A review of littoral vegetation, fisheries, and wildlife responses to hydrologic variation at Lake Okeechobee

Abstract

ABSTRACT Variation in hydrologic regimes in subtropical lakes and wetlands strongly influences biodiversity and value to human users. Lake Okeechobee, Florida, has a 450-km2 littoral landscape that supports a diverse assemblage of aquatic vegetation that provides critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Water level is one of the primary factors affecting the composition of aquatic vegetation and its associated faunal assemblages at Lake Okeechobee. We summarized published literature regarding the effects of water-level variation on subtropical wetland and littoral plants, as well as the fish and other biota supported by those plant communities, with an emphasis on shallow lakes and wetlands occurring at latitudes generally similar to Lake Okeechobee. The objective of this study was to enhance the information base that supports the CERP (Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan) hydrologic performance goals for this large lake ecosystem. Our results demonstrate that high water/prolonged flooding at lake st...