Integrated Biogeochemical Studies of Contaminants in the Everglades: Task 1 -Nutrients, Sulfur, and Organic Matter

Contaminants of concern will include nutrients, sulfur, mercury, organic compounds, and other metals. Protocols for the collection of samples and chemical analyses developed during earlier studies will be employed in these efforts. Integration of the individual tasks within the project is achieved by colocation of field sampling sites, and cooperative planning and execution of laboratory and mesocosm experiments.

Results from all tasks within the project are archived within a single database for use in Decision Management GIS systems and ecosystem models. This project is an integration of a number of individual but interrelated tasks that address environmental impacts in the south Florida ecosystem using geochemical approaches. The Everglades restoration program is prescribing ecosystem-wide changes to some of the physical, hydrological, and chemical components of this ecosystem.

However, it reamins uncertain what overall effects will occur as these components react to the perturbations especially of the biological and chemical components and toward what type of "new ecosystem" the Everglades will evolve. Results of these geochemical investigations will provide the critical elements for building ecosystem models and screening-level risk assessment for contaminants in the ecosystem.