Areas Of Florida Research Articles

Abstract TP5: Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Transportation Utilization For Acute Ischemic Strokes At A Community Based Hospital In South Florida

Background: Efficiency in the transfer of patients with ischemic stroke is a vital factor for patient prognosis. A comprehensive stroke center servicing remote areas in south Florida became HEMS direct-from-field capable on October 15, 2020. In some remote areas, the transfer of patients is via ground or air; the severity of the clinical presentation determines the mode. Concern about HEMS overutilization for lower stroke acuities prompted this study. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the current HEMS stroke triage process, assess the accuracy of stroke diagnosis, and use this information to improve EMS education to prevent over-triage for stroke. Methods: A retrospective cohort study from October 15, 2020, to July 31, 2021, collected HEMS adult stroke alert data and compared it to the prior year's summary ground EMS (GEMS) stroke alert data. Using HEMS transportation logs, presenting stroke symptoms and pre-hospital assessment were abstracted. In addition, we evaluated initial NIHSS, downgrade rate, stroke diagnosis percentage, treatment rate, and times. Results: The analysis included a total of 52 HEMS stroke alerts. Assessment tools utilized by HEMS included the Cincinnati stroke scale (4%) and the FAST-ED (37%); the majority of cases (59%) did not document a stroke assessment tool. The median NIHSS was 10, with 37% presenting with a score <6. Respectively, 6% and 15 % of cases were downgraded upon arrival and after CT imaging. Significantly (p<.001), more HEMS cases were diagnosed as a stroke (69%) compared to GEMS (57%). Stroke treatment rates remained similar (HEMS=23%; GEMS=23%). Median door-to-needle times were significantly faster for HEMS (15min) than GEMS (25min) (p<.05). Median door-to puncture times were significantly faster for HEMS (61mins) than GEMS (72mins) (p<.05). Conclusion: With low downgrade rates and high diagnosis accuracy, the current HEMS triage process, although not consistently documented, accurately detects stroke, even for low acuity cases. Patients arriving via HEMS receive equal access to stroke treatment with significantly faster treatment times, ensuring the best possible prognosis. EMS educational efforts should focus on improving documentation compliance.

Brackish-water desalination plant modulates ground deformation in the city of Cape Coral, Florida

The groundwater abstraction and injection cycle in coastal aquifer systems can locally change the piezometric head in aquifer system, leading to differential settlement on the ground that may compromise infrastructure safety. Furthermore, long-term, extensive groundwater extraction may cause significant damage to water resources. Ironically, Florida, a state known for its abundant water resources, has been experiencing major water supply issues in some areas that began to intensify with rapid population growth over the last five decades. As the demand for drinking water in Florida continues to rise, local authorities have turned to using brackish and saline water sources. As of 2022, more than 80% of the desalination plants in the United States are concentrated in the coastal areas of central and south Florida. Using satellite radar interferometry, we have investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of surface subsidence driven by groundwater pumping for brackish-water reverse osmosis (BWRO) desalination facilities in the City of Cape Coral, Florida. We employed Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) to process all available Sentinel 1A and 1B scenes over the region along two ascending orbits. The deformation time-series obtained from independent SAR data sets are compared spatiotemporally with the groundwater level that provides feed water to the BWRO facilities. The deformation pattern shows one main lobe of subsidence with rates of up to 25 mm/year centred around the operating wells in the north BWRO wellfield that we interpret as human-induced compaction. The spatial correlation between the subsiding area and the active production wells argues in favour of surface deformation induced by the BWRO operations. Based on the InSAR-derived displacement field and well data, we propose a model to explain the spatial heterogeneity of the subsidence process. The ground deformation is reproduced by an elastic model mimicking the reservoir compaction using planar negative closing dislocations. Modelling of the subsidence shows ∼ 0.67 Mm3 yr−1 vol loss due to compaction of the aquifer. The subsidence deformation was also used to compute the cumulative drainage area of the producing wells.

Low levels of arsenic and cadmium in rice grown in southern Florida Histosols - Impacts of water management and soil thickness

Rice is planted as a rotation crop in the sugarcane-dominant Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in southern Florida. The Histosols in this area are unlike other mineral soils used to grow rice due to the high organic content and land subsidence caused by rapid oxidation of organic matter upon drainage. It remains unknown if such soils pose a risk of arsenic (As) or cadmium (Cd) mobilization and uptake into rice grain. Both As and Cd are carcinogenic trace elements of concern in rice, and it is important to understand their soil-plant transfer into rice, a staple food of global importance. Here, a mesocosm pot study was conducted using two thicknesses of local soil, deep (D, 50 cm) and shallow (S, 25 cm), under three water managements, conventional flooding (FL), low water table (LWT), and alternating wetting and drying (AWD). Rice was grown to maturity and plant levels of As and Cd were determined. Regardless of treatments, rice grown in these Florida Histolsols has very low Cd concentrations in polished grain (1.5–5.6 μg kg−1) and relatively low total As (35–150 μg kg−1) and inorganic As (35–87 μg kg−1) concentrations in polished grain, which are below regulatory limits. This may be due to the low soil As and Cd levels, high soil cation exchange capacity due to high soil organic matter content, and slightly alkaline soil pH. Grain As was significantly affected by water management (AWD < FL = LWT) and its interaction effect with soil thickness (AWD-D ≤ AWD-S ≤ FL-D = LWT-S = LWT-D ≤ FL-S), resulting in as much as 62 % difference among treatments. Grain Cd was significantly affected by water management (AWD > FL > LWT) without any soil thickness impact. In conclusion, even though water management has more of an impact on rice As and Cd than soil thickness, the low concentrations of As and Cd in rice pose little health risk for consumers.

The Brazilian peppertree biological control agent Pseudophilothrips ichini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) displays a flexible feeding strategy between foliage and reproductive tissues

The biological control agent, Pseudophilothrips ichini, is being released for control of Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia (Anacardiaceae), an invasive weed of natural and agricultural areas of California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas (USA). The thrips larvae and adults feed on flushed leaves and stems that are produced during the vegetative season of the host. However, during the reproductive season from September to December in Florida, few flushing leaves are available as resources are shunted to plant reproduction. As field releases were being implemented, thrips were found feeding and damaging immature fruits and flowers of their host. We hypothesized that the thrips used volatile organic compounds produced by reproductive tissues to locate and feed on these tissues. When examined under laboratory choice tests, individual thrips or groups of either 20 adults or larvae, chose flushing leaves over all reproductive tissues, female flowers, male flowers, and immature fruit. However, to simulate seasons when few flushing leaves were available, additional choice tests were conducted where flushing leaves were omitted, and only reproductive tissues and a filter paper control were included. Individual thrips or groups of either 20 adults or larvae selected all reproductive tissues over controls. When presented with a choice between immature and mature fruit, thrips chose immature fruit. Thrips caused significant damage to live female flowers, male flowers, and immature fruit, and thrips survival rates were similar when fed flush leaves, female flowers, or male flowers. The thrips responses could be tied to VOC production, which significantly varied among tissue types. Volatile blends from flush leaves that include DMNT, Terpinolene, and δ-Elemene may attract P. ichini whereas those that repel them include α-Thujene, α-Pinene, β-Pinene, Camphene, and β-Phellandrene. These results suggest P. ichini has a flexible feeding strategy and exploits Brazilian peppertree reproductive tissues when few flushing tips were available. Further they suggest thrips feeding will have direct impacts on Brazilian peppertree reproduction.

Lichens as an Indicator of Sea-Level Rise

Coastal areas around the globe are threatened with sea-level rise (SLR). Many of these areas support coastal forests, and determining the threat is complicated by wind patterns and sea floor and shoreline variability, beyond simple elevational concerns. Lichens can be used as indicators of SLR at site specific locations. Developing vegetative indicators of SLR could assist land managers, municipalities, and homeowners in evaluating the risk of building homes, roads, and other structures in some locations. The absence of salt sensitive lichen species can be an indicator of SLR potential. We base this on lichen distribution patterns within two Florida state parks – one a barrier island, the other on the nearby mainland. Rapidly colonizing lichen taxa with asexual reproductive structures are poor indicators of SLR, because of their ability to quickly recolonize following storm events and other disturbances. Knowledge of lichen distribution patterns in combination with reproductive traits help facilitate the development of lichen indicator guidelines. We have learned that Coccocarpia palmicola, Dirinaria picta, and Heterodermia albicans do not appear to be salt-tolerant but have abundant asexual propagules and recolonize rapidly. Sites lacking salt sensitive lichens such as Bulbothrix laevigatula, Cryptothecia rubrocincta, Leptogium cyanescens and Parmotrema rampoddense could indicate areas that are at high risk to SLR at a fine scale. Such areas should be avoided for the construction of homes, roads, and other structures. Lichens make good indicator species and could help guide management of coastal areas in Florida and much of the U.S. southeast Coastal Plain.

Alcohol use and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors among Members of a Latino Migrant Worker Community in Central Florida

Background: Latino and Latina migrant workers constitute a vast amount of the agricultural workforce within the United States. A few studies indicate that a significant segment of the Latino migrant worker population in the United States is at high risk for alcohol abuse and related high-risk behaviors. Information about the prevalence of alcohol use and abuse and its association with high-risk sexual behaviors is needed to design effective prevention strategies in this underserved population. Aims: To assess the association between alcohol use and high-risk sexual behaviors in this population. Methods: Cross-sectional data was obtained from March 2018 through December 2019 as part of a study entitled “Project Salud: HIV Prevention among Latino Migrant Workers in Florida.” Study participants were recruited from neighborhoods and migrant camps in the Immokalee area in Central Florida by means of a stratified network-based (snowball) sampling design. Of the 782 screened participants, 671 (86%) met eligibility criteria and consented to participate in the study. Participants were grouped based on ‘‘no alcohol use” “alcohol use” and ‘‘binge drinking.” Results: More than one-third (36.2%) of the sample reported no alcohol use during the last 30 days prior to the interview. The rest of study participants reported alcohol use (28.5%) and binge drinking (35.3%). Binge drinking was more common among male participants compared to their female counterparts (41.6% vs 29.6%). Among Latino migrant workers, rates of high-risk sexual behaviors in the last 30 days were generally high and did not vary as a function of alcohol use. Among Latina migrant workers, rates of vaginal sex were high for all study participants, but this behavior did not vary as a function of alcohol use. However, binge drinking was found to be significantly associated with increase rates of anal sex and multiple sex partners. Conclusion: High-risk sexual behaviors are prevalent in the Latino migrant worker community. Among Latina migrant workers, these behaviors significantly increase among those who engage in binge drinking. Further research on the intersection of alcohol use and high-risk behaviors in the Latino migrant worker community, especially among Latina migrant workers, is necessary to develop and implement appropriate interventions.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Referral Outcomes among Diverse Rural Residents

AbstractBackgroundThis study to increase dementia detection in rural settings was conducted in a medically underserved area of southcentral Florida referred to as “the Glades.” Residents face multiple disparities related to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including less than a 60% high school graduation rate, diabetes and hypertension as the primary health diagnosis, and increased exposure to ambient air particles from sugar cane burning.MethodLocations for testing included eight churches and a virtual “location,” for a total of ten sites. Individuals (N = 217) were cluster sampled within these sites. Participants were administered a brief educational intervention and brain health was screened using Nasreddine’s telephone “Mini‐MoCA” (2019), in which a score &lt; 12 indicates cognitive risk. Referrals were determined for 133 participants.ResultsThe sample consisted of 59 virtual and 74 in‐person participants, with a range of 1 to 14 participants per church. Seventy percent were female, 57% lived alone, 13% had a previous memory test, and less than 1% had been previously diagnosed with dementia. The sample consisted primarily of four ethnicities, n = 44 (33%) African Americans, n = 21 (16%) Afro‐Caribbeans, n = 19 (14%) Hispanics, and n = 45 (34%) Whites.There was substantial variance in outcomes across sites, with an ICC = .179 (n = 133), indicating that 17.9% of the variance in referrals was between sites. Therefore, a mixed linear model approach was used for analysis with participants nested within sites (Feaster et al., 2011) The covariate of whether they had a previous memory test was not statistically significant and only reduced the ICC by .002. Neither gender, nor whether the person lived alone were statistically significant predictors of referrals, (p &gt; .05), however adding ethnic group reduced the ICC to .102, a 47% reduction in intercept variance (N = 131). In particular, African American participants were significantly more likely to have referrals than White participants, g20 = 1.29, p&lt;.001, OR = 3.66. Hispanic and Afro‐Caribbean participants were not significantly more likely to have referrals than White participants, p = .52 and p = .06 respectively.ConclusionFurther investigation is needed to determine place‐based factors that uniquely increase risk for African Americans in an 89% racially/ethnically diverse community.

Fresh Water Use in Florida: Trends and Drivers

Water quality and quantity are critical issues as the Florida’s population grows. This paper analyzed water use regionally (central, north, and south Florida) as well as in rural and urban areas in Florida from 2005 to 2015 using three indicators (total water use, agriculture water use, and per capita water use). Eight (8) water-consuming categories, such as aquaculture, livestock, irrigation, public supply, thermoelectric power, mining, industrial self-supply, and domestic self-supply, were considered for total water use. Per capita water use used public supply category and agricultural water use used aquaculture, livestock, and irrigation categories. Linear regression analysis was used to observe the relationship between population and water use. The highest water use was recorded in south Florida, while the lowest was in north Florida. Water use per capita was higher in urban areas. Irrigation water use was higher among the eight water use categories. Many drivers influencing Florida water use were identified through literature review and causal loop diagram was developed. Some (e.g., household size, land use/land cover change, urbanization, agriculture, population, income, climate change, tourism, and industry) may cause an increase in water use, while others (e.g., pricing systems, conservation methods, education, and technology) may cause a decrease in water use. Overall, this research addresses the need of understanding water use trends and the drivers affecting those trends, which are important to determine whether a water conservation plan is needed.

Connecting Future Environmental Trends and Assessments of Fish and Wildlife Resources of Concern: A Case Study of Big Pine Key, Florida

Changes in hydrologic and climatic trends will influence the ecology of Florida, and climate scenarios agree that many areas of Florida are susceptible to sea-level rise impacts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Climate Change Action Program focuses on a framework to examine climate change effects on fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats of all three. To follow the program, this study examines how to incorporate current scientific knowledge about regional climate projections in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service analyses. It provides climate change and sea-level rise projections based on 2017 projections, information on changes in tropical cyclones, temperatures, and precipitation. This study also examines future effects of sea-level rise on existing habitat from saltwater intrusion of the freshwater lens below Big Pine Key. Projections of future sea-water elevations will periodically be reached or exceeded well before 2040 from short-term, stochastic, and extreme events (e.g., king tides and storm surge), and will increasingly inundate the root zone before complete saltwater intrusion. Future trends were connected to 2017 stakeholder-driven conversations about adaptation strategies to develop a suite of actions for creating temporary or permanent freshwater resources. However, beyond 3 ft (0.9 m) of sea-level rise, there are few adaptation options available for the Florida Key deer beyond relocations outside of the Florida Keys. Overall, the approach of connecting future environmental trends to assessments of fish and wildlife resources of concern can be transferred to other situations. Additionally, this approach can be used to update these analyses, such as with the recent 2022 sea-level rise updates by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, released after this work was conducted.

Effect of Dry and Flooded Rice as Cover Crops on Soil Health and Microbial Community on Histosols

Soil loss due to subsidence is a major concern in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) of South Florida. Summer is typically the fallow season in the EAA, and soil loss due to oxidation and erosion is significant. Flooding and cover cropping are common practices being adopted to conserve soil, reduce weed pressure, and enhance soil health in the EAA. Cover crops also increase the microbial biomass which are the key drivers of soil function. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of (i) fallow, (ii) dry rice as a cover crop, (iii) flooded fallow, and (iv) flooded rice as a cover crop on soil health indicators and microbial community and diversity within the EAA. Baseline (pre-planting) soil samples were collected from all fields before the application of different treatments and post-harvest soil samples were collected after rice was cut and tilled into the soil surface. Microbial community composition was determined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon and fungal ITS gene amplicon sequencing. Soil bulk density decreased, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased in all farming practices including fallow fields. Results showed flooded fallow, flooded rice, and rice planting increased maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) and soil protein and decreased total potassium (TK). Bulk soil microbial communities responded surprisingly quickly to the applied treatments. Taxonomic composition of prokaryotic and fungal communities at the phylum level revealed visible shifts in microbial communities in response to the treatments. Instead of leaving field fallow, planting rice or flooding is a better strategy to improve soil health.

Natural History and Spread of Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia; Anacardiaceae) in Florida and Its Role in Range Expansion by Tetyra antillarum Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi), a native South American tree, has invaded disturbed sites and natural areas in peninsular Florida. We report Brazilian peppertree as a new host for a little-known heteropteran, the Neotropical scutellerid, Tetyra antillarum (Kirkaldy), whose U.S. distribution is restricted to Florida. In 2016 to 2019 and 2021, we collected a total of 10 nymphs (all instars except IV) and 56 adults by beating fruit-laden branches in mid-February, early March, and early April. Multiple introductions of Brazilian peppertree in south Florida and eventual intraspecific hybridization of two haplotypes (Miami area and Gulf Coast) created genotypes more suited to Florida's climate, which fueled aggressive northward expansion in the peninsula. We review the history of Brazilian peppertree's planting in Florida and its northward expansion in the interior of the peninsula. As a corollary, we propose that Brazilian peppertree's northern spread in the peninsula triggered subsequent range expansion by T. antillarum. Our supposition is based on fruit of the novel host being available in fall and winter when fruits of most other woody plants are lacking, coupled with absence of the bug's other known host, gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba [L.] Sarg.); this tropical tree is not hardy in the Lake Wales Ridge where T. antillarum was most numerous. First collected at Key West in 1887, the scutellerid now is known from the peninsula's northeasternmost county, Nassau, which borders on Georgia. We present new records of T. antillarum from Florida and countries in Central America and the West Indies, and new state records for Mexico. Certain U.S records of T. antillarum posted on the internet are referred to T. bipunctata (Herrich-Schaeffer).

Open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management.

Removal sampling data are the primary source of monitoring information for many populations (e.g., invasive species, fisheries). Population dynamics, temporary emigration, and imperfect detection are common sources of variation in monitoring data and are key parameters for informing management. We developed two open robust‐design removal models for simultaneously modeling population dynamics, temporary emigration, and imperfect detection: a random walk linear trend model (estimable without ancillary information), and a 2‐age class informed population model (InfoPM, closely related to integrated population models) that incorporated prior information for age‐structured vital rates and relative juvenile availability. We applied both models to multiyear, removal trapping time‐series of a large invasive lizard (Argentine black and white tegu, Salvator merianae) in three management areas of South Florida to evaluate the effectiveness of management programs. Although estimates of the two models were similar, the InfoPMs generally returned more precise estimates, partitioned dynamics into births, deaths, net migration, and provided a decision support tool to predict population dynamics under different effort scenarios while accounting for uncertainty. Trends in tegu superpopulation abundance estimates were increasing in two management areas despite generally high removal rates. However, tegu abundance appeared to decline in the Core management area, where trapping density was the highest and immigration the lowest. Finally, comparing abundance predictions of no‐removal scenarios to those estimated in each management area suggested significant population reductions due to management. These results suggest that local tegu population control via systematic trapping may be feasible with high enough trap density and limited immigration; and highlights the value of these trapping programs. We provided the first estimates of tegu abundance, capture probabilities, and population dynamics, which is critical for effective management. Furthermore, our models are applicable to a wide range of monitoring programs (e.g., carcass recovery or removal point‐counts).

Too Much Freshwater, Not Enough, or Just Right? Long-Term Trawl Monitoring Demonstrates the Impact of Canals that Altered Freshwater Flow to Three Bays in SW Florida

Understanding the impact of anthropogenically altering freshwater flow to estuaries is a growing information need for coastal managers. Due to differences in watershed development, drainage canals, and water control structures, the Ten Thousand Islands area of southwest Florida provides an ecosystem-scale opportunity to investigate the influence of both more, and less, freshwater flow to coastal bays compared to locations with more natural hydrology. Bottom trawl and water quality data spanning 20 years were used to investigate how environmental and hydrological differences among three bays affect community structure of small estuarine fishes. Relationships between fish community structure and salinity and temperature variables were evaluated over timescales from 1 day to 3 months prior to each trawl. Longer-term aspects of temperature (i.e., 2–3 months) exhibited the highest correlations in all bays, suggesting that spawning cycles are the main cause of seasonal changes in fish communities, rather than differences in freshwater flow. Despite major contrasts in watershed manipulation and the seasonal salinity of one bay being much less than the others, the bays differed primarily based on relative abundances of more common species rather than due to unique suites of species being present. Truly freshwater conditions were never detected, and high salinity conditions were experienced in all bays during dry seasons. This likely prevents a community shift to freshwater species. The range in flow characteristics among bays and general similarity in fish communities suggest that conditions will remain within the tolerance of most fishes in all three bays following restoration to more saline conditions.

Late Holocene interaction of natural processes and human activity at two archaeological sites in the Ten Thousand Islands area of southwest Florida, USA

AbstractPalaeoenvironmental analysis of Late Holocene stratigraphic sequences recovered from two southwest Florida archaeological sites reveal a synchronous evolution of events caused by natural processes (e.g. sea‐level rise) and human activity (e.g. construction of shell works). Basal mangrove peats indicate that a transition from a terrestrial to coastal landscape started ~4000 cal bp in conjunction with the Late Holocene sea‐level rise. Continued sea‐level rise ultimately submerged the area to create estuarine conditions. Commensurate with submergence was the construction of relatively large (0.5 to 1.0 km2) shell mounds from 1500 to 1050 cal bp. These activities started in the estuarine environment and over time produced emergent landscape features with significant local relief (&gt;7 m). The overlap in radiocarbon ages of oysters collected from the estuarine interval and the overlying shell mounds suggests construction material was locally harvested. About 1120 cal bp and during the waning of an indigenous presence in the area, red mangrove forests re‐emerged along the margins of each site and within the adjacent estuary to create an expansive mangrove‐dominated landscape within which both shell works are now embedded. This palaeoenvironmental reconstruction contradicts the prevailing notion that the two sites were purposely constructed on the mainland and adjacent to tidally influenced rivulets.

Perceptions of School Life and Academic Success of Adolescents With Asthma

Adolescents spend approximately one-third of their day at school. With the growing prevalence of adolescent asthma, 1 in every 10 adolescents copes with asthma throughout the day, including in the school environment. Yet, little is known about the school experiences of adolescent students with asthma. Guided by the social-ecological model, this study aimed to explore the links between asthma and school experiences in middle and high school as perceived by students with asthma. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 adolescents with asthma aged 12 to 17 who attended middle or high school around the mid-west area of Florida. Students shared insights on their school experiences and academic performance. Data were analyzed and interpreted using thematic analysis. Four overarching and intertwined themes shaped the school experiences of students with asthma: 1. Asthma control and management; 2. Social support; 3. Asthma knowledge and awareness; and 4. Accommodation of health and academic needs. Study findings suggest addressing the school disparities of adolescent students with asthma through a comprehensive, multi-level approach. Schools should create asthma education opportunities, improve the school system and environmental accommodations, enhance asthma control, and increase continuous social support by peers and school personnel.

A new approach to evaluate the risk of bark beetle outbreaks using multi-step machine learning methods

Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) alter forest ecosystem functioning through tree mortality, thus causing billions of dollars in economic and ecological damages worldwide. Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann is considered one of the most significant insect pest species of pine (Pinus spp.) trees in the United States (U.S.), Central America, and Mexico. To manage this threat, research has sought to predict and forecast outbreaks and identify high risk areas to focus on preventative management and reduce economic losses. Prior work has focused on using environmental predictors, but limitations have arisen regarding data availability and structure. Our research objective was to improve on current D. frontalis outbreak prediction models using contemporary modeling techniques. Beetle outbreak data were obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA-FS) and were paired with three spatial–temporal beetle outbreak dynamics from the prior year, fifteen climate variables (DAYMET and WORLDCLIM) (temperature, radiation, wind, and water resources), two terrain attributes (NASA) (elevation and compound topographic index), and four vegetation indices [Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)] [maximum and mean normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)] as predictive features. Extreme gradient boosting was used to create two separate models that predicted the probability and magnitude of beetle outbreaks, which were used to create interpolated prediction maps for the southeastern U.S. The interpolated maps were combined to estimate outbreak risk (i.e., risk = probability of outbreak × magnitude of outbreak). Overall model accuracy was 87.7% when tested on an independent dataset. Distance to prior year outbreak and mean NDVI were the most important features when predicting the probability of outbreak, while summer maximum temperature, distance to prior year outbreak, and winter minimum temperature were the highest weighted features when predicting the magnitude. Results indicated that most of the southeastern U.S. was at low risk (<0.0001% damage per hectare) for the years 2008–2020. Risk was highest for 2012, 2016, and 2017. A few areas in Alabama, Georgia, northern Florida, and South Carolina contained stands at higher risk for damage (>0.01% per hectare) and some locations were at risk for >90% damage per hectare. Extreme gradient boosting paired with outbreak probability and magnitude performed well and is proposed as a solution for future bark beetle prediction and forecasting for more timely management strategies. The inclusion of climatic variables in outbreak models allows for forecasting the effects of future climate change on pine pest populations globally.

Preemergence and postemergence spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus) and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) control in lettuce on organic soils

AbstractSuccessful weed management, particularly use of chemical control, is very important for commercial lettuce production on organic soils in the Everglades Agricultural Area in south Florida. Field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 to determine the efficacy of herbicides (pronamide, bensulide, imazethapyr, or oxyfluorfen) applied preemergence (PRE) either alone or followed by a postemergence (POST) application of imazethapyr for weed control and lettuce (romaine and iceberg) yield. Preemergence-applied oxyfluorfen (0.56 kg ha−1) resulted in significant lettuce injury, including stand loss, while PRE applications of pronamide (4.44 kg ha−1), bensulide (5.6 and 10.1 kg ha−1), or imazethapyr (0.035 g ha−1) resulted in transient lettuce injury and no significant stand loss. Similarly, PRE-applied pronamide, bensulide, and imazethapyr followed by POST-applied imazethapyr did not result in significant lettuce stand loss or injury. When contrasted as a group, PRE-applied herbicides followed by a POST application of imazethapyr provided better spiny amaranth and common lambsquarters control compared with PRE-applied herbicides or POST-applied imazethapyr-only treatments. Lettuce yield was highest with PRE herbicides followed by POST imazethapyr compared with PRE herbicides or POST-applied imazethapyr-only treatments, indicating a yield benefit of having a PRE followed by POST herbicide weed control program in lettuce grown on organic soils. However, oxyfluorfen is not an option for lettuce on organic soils because of unacceptable stand reduction and crop injury. Whether to apply pronamide, bensulide, or imazethapyr PRE followed by a POST application of imazethapyr for broadleaf weed control in lettuce on organic soils depends on the species present, cost, and ease of application.

Field evaluation of Solenopsis invicta virus 3 against its host Solenopsis invicta

Viruses have been used successfully as biocontrol agents against several insect pests but not ants. Laboratory tests have shown that Solenopsis invicta virus 3 (SINV-3) may be an effective natural control agent against its host, the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren). In this field trial, SINV-3 was released into 12 active S. invicta nests within a 0.088-hectare area in Florida and the impact on the ants monitored. SINV-3 was successfully transmitted, established, and multiplied within treated colonies reaching a maximum mean value of 8.71 × 108 ± 8.26 × 108 SINV-3 genome equivalents/worker ant 77 days after inoculation. SINV-3 was not detected in any of the nests in the control group. A 7-fold decrease in nests was observed in the SINV-3-treated group compared with the untreated control. A correspondingly significant decrease in S. invicta nest size also was observed over the course of the evaluation. Based on the nest rating scale, nest size among those treated with SINV-3 decreased from 3.92 ± 1.24 on day 0 to 1.67 ± 2.06 on day 77, which represents a 57.4% decrease in size. Conversely, the nest rating for the control group increased 9.3%, from 4.42 ± 1.24 on day 0 to 4.83 ± 2.12 on day 77. A follow-up survey of SINV-3-treated and -untreated plots conducted 9 months after initial treatment revealed that fire ant populations rebounded, but at a different rate. A total of 11 and 19 nests were detected in the SINV-3-treated and -untreated areas, respectively. SINV-3 was still detected in the treated area 1.8 years after the initial virus treatment and the virus had spread into the adjacent control plot. Results demonstrate that SINV-3 is an effective natural control agent against the invasive ant, S. invicta; the virus causes no known detrimental ecological impacts, is host specific, and sustained in the environment.

Long-term evaluation of male Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) reproductive parameters following genetic introgression

Abstract In 1995, eight female pumas from Texas (Puma concolor stanleyana) were introduced into five areas in South Florida to remediate morphological and biomedical correlates of inbreeding depression that threatened the long-term survival of Florida panthers (P. c. coryi). Initial analysis of the results of this genetic introgression initiative has highlighted its success, including growth of the population, increased genetic heterozygosity, and reduced frequencies of physical traits associated with inbreeding, including cryptorchidism. However, panthers remain isolated from other puma populations and natural gene flow is not currently plausible. Using data collected from 65 panthers in the post-genetic introgression era (1998–2020), we assessed the benefits accrued to male panther reproductive parameters via this management initiative, the effect of genetic variables, and compared results to historic data. Microsatellite data were used to determine individual heterozygosity levels and qualify panther genetic ancestry as admixed (i.e., panthers descended from crosses with female Texas puma) or canonical (i.e., panthers that comprised most of the population prior to genetic introgression). A total of 47 admixed and 10 canonical panthers were identified; mean individual heterozygosity of canonical panthers (0.39) was significantly different from admixed panthers (0.63; t54 = 4.7, P-value &amp;lt; 0.001). Admixed panthers exhibited higher mean values for total testicular volume, structurally normal spermatozoa, and total sperm in comparison to canonical panthers. The progressive improvement of sperm metrics demonstrates that the benefits of genetic introgression continue to have a positive impact on the population &amp;gt;25 years since the release of the Texas pumas. However, the Florida panther population remains small, isolated, and vulnerable to deterministic and stochastic events that warrants continued monitoring to assess when additional genetic introgression initiatives will need to be implemented in the future.

Interpreting the Trends of Extreme Precipitation in Florida through Pressure Change

Precipitation is one of the many important natural factors impacting agriculture and natural resource management. Although statistics have been applied to investigate the non-stationary trend and the unpredictable variances of precipitation under climate change, existing methods usually lack a sound physical basis that can be generally applied in any location and at any time for future extrapolation, especially in tropical areas. Physically, the formation of precipitation is a result of ascending air which reduces air pressure and condenses moisture into drops, either by irregular terrain or atmospheric phenomena (e.g., via frontal lifting). Thus, in this paper, pressure change events (PCEs) will be used as a physical indicator of the stability of atmospheric systems to reveal the impact of temperature on precipitation in the tropical areas of Florida. By using data from both national and regional weather observation networks, this study segments the continuous observation series into PCE sequences for further analysis divided by dry and wet seasons. The results reveal that the frequency and intensity of PCE are highly associated with the occurrences of weather events. Decreasing pressure favors precipitation, and may turn extreme when the temperature and air moisture are sufficient to fuel the process. With similar intensity, decreasing pressure change events (DePCEs) generally bear a higher probability of precipitation (POP) and precipitation depth (PD) than increasing pressure change events (InPCEs). The frequency of alternating between InPCEs and DePCEs is subject to the temperature of the season and climate. Due to the seasonal fluctuations of weather characteristics, such as temperature and relative humidity, the dependence of extreme precipitation on these characteristics can be interpreted via PCE. A 7% increase rate of precipitation vs. temperature rise, determined by the Clausius—Clapeyron (C—C) relationship, can be observed from extreme precipitation with variances in the season and PCE types. Although indicated by other research, active vertical movement of air caused by a phase change in water at the frozen point is not pronounced in Florida. The response patterns of humidity to precipitation also vary by season and PCE types in extreme conditions. In summary, PCEs demonstrate reliable physical evidence of precipitation formation and can better associate the occurrence and intensity of extreme weather with other characteristics. In turn, such associations embody the underlying physical concepts present at any location in the world.