A data package consisting of diatom, total phosphorus, vegetation, and related data collected in Big Cypress National Preserve as part of the SFCN Periphyton Vital Signs protocol. This hydrologic year was collected before the 2019 publication of the protocol so it represents pilot data, but the methods were largely consistent with what was published. Periphyton is a microbial mat community that forms the base of the aquatic food web in South Florida wetlands such as the marshes in Everglades National Park (EVER) and the Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). It is a vital component of these wetlands, contributing to critical functions such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and soil production and stabilization. Periphyton is sensitive to changes in hydropattern (water quantity and duration) and water quality. Changes to these ecosystem processes can quickly alter periphyton community structure (species composition and relative abundance), which in turn can create cascading effects through higher trophic levels. Thus, periphyton is an early and integrative indicator of local and regional changes to hydrology. The South Florida/Caribbean Network has implemented the monitoring of periphyton communities in Big Cypress National Preserve to assess the impact of hydrologic and water quality changes on the diatom community structure and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the periphyton mats. The specific monitoring objectives are: 1) Identify any basins in the northwest section of Big Cypress National Preserve where periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content are different from an oligotrophic (low-nutrient) and unimpacted community signal. 2) Document any temporal and/or spatial changes in the periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content showing progression towards an oligotrophic, unimpacted condition or a eutrophic (high-nutrient), impacted condition.

A data package consisting of diatom, total phosphorus, vegetation, and related data collected in Big Cypress National Preserve as part of the SFCN Periphyton Vital Signs protocol. This hydrologic year was collected before the 2019 publication of the protocol so it represents pilot data, but the methods were largely consistent with what was published. Periphyton is a microbial mat community that forms the base of the aquatic food web in South Florida wetlands such as the marshes in Everglades National Park (EVER) and the Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). It is a vital component of these wetlands, contributing to critical functions such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and soil production and stabilization. Periphyton is sensitive to changes in hydropattern (water quantity and duration) and water quality. Changes to these ecosystem processes can quickly alter periphyton community structure (species composition and relative abundance), which in turn can create cascading effects through higher trophic levels. Thus, periphyton is an early and integrative indicator of local and regional changes to hydrology. The South Florida/Caribbean Network has implemented the monitoring of periphyton communities in Big Cypress National Preserve to assess the impact of hydrologic and water quality changes on the diatom community structure and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the periphyton mats. The specific monitoring objectives are: 1) Identify any basins in the northwest section of Big Cypress National Preserve where periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content are different from an oligotrophic (low-nutrient) and unimpacted community signal. 2) Document any temporal and/or spatial changes in the periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content showing progression towards an oligotrophic, unimpacted condition or a eutrophic (high-nutrient), impacted condition.

A data package consisting of diatom, total phosphorus, vegetation, and related data collected in Big Cypress National Preserve as part of the SFCN Periphyton Vital Signs protocol. Periphyton is a microbial mat community that forms the base of the aquatic food web in South Florida wetlands such as the marshes in Everglades National Park (EVER) and the Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). It is a vital component of these wetlands, contributing to critical functions such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and soil production and stabilization. Periphyton is sensitive to changes in hydropattern (water quantity and duration) and water quality. Changes to these ecosystem processes can quickly alter periphyton community structure (species composition and relative abundance), which in turn can create cascading effects through higher trophic levels. Thus, periphyton is an early and integrative indicator of local and regional changes to hydrology. The South Florida/Caribbean Network has implemented the monitoring of periphyton communities in Big Cypress National Preserve to assess the impact of hydrologic and water quality changes on the diatom community structure and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the periphyton mats. The specific monitoring objectives are: 1) Identify any basins in the northwest section of Big Cypress National Preserve where periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content are different from an oligotrophic (low-nutrient) and unimpacted community signal. 2) Document any temporal and/or spatial changes in the periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content showing progression towards an oligotrophic, unimpacted condition or a eutrophic (high-nutrient), impacted condition.

A data package consisting of diatom, total phosphorus, and related data collected in Big Cypress National Preserve as part of the SFCN Periphyton Vital Signs protocol. Periphyton is a microbial mat community that forms the base of the aquatic food web in South Florida wetlands such as the marshes in Everglades National Park (EVER) and the Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). It is a vital component of these wetlands, contributing to critical functions such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and soil production and stabilization. Periphyton is sensitive to changes in hydropattern (water quantity and duration) and water quality. Changes to these ecosystem processes can quickly alter periphyton community structure (species composition and relative abundance), which in turn can create cascading effects through higher trophic levels. Thus, periphyton is an early and integrative indicator of local and regional changes to hydrology. The South Florida/Caribbean Network has implemented the monitoring of periphyton communities in Big Cypress National Preserve to assess the impact of hydrologic and water quality changes on the diatom community structure and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the periphyton mats. The specific monitoring objectives are: 1) Identify any basins in the northwest section of Big Cypress National Preserve where periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content are different from an oligotrophic (low-nutrient) and unimpacted community signal. 2) Document any temporal and/or spatial changes in the periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content showing progression towards an oligotrophic, unimpacted condition or a eutrophic (high-nutrient), impacted condition. This dataset includes all data collected (both pilot and standard) between 2008 and 2025. 2025 sites are listed in this release alongside their field data, but lab results have yet to be received for these sites at this time.

Data are part of the GULN Inventory and Monitoring Program Landbird monitoring project for BITH Turkey Creek Unit. Data were collected by Dr. Felipe Chavez-Ramirez through a contract with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in 2016. Data were entered into the Pointblue.org AKN database and exported to Excel 2010 format by GULN data manager, Whitney Granger. A separate reference is available for the Field Sheets that accompanies this data set.

Data are part of the GULN Inventory and Monitoring Program Landbird monitoring project for BITH Turkey Creek Unit. Data were collected by Dr. Felipe Chavez-Ramirez through a contract with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in 2016. Data were entered into the Pointblue.org AKN database and exported to Excel 2010 format by GULN data manager, Whitney Granger. A separate reference is available for the Field Sheets that accompanies this data set.

This data was collected as part of a sampling protocol to monitor ecotonal movement of mangroves and upslope freshwater marshes in Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Remote sensing approaches are used to delineate the physical location of the ecotone (boundaries) between mangroves and freshwater marsh. Fourteen 3 kilometer (1.9 mile [mi]) segments are systematically placed along the ecotone within the two parks. Aerial imagery is used to digitize the mangrove-marsh ecotone in each segment and must be 1 meter (3.3 feet [ft]) or better resolution and have positional accuracy of ± 3 meters (9.8 feet [ft]) or better. Four ground-truth field point locations (marker points) are established approximately 1 kilometer (0.62 miles [mi]) apart along the ecotone of each segment to provide field-based measurements and ground-truthing of the digitized line. Vegetation data is collected at each sampling point, with this vegetation coverage determining where the placement of the ecotone should be. generally, this is where mangrove cover drops below 50% cover. The vegetation data also verifies if it is mangroves (typical Red) that is the dominant tree on the tress side of the ecotonal edge. The vegetation data also indicated the dominant graminoid on the more inland side of the ecotone. We have found 3 major groups for the marsh dominant vegetation type. This could be important mitigating factor or a indicator of future conditions. NOTE - Data for this data release was pulled from the mangrove marsh ecotone database and preliminarily cleaned and organized in May 2025. The data should undergo further QAQC before being used in analysis.

This data was collected as part of a sampling protocol to monitor ecotonal movement of mangroves and upslope freshwater marshes in Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Remote sensing approaches are used to delineate the physical location of the ecotone (boundaries) between mangroves and freshwater marsh. Fourteen 3 kilometer (1.9 mile [mi]) segments are systematically placed along the ecotone within the two parks. Aerial imagery is used to digitize the mangrove-marsh ecotone in each segment and must be 1 meter (3.3 feet [ft]) or better resolution and have positional accuracy of ± 3 meters (9.8 feet [ft]) or better. Four ground-truth field point locations (marker points) are established approximately 1 kilometer (0.62 miles [mi]) apart along the ecotone of each segment to provide field-based measurements and ground-truthing of the digitized line. Vegetation data is collected at each sampling point, with this vegetation coverage determining where the placement of the ecotone should be. generally, this is where mangrove cover drops below 50% cover. The vegetation data also verifies if it is mangroves (typical Red) that is the dominant tree on the tress side of the ecotonal edge. The vegetation data also indicated the dominant graminoid on the more inland side of the ecotone. We have found 3 major groups for the marsh dominant vegetation type. This could be important mitigating factor or a indicator of future conditions. NOTE - Data for this data release was pulled from the mangrove marsh ecotone database and preliminarily cleaned and organized in May 2025. The data should undergo further QAQC before being used in analysis.

As part of the Northeast Coastal & Barrier Network's Salt Marsh Monitoring program, Network staff continues to sample vegetation and nekton at several park units. This file contains all data collected through the 2019 field season. Data are collected at the following park units: Assateague Island NS, Cape Cod NS, Colonial NHP, Fire Island NS, Gateway NRA, George Washington Birthplace NM, Sagamore Hill NHS.

As part of the Northeast Coastal & Barrier Network's Salt Marsh Monitoring program, Network staff continues to sample vegetation and nekton at several park units. This file contains all data collected through the 2019 field season. Data are collected at the following park units: Assateague Island NS, Cape Cod NS, Colonial NHP, Fire Island NS, Gateway NRA, George Washington Birthplace NM, Sagamore Hill NHS.