14 Oct. 2011,
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EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - ERDC Environmental Laboratory (EL) researchers Drs. Igor Linkov and Richard Fischer recently led the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program project team meeting on Integrated Climate Change and Threatened Bird Population Modeling to Mitigate Operations Risks on Florida Military Installations at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
Climate change, via sea-level rise and altered weather patterns, is expected to significantly alter low-lying coastal and intertidal areas, which provide seasonal habitat for a variety of shoreline-dependent organisms, including threatened, endangered, and at-risk bird species.
Many coastal military installations in Florida have significant coastal habitat for at-risk birds, including the Piping Plover and Snowy Plover. Shoreline-dependent bird survey data for these installations strongly illustrate their seasonal importance for these birds.
Potential land use changes and human population increases, coupled with uncertain predictions for sea-level rise and storm frequency and intensity, have created a significant planning challenge for natural resource managers in coastal areas.
The project team has integrated multi-scale climate, land use, and ecosystem models to explore integrated impact on habitat and population dynamics for endangered birds, and in particular, for the Snowy Plover.
The team is now the final phase of the project, which includes assessment of management alternatives to sustain military operations at the base and how to protect endangered species.
For more in-depth information on the project's approach and benefits, read the online fact sheet, Integrated Climate Change and Threatened Bird Population Modeling to Mitigate Operations Risks on Florida Military Installations.