Integrated Biscayne Bay Ecological Assessment and Monitoring Project (IBBEAM)

IBBEAM combines four previously independent efforts involved in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) for greater uniformity, consistency, and efficiency in data collection, management, and presentation, while also enabling new, cross-component analyses to be performed.

The components include:

(1) water quality (temperature and salinity);

(2) submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV);

(3) epifaunal fishes and invertebrates; and

(4) mangrove-associated fishes.

Sampling is conducted at 47 sites located between Shoal Point and Turkey Point along the western shoreline of southern Biscayne Bay. Sampling is conducted twice each year, dry season (Jan-April) and wet season (July-Sept).

Spatial patterns and temporal trajectories of key metrics stemming from each IBBEAM component are organized in a consistent format in an integrated data file, and a cohesive data analysis approach is taken that allows side-by-side comparisons of metrics at the same spatiotemporal resolution. Habitat Suitability Models, Indicator species identification, and Salinity Indices (e.g. Mesohaline Index - proportion of salinity observation &#8805; 5 and <18) have been developed from IBBEAM data to fill

knowledge gaps about southwestern Biscayne Bay's nearshore biota that may be affected by CERP implementation. Relationships of biota with salinity were determined, identifying a subset of species whose distribution and abundance respond quantitatively to change in salinity. IBBEAM results provide a scientific basis for the development of a suite of ecological performance measures for assessment and use in adaptive management.

To develop a Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) by gathering data on water quality, submerged aquatic vegetation, epifaunal fishes and invertebrates and mangrove-associated fishes in an integrated data file. A cohesive data analysis approach is then taken that allows side-by-side comparisons of metrics at the same spatiotemporal resolution.

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PC Files

Data were entered into spreadsheets and checked against the raw data sheet to avoid entry errors.