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SYLLABUS COURSE Spring Ecosystems ENV 6932K INSTRUCTOR Fall 2008 Tuesday and Thursday (Second Period 0830-0950) Robert L. Knight/Wetland Solutions, Inc. bknight@wetlandsolutionsinc.com www.wetlandsolutionsinc.com 386-462-1003 Catalog Description Applied and theoretical aspects of the ecology and management of Florida s artesian springs. Suggested Texts/References 2008 Effects of Nutrients in Springs (Brown, Knight, et al. to be published by FDEP summer 2008) 2004 Springs of Florida (Florida Geological Survey Bull. No. 66) 2002 First Magnitude Springs of Florida (Florida Geological Survey Bull. No. 85) Course Description Florida s artesian (deep groundwater) springs are an important natural resource, providing the basis for extensive wildlife support and human recreation. These springs are under increasing threats from human activities, including flow reductions, nutrient increases, aquatic weed management activities, recreational impacts, and a variety of water resource development projects. A growing awareness of these problems is leading to a rapid increase in demand for knowledge about the basic chemistry, biology, and ecology of springs to be used for improved resource management. This course provides an overview of the current understanding of how springs are a product of their environmental surroundings and how they respond to management decisions. Who Should Take this Course? This course is offered to those interested in Florida s water resources from a science, management, or administrative perspective and for those who wish to develop or sharpen their understanding of aquatic ecology in general. Information from all related physical, chemical, biological, and economic disciplines will be integrated to allow an understanding and appreciation of the role that springs play in overall support for Florida s natural and human ecologies. This course should be of interest to ecologists, environmental scientists, water resources engineers, natural resource managers, and those practicing environmental law. Your Instructor Dr. Robert L. Knight is an environmental scientist/systems ecologist and president of Wetland Solutions, Inc. Dr. Knight has over 35 years of experience as an aquatic and wetland ecologist in Florida. His doctoral work included an ecological assessment of Silver Springs and Silver River under the direction of Howard T. Odum. He recently completed assessments of the quantitative basis for establishing a minimum flow regime for protection of water and human-use resource values (WRVs) in Volusia County Blue Spring, a 50-year retrospective study of the ecological health of Silver Springs, and the basis for establishing pollutant load reduction goals (PLRGs) for the Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run. Dr. Knight is currently assessing WRVs for Wekiwa and Rock Springs, monitoring ecosystem function in more than a dozen statewide, springs and reviewing and summarizing the effects of nutrients on spring ecosystems in conjunction with UF s Water Institute. Course Content Introduction to Florida Hydrogeology Distribution of Springs Physical Attributes of Springs Chemical Characteristics of Florida Springs Biological Variability in Florida Springs Integrated Ecosystem Behavior of Springs Human Impacts on Florida Springs Management of Florida Springs Environmental Regulation and Florida Springs Preliminary Grading Basis Test #1 Test #2 Test #3 Final Exam 25% 25% 25% 25% Preliminary Grading Scale 90-100 = A 85-90 = B+ 80-85 = B 75-80 = C+ 70-75 = C Lecture Series (tentative) WEEK 1: Introduction to Florida Springs Classification and distribution of Florida springs Introduction to spring ecosystems WEEK 2: Introduction to Florida Hydrogeology Florida karst geology Groundwater distribution Florida water balance and climatic variability Groundwater quality WEEK 3: Distribution and Physical Attributes of Florida Springs Types of springs Spring classification based on flow Jurisdiction of springs Spring formation and decline WEEK 4-5: Landscape and Chemical Characteristics of Florida Springs Watershed and springshed contributions Cations and anions Salts and conservative elements Dissolved oxygen Nutrients Trace metals and organics Week 6-7: Biological Variability of Florida Springs Primary producers Primary consumers Higher level consumers Detritivores WEEK 8-9: Ecosystem Behavior of Florida Springs Ecosystem structure and function Consumer control and carrying capacity Energy flows Ecological efficiency WEEK 10-11: Human Impacts on Florida Springs Reductions in spring discharge Nutrient enrichment Sedimentation Aquatic plant management effects Recreational impacts Other water resource projects WEEK 12: Management Opportunities in Florida Springs State parks and resource areas Local parks Community concerns WEEK 13-14: Environmental Regulation and Florida Springs Minimum flows and levels State/federal water quality standards Listed species Pollutant load reduction goals Total maximum daily loads/basin-wide Management Action Plans New state and local regulations WEEK 15: Future of Florida Springs Nutrient controls/best management practices Water permitting/conservation A new environmental ethic Field Trips Five one-day weekend (Saturday) field trips will be conducted to representative springs in three geographical areas in Florida: Ocala National Forest Southwest coast South central North central Panhandle Field-trip participation is highly recommended and will replace two class hours during each of the five field trip weeks. Students will meet spring managers and have the opportunity to snorkel in representative springs and collect water quality, biological, and human-use data.

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