On December 9-10, 2009 the first MARES Integrated
Conceptual Ecosystem Model (ICEM) workshop was held at Florida International
University in Miami. Over 50
participants contributed to the development of the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas
ICEM during the facilitated workshop.
Since then, a team of technical writers have been developing a draft
report describing the biological, physical and human dimensions of the region.
The report will include socio-ecological models with accompanying text
describing the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas system, and diagrams (example
below) will be used to illustrate the near- and far-field impacts to the
region. The
report will be posted on this website, and an announcement will be sent to the
MARES listserv (click here
to subscribe).
Diagram illustrating the near-
and far-field impacts to the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas region.
What:
Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas Reserve
Integrated Conceptual Ecosystem Model Technical Workshop
Participants List
Date:
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 and Thursday, December 10, 2009
Times:
December 9, 2009: 9 AM – 5 PM
December
10, 2009: 9 AM – 3PM
Agenda:
Read ahead materials:
·
Strawman for the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas regional
Conceptual Ecological Model
·
Including
Human Dimensions Science in MARES
·
Ecological
conceptual models: framework and case study (Gentile et al, 2001)
Location:
Meeting:
Florida International University
Management and Advanced Research Center
(MARC) Pavilion
11200 SW 8th Street
Florida
International University
Miami, FL 33199
(Click
here for map and driving directions)
Parking:
Please use parking garages on
campus. You will need to pay for
parking.
Suggested Lodging:
Comfort Suites Miami
3901 SW 117 Avenue, Miami, FL 33175
ph: (305) 220 3901
(Click here
for details)
Baymont Inn and Suites
3805 NW 107th Avenue, Miami, FL 33178
ph: (305) 640 9896
(Click here for details)
Workshop Objectives:
This meeting will be attended by technical experts who will
contribute to the development of an Integrated Conceptual Ecosystem Model
framework.
Conceptual Ecological Models (CEMs)
CEMs, as used by the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan’s RECOVER team, are heuristic planning tools that serve to identify
(1) the major drivers and stressors upon natural ecosystems, (2) the ecological
effects of these stressors, and (3) the indicators of the ecological responses
to changes in those drivers and stressors.
RECOVER developed a set of eleven such regional models, encompassing
geographically distinct and largely contiguous domains that are intended to
include the major cause-and-effect linkages within each modeled region. These, along with a “total system” model, were
published in a special issue of Wetlands (2005), which served to both (1) guide
the selection of performance measures and the parameters that were included in
the development of a regional monitoring plan, as well as to (2) identify key
uncertainties/knowledge gaps that were expected to be addressed by research
projects. The authors of the
marine/estuarine CEMs are among the PIs submitting this proposal. Importantly, the CEMs are also serving CERP
as a primary communication, planning and assessment link amongst scientists and
policy-makers. They are the principal
organizing component in the CERP Applied Science Strategy (Ogden et al., 2003)
and have served to build and cement consensus regarding the sources and effects
of the major anthropogenic-induced changes in the natural systems of South
Florida.
Background:
The Florida
Keys ecosystem is one of this Nation’s unique natural treasures. With the
establishment of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), its
preservation became NOAA’s explicit responsibility. The marine component
of the ecosystem is composed of tropical to subtropical waters that contain
diverse benthic community types, including bank barrier coral reefs, patch
reefs, hard bottoms, and sea grass. This diversity of community types
results in high species richness. The Keys are a popular tourist
destination, in part because the faunal richness provides interesting
snorkeling and diving venues. Furthermore, the shallow water environments
surrounding the Keys contain extensive nursery areas and fishing grounds for a
variety of commercially and recreationally important marine species. It is
becoming increasingly clear both that a multi-species approach needs to be
taken to manage these resources and that many species are already severely
over-fished (Ault et al., 1998; 2005)
Point of Contact:
Pamela Fletcher
Office: 305.361.4553
Email: Pamela.Fletcher@noaa.gov