Category: Environment

Watersheds of Florida: Understanding a Watershed Approach to Water Management (SL367/SS568)

Figure 1. Graphical illustration of a watershed.Water is of primary importance to all life on earth. Freshwater is a finite resource, and managing freshwater requires an understanding of watersheds and a watershed approach. Both quantity and quality of water are important for balanced beneficial and efficient agricultural, industrial, rural, and urban uses. This 7-page fact sheet provides information on watersheds and introduces the watershed approach and management concept as practiced in the U.S., with a focus on Florida watersheds in particular. This document also provides information on the basins, basin groups, and hydrologic units of Florida used by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to implement watershed assessment, monitoring, and restoration programs. Written by Rao Mylavarapu, Kelley Hines, Thomas Obreza, and Greg Means, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss568

Well Installation Procedures for Agricultural Irrigation in Miami-Dade County (AE489)

Figure 1. Screenshot from the SFWMD website for ePermitting of the online application for Water Use Permits.Water wells or groundwater wells are the main source of irrigation water for agriculture in Miami-Dade County. Depending on the purpose and characteristics of the well, different permits are required for installing the well and pumping water from the well. The information provided in this 4-page fact sheet is based on current rules, contacts, and prices as of March 2012 for Miami-Dade County. Written by Kati W. Migliaccio, E. Vanessa Campoverde, and Ann Marie Superchi, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, June 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae489

Agricultural Management Options for Climate Variability and Change: Variable-Rate Irrigation (AE490)

Figure 1. Example of management zones in an irrigated field having substantial variability in soil properties and planted areas. Colored zones indicate areas where irrigation is reduced or eliminated.Most fields are not uniform because of natural variations in soil type or topography. When water is applied uniformly to a field, some areas of the field may be overwatered while other areas may remain too dry. Variable-rate irrigation technology gives farmers an automated method to vary rates of irrigation water based on the individual management zones within a field and avoid irrigating roadways, waterways, wetlands, and other non-farmed areas within a pivot. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Calvin Perry, Clyde Fraisse, and Daniel Dourte, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae490

Ehrlichia y Anaplasma en Florida (ENY662S/IN422)

Figure 1. Vectores de Ehrlichia en Florida.Ehrlichia y Anaplasma son géneros bacterianos emparentados que causan enfermedades en humanos y en animales domésticos. A las enfermedades se les llama generalmente erliquiosis (ehrlichiosis) o anaplasmosis, pero existen varias especies de bacteria que causan diferentes síntomas y pueden tener diferentes vectores. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Jorge R. Rey, Cynthia C. Lord, y Roxanne Rutledge Connelly, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in422

Common Aquatic Plants of Lake Okeechobee: Identification, Value, and Management (SSAGR362/AG371)

Figure 2. Broadleaf arrowhead.Aquatic and wetland plants are essential to the ecology of Florida lakes, such as Lake Okeechobee, but they can also pose ecological and water use problems. This 16-page fact sheet provides information about the plants of Lake Okeechobee and outlines the importance of certain plants to the lake, problems caused by some plants, and the methods used to manage plants for the benefit of the entire lake environment. Written by K.A. Langeland and C.C. Jacono, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag371

Tawny Emperor butterfly Asterocampa clyton (Boisduval & LeConte) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Apaturinae) (EENY528/IN933)

Figure 4. An adult male tawny emperor, Asterocampa clyton (Boisduval & Leconte), with wings open. The tawny emperor is a medium sized, non-descript butterfly that is common in riparian forests, but is also found in dry woods and suburbs. Larvae that develop in fall overwinter in small groups in a hibernaculum constructed by tying leaves together with silk so it stays on the tree throughout the winter. This 8-page fact sheet was written by Donald W. Hall, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in933

Bean Plataspid: Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae) (EENY527/IN939)

Figure 2. Adult bean plataspids, Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius), on a building in Georgia, USA. Notice the enlarged, truncated scutellum covering the wings.Also known as the kudzu bug, lablab bug, and globular stink bug, the bean plantaspid is native to Asia, where it is not an agricultural pest. But in the U. S., it is reported as a pest of soybean in Georgia and South Carolina. Adults from established populations overwinter on light colored structures, in leaf litter, and underneath the bark of trees. Also, like stink bugs, adults tend to excrete an odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed. The defense chemical these insects secrete may stain the surface of the house, building or vehicle where aggregation occurs. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Ashley Poplin and Amanda Hodges, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in939

Florida’s Seepage Slope Wetlands (WEC322/UW367)

Figure 1. Flowering yellow trumpet pitcherplants in a seepage slope located in Blackwater River State Forest in the western Florida Panhandle.Florida is home to one of North America’s most unique and diverse ecosystems, the seepage slope. Unusual hydrology and frequent fires combine to create an environment that supports a variety of carnivorous and other sun-loving herbaceous plants. This 5-page fact sheet discusses the natural history and conservation concerns associated with seepage slope wetlands. Written by Megan E. Brown and Debbie L. Miller, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, June 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw367

The Invasion of Exotic Reptiles and Amphibians in Florida (WEC320/UW365)

Figure 1. Argentine black and white teguFlorida has more introduced species of reptiles and amphibians living and breeding in the wild than anywhere else in the world. This 6-page fact sheet summarizes findings from three recent scientific papers describing who these invaders are, their potential ecological impacts, and recommendations for their management and control. Written by Frank J. Mazzotti and Rebecca G. Harvey, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, May 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw365

Lessons Learned from Evaluations of Citizen Science Programs (FOR291/FR359)

Figure 1. Citizen scientist volunteers assist in the installation of groundwater monitoring wells. Extension agents with an interest in increasing the scientific and environmental awareness of their constituents may find an answer through a form of participatory scientific research known as citizen science. Citizen science uses volunteers of all ages, professions, backgrounds, and skills — often across broad geographic areas — to engage non-scientists in a variety of tasks, but most commonly data collection. This 5-page fact sheet informs potential citizen science practitioners of recent evaluations of citizen science programs. Looking closely at identifying appropriate tasks for volunteers, assessing data validity, and evaluating changes in volunteers’ knowledge and attitudes can help organizers avoid common pitfalls and develop citizen science programs most likely to succeed. Written by Luke Gommerman and Martha C. Monroe, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, May 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr359

Laws that Protect Florida’s Wildlife (WEC48/UW076)

alligator lurking in grassEndangered species are not the only wildlife protected by the legal system. All of Florida’s wildlife is more or less safeguarded by a variety of laws. Laws addressing wildlife can be found at the federal, state, regional, and local levels of government. Wildlife protection may also take the form of conventions, treaties, and executive orders. All are subject to periodic change. For example, legislators can alter or delete laws every year. This 5-page fact sheet summarizes federal laws and state statutes and rules. Written by Joe Schaefer, John Tucker, and Maia McGuire, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw076

Landscape Diversity: Florida Phosphate Mine Pit Lakes (SL364/SS565)

Figure 2. Phosphate mine pit lake during reclamation. This 8-page fact sheet contains a synopsis of findings obtained through research, contrasted with limnological studies of natural lakes in central Florida. Written by M. Wilson and E.A. Hanlon, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, May 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss565

Small-Scale Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems: Principles and Regulatory Framework (SL365/SS566)

Figure 1. Schematic of constructed wetland at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.Natural systems use the natural processes of wetland ecosystems to both transform and hold on to many of the common pollutants that occur in household wastewater. This 8-page fact sheet briefly describes the principles and added benefits of natural systems. It then focuses on their use for treating small municipal wastewater flows from commercial and residential sites (i.e., septic systems or decentralized wastewater systems). Written by Kiara Winans, Shanin Speas-Frost, Mike Jerauld, Mark Clark, and Gurpal Toor, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, May 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss566

Manual de los Reglamentos del Agua en Florida

sunset over water in Everglades National Park.Este manual está diseñado para proporcionar un resumen exacto, actual y autorizado, de las principales leyes Federales y de Florida que están directa o indirectamente relacionadas con la agricultura.
This series of 37 brief fact sheets is the Spanish language version of the Handbook of Florida Water Regulation. Published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, May 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_spa_manual_de_los_reglamentos_del_agua_de_florida

A Mosquito Culex (Melanoconion) pilosus (Dyar and Knab) (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae) (EENY521/IN930)

Figure 2. Adult female Culex (Melanoconion) pilosus, a mosquito. This small, dark mosquito tends to feed on reptiles and amphibians. It is found in the southeastern United States and many countries in Central America and South America. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Diana Vork and C. Roxanne Connelly, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, April 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in930

¿Qué te está picando? (ENY2015S/IN927)

¿Qué te está picando?Pulgas, piojos, chinches, o garrapatas? Ponle atención a tu insecto para que sepas lo que es. This poster was written by E. E. Harlow, C. A. McNeill, R. W. Baldwin, R. M. Pereira, P. G. Koehler, and J. C. Medley, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, April 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in927

Sorting out the Florida Sabal Palms (FOR289/FR357)

Figure 3. Sabal etonia, scrub palmetto, at Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA While traveling through the Florida peninsula, a casual observer will notice a wide variety of palms and find that many are called “palmetto.” This 4-page fact sheet helps field investigators identify the four Sabal species found in Florida's natural areas, first by distinguishing them from other fan palms and then from each other. Written by David A. Fox and Michael G. Andreu, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr357

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (FOR288/FR356)

Figure 1. GIS data layers Image courtesy of Malahide, OntarioA GIS can be used in land management to document existing conditions, plan future operations, and archive completed work. Farming applications include soil productivity for different crops, crop yield prediction, and determining fertilizer and pesticide application rates. Forestry applications include estimating forest stand acreage, determining forest stand characteristics, and determining where to harvest. This 4-page fact sheet was written by John Lagrosa, Chris Demers, and Michael Andreu, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr356

Conservation Subdivision: Construction Phase: Low Impact Development (LID) and Stormwater Treatment (WEC319/UW364)

Figure 2. A bioretention area at SW Recreation Center, University of FloridaBecause so much area in subdivisions is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and driveways, stormwater runoff must be accounted for and treated to prevent flooding and to remove contaminates. Often, stormwater runoff impacts surrounding landscapes and water bodies due to nutrient loading. In this 7-page fact sheet, we discuss the importance of using a more distributed stormwater treatment system that treats runoff closer to the source. Often called Low Impact Development (LID), this stormwater management approach is being used to more effectively remove pollutants from runoff. Written by Daniel Penniman, Mark Hostetler, and Glenn Acomb, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw364

Ehrlichia and Anaplasma in Florida (ENY662/IN191)

Figure 1. Ehrlichia vectors in FloridaEhrlichia and Anaplasma are related bacterial genera containing species that can cause disease in both humans and domestic animals. The diseases are often referred to simply as ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis, but there are multiple species of bacteria that can cause different disease symptoms and have different vectors. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Cynthia C. Lord and C. Roxanne Rutledge Connelly, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in191