Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) habitat and the Everglades : ecology and conservation

This dissertation examines conservation issues within the Everglades, a renowned wetland ecosystem in central and southern Florida, USA. Everglades National Park, which includes about one fifth of the wetland, is home to the federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis). This sparrow is restricted to freshwater prairies within ENP, and is a useful indicator for the spatial extent of a habitat type called short hydroperiod prairies: Water management protocols have increased hydroperiod and water depth in some areas that have historically supported sparrows. Taller vegetation with fewer grassy clumps, which may provide less habitat for nesting and foraging, now characterizes these sites. Combining satellite images with plant survey data can detect patches of vegetation in the freshwater prairies, with structural and floristic characteristics that are correlated with high sparrow densityThese characteristics can be used to monitor the effects of water management changes on hydrologic conditions in the sparrow prairies. The current water management program has created water imbalances across the Everglades ecosystem, while agricultural and urban land use has decreased wetland area. The Comprehensive Review Study of the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project ( the Restudy ) is an $8 billion restoration plan for the Everglades. Its initial assumptions and constraints prevent the consideration of alternatives that may be more ecologically and economically efficient, such as converting agricultural lands into above-ground storage reservoirs. A true restoration of the Everglades requires a water management system that provides appropriate hydrologic conditions for all native species throughout their range