Monday, July 28, 2008

ATLSS Ecological Models: What They Are and How to Use Them   
    PART I:          9:30am–12noon
    PART II:        1:20pm–5:20pm

NOTE: There is no fee to participate in this workshop. Space is limited and seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Workshop Aims and Description:

The goal of the Across Trophic Level Systems Simulation (ATLSS) Program has been to produce models capable of projecting and comparing the effects of alternative hydrologic scenarios on various trophic components of the Everglades. The methodology involves: 1) a landscape structure; 2) a high resolution topography to estimate high resolution water depth across the landscape; 3) models to calculate spatially explicit species indices (SESI) for breeding and foraging success measures across the landscape; 4) spatially explicit individual-based (SEIB) computer simulation models of selected species populations; 5) a variety of visualization and evaluation tools to aid model development, validation, and comparison to field data, and 6) developing an efficient way for agencies in South Florida to use models. Included in this are numerous sub-projects for different species, vegetation succession, analysis of alternative approaches to developing high resolution, models which deal with estuarine systems, methods to allow users from a variety of agencies to access and run the models, and methods to enhance the computational efficiency of the simulations. The continuing general objective is to provide a flexible, efficient collection of methods, utilizing the best current science, to evaluate the relative impacts of alternative hydrologic plans on the biotic systems of South Florida. This is done in a spatially-explicit manner which allows different partners to evaluate the impacts based upon their own criteria for the locations and biotic systems under consideration.

    PART I: (9:30am-12noon)

PART I of this Workshop brings attendees up-to-date on the ATLSS models available and what they do. This workshop will be of interest to a large number of government agency staff and others involved in the evaluation of CERP plans. Each of several models will be briefly described:

• ATLSS Hydrology

• Spatially Explicit Species Index models

• Fish models (GEFISH and ALFISHES)

• Snail kite model (EVERKITE)

• Vegetation Succession and Fire modeling

    PART II: (1:20pm-5:20pm)

PART II entails a short training course in the use of the ATLSS Data Viewer. This workshop will be of interest to a smaller number of agency staff members who are responsible for producing and evaluating model output relevant to these evaluations.

NOTE: Participants must bring their own laptop that already has ArcGIS9.2 (service pack 4) and Spatial Analyst loaded.
 

    Qualifications of Workshop Organizers:

Dr. Donald DeAngelis is an ecological modeler with USGS, and coordinator of the ATLSS Program.

Steve Hartley is a USGS expert on GIS and is the developer of the ATLSS Data Viewer.

    For more information, contact:

Donald L. DeAngelis, USGS (Primary Contact), Department of Biology, University of Miami, P. O. Box 249118, Coral Gables, Florida 33124; Phone: 305-284-1690  Fax: 305-284-3039 ; E-mail: don_deangelis@usgs.gov
 
Steve Hartley, USGS, National Wetland Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, Louisiana 70506; Phone: 337-266-8543  Fax: 337-266-8616 ; E-mail: steve_hartley@usgs.gov