Download - The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

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Page 1: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

The Effect of Mangrove The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Biodiversity in Southern FloridaFlorida

Stephenie Lazarus Stephenie Lazarus

Brittany Lewis Brittany Lewis

Amelia Clapp Amelia Clapp

Page 2: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

OutlineOutline

BackgroundBackground HypothesisHypothesis MethodMethod AnalysisAnalysis DiscussionDiscussion ImplicationsImplications SolutionsSolutions ConclusionConclusion

Page 3: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

BackgroundBackground

The Mangrove ProblemThe Mangrove Problem

The planet has lost 35% of its The planet has lost 35% of its mangrove forests over the last twenty mangrove forests over the last twenty years. years.

The rate of loss of mangroves each The rate of loss of mangroves each year tops the loss of the rainforest at year tops the loss of the rainforest at 2.1%2.1%

At the current rate of destruction all of At the current rate of destruction all of the world’s mangroves will disappear in the world’s mangroves will disappear in 50 years 50 years (Wells, 2006)(Wells, 2006)

Page 4: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

BackgroundBackground

World Distribution of MangrovesWorld Distribution of Mangroves

(“Coastal and Marine Habitats,” 2005)

Page 5: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

BackgroundBackground

Natural and unnatural factors Natural and unnatural factors Recent tsunami activity in south-Recent tsunami activity in south-

east Asiaeast Asia

Reasons for Mangrove DepletionReasons for Mangrove Depletion

Ongoing human Ongoing human coastal coastal development development (Stone, (Stone,

Richard, 2006).Richard, 2006).

Costal development of mangrove forest

Page 6: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

BackgroundBackground

The American AlligatorThe American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensisAlligator mississippiensis Keystone species of Keystone species of

mangrove forestsmangrove forests

‘ ‘Alligator holes’ Alligator holes’

Estimated 1,000,000 Estimated 1,000,000 in Floridain Florida

(Mazzotti, 2006)

Page 7: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

HypothesisHypothesis

““Current natural and Current natural and anthropogenic factors will anthropogenic factors will

deplete the mangrove forests deplete the mangrove forests and biodiversity of Southern and biodiversity of Southern

Florida due to the elimination of Florida due to the elimination of the keystone species” the keystone species”

Page 8: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

MethodMethod

Data UsedData Used

1 acre= 4,046.8564 m^21 acre= 4,046.8564 m^2 469000 acres of Mangroves exist in Florida 469000 acres of Mangroves exist in Florida (FMRI, (FMRI,

2006)2006)

Net primary production (NPP) of swamps and Net primary production (NPP) of swamps and marshes = 9000 k cal/ m2/yr marshes = 9000 k cal/ m2/yr (Kling, 2006)(Kling, 2006) =2.22394842 =2.22394842 k cal/ acre/yrk cal/ acre/yr

Rate of mangrove loss= 2.1% Rate of mangrove loss= 2.1% (Wells, 2006)(Wells, 2006)

Average plant efficiency= 35% Average plant efficiency= 35% (Kling, 2006)(Kling, 2006)

Average American Alligator per km^2=1.6916 Average American Alligator per km^2=1.6916 (Mazzotti, 2006) = 0.00685 alligators/acre(Mazzotti, 2006) = 0.00685 alligators/acre

Page 9: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

MethodMethod

Procedure to Test HypothesisProcedure to Test Hypothesis Construct Stella Models from given dataConstruct Stella Models from given data Determine future amount of Florida Determine future amount of Florida

mangrove forest coveragemangrove forest coverage Determine future population of American Determine future population of American

Alligator in FloridaAlligator in Florida Determine whether models support the loss Determine whether models support the loss

of mangroves coverage and elimination of of mangroves coverage and elimination of American Alligator populationAmerican Alligator population

Page 10: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

AnalysisAnalysis

Projected Mangrove Forest AcreageProjected Mangrove Forest Acreage

Mangrove Acreage Stella Model

Mangrov e Acreage

Production Depletion

Depletion RatePlant Ef f iciency NPP

Page 11: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

Analysis Analysis

Projected Mangrove Forest AcreageProjected Mangrove Forest Acreage

9:48 PM Sun, Dec 03, 2006

Mangrov e Acreage v s Time

Page 12006.00 2017.00 2028.00 2039.00 2050.00

Years

1:

1:

1:

0

250000

500000

1: Mangrov e Acreage

1

1

1 1

Page 12: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

AnalysisAnalysis

American Alligator Population ModelAmerican Alligator Population ModelAssumptionsAssumptions Alligator population only effected by habitat depletion Alligator population only effected by habitat depletion

(birth rate = death rate)(birth rate = death rate) Alligators require mangrove acreage to live (0.00685 Alligators require mangrove acreage to live (0.00685

alligators can live in one acre of mangroves)alligators can live in one acre of mangroves) 3211 American Alligators exist in the 469,000 acres 3211 American Alligators exist in the 469,000 acres

mangroves analyzedmangroves analyzed Because alligators are the keystone species of the Because alligators are the keystone species of the

southern Florida mangrove ecosystem the elimination of southern Florida mangrove ecosystem the elimination of alligators will cause the extinction of other species and alligators will cause the extinction of other species and the decline of biodiversitythe decline of biodiversity

Page 13: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

AnalysisAnalysis

American Alligator Population ModelAmerican Alligator Population Model

Mangrove Acreage

Production Depletion

Depletion RatePlant Efficiency NPP

American Alligators

Births Deaths

Birth Rate

Natural Death Rate

Alligator Depletion Rate

Page 14: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

AnalysisAnalysis

American Alligator Population ModelAmerican Alligator Population ModelProjected American Alligator Population with Decline of

Mangrove Forests

4:30 PM Tue, Dec 05, 2006

American Alligators vs Time

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4000

1: American Alligators

1

1 1 1

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DiscussionDiscussion

Projected Mangrove Forest Acreage

9:48 PM Sun, Dec 03, 2006

Mangrov e Acreage v s Time

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1 1

Mangrove acreage halved by 2009

Mangrove acreage crash by 2032

Acreage so minimal significant re-growth almost

impossible

Page 16: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

DiscussionDiscussion

Projected American Alligator Population with Decline of Mangrove Forests

4:37 PM Tue, Dec 05, 2006

Alligators and Mangrove Acreage vs Time

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1: American Alligators 2: Mangrove Acreage

1

1 1 1

2

22 2

2030 mangrove acreage

dips below 2000

Alligator population

levels off at 218

Page 17: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

DiscussionDiscussion

Effect Mangrove Forest Acreage on Biodiversity

If trends continue the mangrove cover in If trends continue the mangrove cover in southern Florida will be depleted beyond southern Florida will be depleted beyond natural rebound abilitynatural rebound ability

This loss of habitat results in an immense This loss of habitat results in an immense reduction of the American Alligatorreduction of the American Alligator

The reduction of the American Alligator will The reduction of the American Alligator will cause the collapse of biodiversity in the cause the collapse of biodiversity in the southern Florida mangrove ecosystem (loss southern Florida mangrove ecosystem (loss of ‘alligator holes’ = loss of habitat)of ‘alligator holes’ = loss of habitat)

Page 18: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

ImplicationsImplications

The loss of mangroves in southern Florida would The loss of mangroves in southern Florida would have a negative effect on both the sport and have a negative effect on both the sport and commercial fishing industries since many fish commercial fishing industries since many fish either live in or use the mangrove forest as a either live in or use the mangrove forest as a nursery. nursery.

Natural buffering capacity of mangroves will Natural buffering capacity of mangroves will disappear resulting in loss of protection from disappear resulting in loss of protection from natural disastersnatural disasters

Numerous endangered/ threatened species Numerous endangered/ threatened species currently relying on mangroves will likely go currently relying on mangroves will likely go extinctextinct

Ecotourism would decline resulting in a loss of Ecotourism would decline resulting in a loss of income in the economy of southern Floridaincome in the economy of southern Florida

Page 19: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

SolutionsSolutions Mangrove Propagule

Collect and plant propagules Collect and plant propagules Re-growth usually quickRe-growth usually quickRehabilitated mangroves lack Rehabilitated mangroves lack the biodiversity they once had the biodiversity they once had (Wells, 2006)(Wells, 2006) Human conservation and Human conservation and education efforts (prevention is education efforts (prevention is better than compensation)better than compensation)

Currently many organizations implement Currently many organizations implement mapping and monitoring programsmapping and monitoring programs (Vaiphasa, Skidmore, (Vaiphasa, Skidmore,

and de Boer, 2006)and de Boer, 2006)

Page 20: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

ConclusionConclusion

RecapRecap

Mangrove forests in southern Florida projected Mangrove forests in southern Florida projected to crash by 2032to crash by 2032

Loss of mangrove acreage will result in the Loss of mangrove acreage will result in the population crash of the keystone species in the population crash of the keystone species in the southern Florida ecosystemsouthern Florida ecosystem

A loss of the keystone species results in the A loss of the keystone species results in the loss of biodiversityloss of biodiversity

Our analysis affirms our hypothesisOur analysis affirms our hypothesis

Page 21: The Effect of Mangrove Forest Depletion on Biodiversity in Southern Florida Stephenie Lazarus Brittany Lewis Amelia Clapp.

ConclusionConclusion

Take Home MessageTake Home Message

“Southern Florida’s Mangrove ecosystem is in

serious danger, but steps to preserve these mangroves

still can be taken!”