Predicting the locations of new biological invasions has become a high priority for biologists as well as trying to predict if newly introduced species will become damaging to native ecosystems. Reefs of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida have been highly disturbed in recent years resulting in dead reefs (piles of dead, disarticulated shells) some of which have been restored. I conducted oyster reef surveys for non-native invertebrates to determine if disturbance on these oyster reefs might assist invasion by two species, Mytella charruana and Perna viridis, recently introduced to the southeastern coast of the United States. Next, I investigated if M. charruana's temperature and aerial exposure tolerance limits may allow for it to establish permanently on intertidal oyster reefs. Temperature and aerial exposure tolerance experiments were conducted and oyster reef temperatures were collected. Oyster reef surveys could not predict if reef disturbance is assisting in the invasion process because only two non-native individuals (P.viridis) were found, one on a restored reef and one on a natural (reference) reef. Tolerance experiments showed that some Mytella charruana survived even after 7 days of 8??C temperatures if the mussels are exposed to air for 4 hours or less per day. Mytella charruana had near 0% survival after 4 hours of 44??C. However, only disturbed reefs reached this temperature in the field. It is likely that M. charruana could survive in the low intertidal zone on restored or reference reefs. This information is important for understanding the introduction of M. charruana in Mosquito Lagoon and also provides a data set of temperature tolerances for better understanding of whether the species might be able to invade other areas.

ABSTRACT This summarizes a study conducted on the Archie Carr (ACNWR) and Pelican Island (PINWR) National Wildlife Refuges located on the barrier island complex of southern Brevard and northern Indian River counties, Florida. Major objectives of this study were designed to 1) survey the mammals of the ACNWR and PINWR, 2) perform a small mammal population demographic study in coastal scrub and maritime hammock habitats, and 3) document a population monitoring project of Peromyscus po/ionotus niveiventris in northern Indian River County at Treasure Shores Park, within ACNWR Segment 4. A total of7,279 trap nights was compiled during the survey portion of this research: 5,136 on ACNWR and 2,514 on PINWR yielding a combined total of 1,152 captures of 10 species of nonvo lant mammals. Seventeen species of mammals were documented through live trapping, observations, and recorded as road kills. Three species represent additions to the list of mammals once found in the study area, having not been documented in the historical literature. Two are exotic or introduced mammals (Dasypus novemcinctus and Rattus rattus) and one is the native carnivore Lontra canadensis. Seven species of rodents were recorded historically, only five were documented during this study. Two native rodents, Neofiber al/eni and Oryzomys palustris, were not captured while another native species, P. polionotus niveiventris, has dra1natically declined. Capture success ,vas highest on ACN\VR in xeric ha1runock habitat (28.3%) and lovvest in dune habitat (5.9%). On PINWR~ capture success \Vas highest in marititne hanunock habitat ( 14. 7%) and lo\vest in salt marsh/i1npoundment habitat (2.2%). Peromyscus gossypinus was the most abundant mammal, accounting for 55% (481/875) of all captures on ACNWR and 78.7% (218/277) of all captures on PINWR. The second most abundant matnmal was Sigmodon hispidus, accounting for 39.8% (348/875) of all captures on ACNWR and 7.6% (21/277) of all captures on PINWR. Species richness was highest on ACNWR and PINWR in maritime hammock habitat and lowest in salt marsh/impound1nent habitat on both refuges. Five species of native rodents were captured while one species of exotic or non-native rodent was documented through live trapping. Native rodents were distributed in all habitats (eight)~ vvhereas the non-native R. rattus was captured in three of these habitats. Six small 1na1nmals were captured 322 titnes after compiling 5,631 trap nights on three trap grids in two habitats of ACNWR and PINWR. Two s1nall ma1nmals, P. gossypinus and S. hispidus, were the 1nost frequently encountered species. The number of individual P. gossypinus and S. hispidus captured per 100 trap nights and densities varied on the three grids. Density estimates of P. gossypinus ranged from 4.4 to 20.9 individuals/ha in coastal scrub and from 22 to 50 individuals/ha in maritime hammock. Densities of S. hispidus ranged from 0.9 to 15.1/ha on two grids in coastal scrub. Survival rates of P. gossypinus and S. hispidus did not differ significantly among seasons. Weight of adult male P. gossypinus fluctuated seasonally in both coastal scrub and 1naritime hammock habitat. Lowest weights were observed in coastal scrub during spring 1998 while heaviest weights were observed during summer 1998. Adult male P. gossypinus in maritime hammock were heaviest during winter 1999 and lowest during summer 1998. Adult body weights of male S. hispidus varied significantly among seasons. Sex ratios of P. gossypinus were dominated by males on all three grids while sex ratios of S. hispidus in coastal scrub habitat were close to unity. Seasonal reproductive activity of P. gossypinus in coastal scrub habitat was highest during fall 1998 and winter 1999 while reproduction was confined to the fall and winter months in maritime hammock. Greatest seasonal reproductive activity of S. hispidus was exhibited during summer and fall 1998. The age structure of both P. gossypinus and S. hispidus on all three grids was largely dominated by adults. In a total trapping effort of 5,505 trap nights conducted from November 1996 to January 1999 at Treasure Shores Park, 54 captures of28 individual P. polionotus niveiventris were recorded. The number of new individuals captured ranged from a low of two to a high of 13. Recaptures outnumbered new individuals during summer 1997 and winter 1998 however, by spring 1998, recaptures composed 100% ofthe overall captures. Estimates of population size using the Lincoln-Petersen estimator ranged from a low of two to a high of 18 individuals. After three trapping sessions resulted in no captures, further trapping efforts were suspended and it became evident that the Treasure Shores Park population of P. polionotus niveiventris has experienced a tremendous decline. Three individuals were then discovered in oldfield habitat west of SRAlA, opposite the Treasure Shores Park study site. The primary threat to this subspecies' existence in the northern Indian River County portion of ACNWR is habitat loss resulting fro1n the destruction of the pri1nar) dunes b) coastal erosion caused by the jett~ at Sebastian Inlet.

The vegetation of eight east-central Florida maritime hammocks studied in 1997 were compared to similar data collected over 20 years ago. Study sites are located in the northern half of the Indian River Lagoon system mostly within Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The upland hammock vegetation throughout the state generally has an oak-palm association, but here these species dominate. Results show that sabal palm, live oak, laurel oak, and pignut hickory, the four dominant tree species in 1976-77, are still dominant in 1997; however, there has been a loss in tree species richness. Most shrub species found during both studies increased in dominance over the 20 years and there was almost a complete turnover in the composition of herbs. Variability in winter freeze events has caused a unique mixture of plant species to occur here. Many of the maritime hammock’s tropical plants are in the northern limit of their range, giving these hammocks a unique ecotonal character. Tropical invasive exotics have increased in frequency, density, and basal area and pose a threat to this diverse floral complex.

N/A / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Genetic variation was examined in bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum, populations along the Florida Keys. Interpretion of mean heterozygosity (H), percent polymorphic loci per population (P), genetic similarity, and F and G statistics demonstrated a clear division of wrasse populations into "northern" and "southern" groups. Correlation and cluster analyses indicated the six reefs can be grouped in a similar fashion based on genetic and environmental data. The conclusion from this analysis of wrasse populations in the Florida Keys is that substantial population subdivision occurs in response to differing selective pressures created by heterogeneous environments.

Hydrogen sulfide is commonly found in many Florida potable groundwater supplies. Removing sulfur species, particularly hydrogen sulfide is important because if left untreated, sulfide can impact finished water quality, corrosivity, create undesirable taste and odor, and oxidize to form visible turbidity and color. This document presents the results of a study designed to investigate the removal efficiencies of a variety of tray aerators in Central Florida in order to develop a predictive mathematical model that could be used to determine tray effectiveness for sulfide removal. A literature review was performed that indicated there was limited information regarding the removal of hydrogen sulfide using conventional tray aerators, and no information regarding the removal of total sulfide from tray aerators. There was significantly more information available in the literature regarding the usefulness of sulfide removal technologies from water supplies. Consequently, the lack of literature regarding sulfide removal using tray aerators suggested that there was a need for additional research focused on sulfide removal from water flowing thru tray aerators. Several water purveyors that relied on tray aerators as a part of their water treatment operations were contacted and requested to participate in the study; three water purveyors agreed to allow the University of Central Florida (UCF) to enter their secured sites to collect samples and conduct this study. The three facilities included the UCF‘s water treatment plant located in Orlando and situated in eastern Orange County, the City of Lake Hamilton‘s water treatment plant located in west-central Polk County, and the Sarasota-Verna water treatment plant located in western Sarasota County. An experimental plan was developed and field sampling protocols were implemented to evaluate sulfide removal in commonly used tray aerators at the three drinking water treatment facilities. Total iv sulfide concentrations passing through the trays were determined in the field at each site using a standard iodometric analytical technique. In addition, other water quality parameters collected included dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids and total suspended solids; these samples were collected and analyzed either in the field or at the UCF laboratory. A first-order empirical model was developed that predicted sulfide removal in tray aerators. The model‘s constant was evaluated with respect to the water‘s proton concentration [H + ], the tray aerator‘s surface area, and hydraulic flow rate thru the trays. The selected model took the form of Cn=C0 (10-kn ) where Cn is the sulfide remaining after aeration in mg/L, C0 is the sulfide entering the distribution tray in mg/L, n is the number of tray stages in the aerator, and . From the empirical model, it was shown that sulfide removal was negatively impacted as the proton concentration (H+ ) decreased, and flow increased. Conversely, it was observed that increased sulfide removal occurred as the available tray aerator surface area increased. The combined parameters of proton concentration, flow rate, and area were statistically evaluated and used to develop an empirical constant that could be used in a first order model to predict sulfide removal in tray aerators. Using a site-specific derived experimental (empirical) constant, a water purveyor could use the developed model from this work to accurately predict sulfide removal in a tray aerator by simply measuring the total sulfide content in any raw groundwater supply and then providing the desired number of tray stages available for treatment.

The purpose of this study was to measure the extent to which educators in Florida public high schools perceived the Florida Media Literacy Standard to be implemented within their schools. This study also identified strategies that school leaders were using to successfully implement the Florida Media Literacy Standard and any perceived barriers to the implementation process. The Florida Media Literacy Standard was designed to address decision-making and critical thinking skills with regards to research, evaluation, and communication with various types of media. The standard was introduced in Florida public schools in 2007 with its inclusion in the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. High school principals and Language Arts Curriculum Leaders (LACLs) in the English/ Language Arts area were participants in this research because of their role in determining curriculum goals in Florida public schools. The Media Literacy Standard Questionnaire was sent to the principal and the department head of the English department in each participating school district. The results of this study suggested that those high school principals and LACLs that completed the Media Literacy Standard Questionnaire perceived the Florida Media Literacy Standard to be implemented in their schools. Over 80% of principals and LACLs reported ―strongly agree‖ or ―agree‖ with statements that reflected active implementation processes in school classrooms. Principals and LACLS reported use of the school Media Specialist, attendance at iv professional development and learning sessions, and making use of Professional Learning Communities as valuable strategies toward implementing the Florida Media Literacy Standard. Time and access to technology were two of the most commonly cited perceived barriers to the implementation process. Principals and LACLs both reported limited Media Center access for teachers due to standardized testing practices in Florida public high schools. Although many principals and LACLs reported that they perceived the Florida Media Literacy Standard to be implemented in their schools, the low response rate of 24.18% and conflicting data with regards to perceived barriers raise questions about the extent to which the results of this study can be generalized to the population of Florida public high schools. Further research is recommended to clarify the conflicting responses related to perceived barriers to implementation such as interviewing participants.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the leadership practices of high school principals in the state of Florida who improved student achievement in schools with a 30% or greater economically disadvantaged student rate. The secondary purpose of this study was to examine principal and student demographics of the identified schools and determine what relationship existed between student demographics, principal demographics, and principal practices. The results of this study offered guidance for principals across the state of Florida who struggled to close the achievement gap between economically advantaged and disadvantaged students. To achieve the purpose of the study, a 53 item survey instrument was distributed to principals in high schools that met the characteristics of a 30% economically disadvantaged student population that had shown growth on the 10th grade FCAT Reading test over three years from 2007 – 2009. 50 principals in 10 school districts were contacted. 18 of those principals responded to the online survey, and 5 principals participated in a follow-up phone interview. The survey instrument gathered quantitative data in four subdomains of principal practices: Implementing a Standards Based Coherent Instructional Program; Providing Teacher Support and Encouraging Teacher Collaboration; Engaging Families; and Using Assessment to Improve Student Achievement and Instruction. Quantitative data regarding principal demographics was also collected through the survey instrument. Qualitative data concerning principal practices was gathered through three open-ended response questions on the survey instrument as well as through follow-up phone interviews. iv The descriptive statistics gathered from responses to the survey instrument showed the highest mean averages for principal practices associated with the following items: Clear vision on student learning outcomes; Set high standards for student learning; Expect teachers to take responsibility for student achievement; and Expect staff to adjust instruction based on various data. The lowest mean averages for principal practices were associated with the following practices: Model exemplary instructional practices; Remove teachers not committed to improving student achievement; Ensure families are engaged in subject-area events; and Use assessment data to determine professional development. In addition to the survey responses, research question one was addressed through the open-ended survey responses and the follow-up phone interviews. The qualitative data collected found the most self-reported best practices under the subdomain of Providing Teacher Support and Encouraging Teacher Collaboration. The most prevalent practices that emerged as a result of the interviews were fostering personal relationships with students and celebrating student success; conducting classroom walkthroughs in a meaningful and purposeful manner; implementing Professional Learning Communities; and reviewing assessment data with teachers to inform instruction. The results of the Mann-Whitney statistical procedure found a significant difference between male and female respondents in the subdomain of Providing Teacher Support and Encouraging Teacher Collaboration. Males scored significantly lower than females. The Spearman correlations found a significant negative correlation between practices in the Teacher Support subdomain and the percentage of disadvantaged students v at a school. In other words, the lower the percentage of disadvantaged students in a school, the higher the principal rated Teacher Support as an important practice. The low number of respondents in this study (N = 18) limited the findings as well as the generalizability to schools with similar populations inside and outside of Florida. However, the results may provide guidance for principals in Florida high schools with high economically disadvantaged student populations. The results of this study placed emphasis on the need for principals to have a clear vision for their school and communicate high expectations for their students. According to the results of this study, principals should also find ways to connect with students and celebrate their successes, create avenues for teacher collaboration, and use assessment data to work with teachers in order to inform instructional decisions.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to determine if any relationship existed between the change in developmental scale scores (DSS) on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for reading and mathematics, in selected Florida school districts among charter and non-charter public high schools, for grades 9 and 10. This study also investigated if any relationship existed in student achievement based on student demographics (gender, economically disadvantaged, primary home language (ELL) and ethnicity), and examined if there was a difference in professional demographics of faculty (advanced degrees, teachers’ average years of teaching experience, and percent of courses taught by out of field teachers gender), among charter and non-charter public high schools in the state of Florida. School data were analyzed from 234 charter and non-charter public high schools, within 15 districts across the state of Florida, for the years 2007-2009. The findings of this research suggest charter high schools in the state of Florida are not keeping the pace with their traditional public high school counterparts. Over a three year period, charter high schools had significantly lower developmental scale scores on the FCAT, in both reading and mathematics, than non-charter public high schools. The findings also suggest that student demographics, with respect to male gender, economically disadvantaged, and ELL, combined with charter school status, negatively impact student achievement as measured by DSS. The disparity noted with regard to faculty demographics between charter and non-charter public high schools, only touches on some considerable differences between the two school iv types; more information is needed on the variations so parents and students can make informed choices. For future research, replication of this study with an expanded sample size of charter schools and a longer period of time for data collection was recommended. Separate studies are recommended on the differences between charter and non-charter public schools with regard to instructional time, curriculum or grade levels offered, the differences between parent and student perceptions, and the differences between funding and principal background as it relates to student achievement.