobee region and its surrounding areas.