Understanding how ecosystems work is a vital first step in defending the issues individuals worth most: clear air, clear water, and a wholesome, resilient setting for future generations. However the biggest impression of environmental research comes when this data is shared and mentioned, therefore the significance of this annual regional occasion referred to as the Corkscrew Watershed Science Discussion board.
Hosted on Might 7, 2026, on the UF/IFAS Extension in Collier County, the ninth annual occasion welcomed 100 members, together with Audubon workers and greater than a dozen audio system. The day-long occasion was launched by Audubon workers to unite environmental professionals working throughout the Corkscrew Watershed to current their work to colleagues, coverage workers, choice makers, volunteers, and different stakeholders. The result’s a regional discussion board for networking, productive dialogue, and constructing collaborations aimed toward informing and advancing conservation efforts throughout Southwest Florida.
Following a welcome by occasion founder, Conservation Director Shawn Clem, PhD, introductory remarks by Sanctuary Director Keith Laakkonen set the stage, emphasizing the sheer amount of agricultural lands and pure areas being transformed to growth across the Sanctuary’s borders. He kicked off the discussions by highlighting the rising want for conservation and the chance for collaboration.
LAURA LAYMAN, STEVE BLAIR, and MARIA LOINAZ — Corkscrew Watershed Initiative Replace
Within the first presentation, Laura Layman of the South Florida Water Administration District outlined how flood safety channels dug close to the Sanctuary within the early 2000s have unintentionally lowered floor and groundwater ranges. With 60 years of water-level information collected, Audubon workers revealed these adjustments in 2019, prompting the district to start exploring methods to cut back uncontrolled canal releases and retain extra water on the panorama. In 2021, an Audubon and SFWMD-funded water-level modeling examine of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and Chook Rookery Swamp helped determine the probably trigger and started dialogue of potential options. Members of the Corkscrew Watershed Initiative (CWI) challenge crew offered an replace on CWI, a three-year planning challenge aimed toward creating a plan for restoring water ranges all through the watershed to guard wildlife habitat and pure sources.
AMBER CROOKS — Oil Drilling within the Massive Cypress
Amber Crooks with the Conservancy of SW Florida defined a few of the impacts of oil drilling exploration in Massive Cypress Nationwide Protect. Ten years after the final exploration occasion occurred there, the broken cypress forest has nonetheless not rebounded, and regardless of mitigation efforts on a close-by tomato discipline, the related wetlands have regained lower than 50% of their authentic operate. Crooks additionally shared details about two new oil pads which can be proposed for the world.
ALLYSON WEBB — A Historic Perspective of Prescribed Hearth
Allyson Webb, Audubon’s land stewardship supervisor for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, shared a historic perspective of prescribed fireplace on the Sanctuary courting again to 1973. Hearth is a essential element of South Florida’s ecosystem operate, and new developments adjoining to Sanctuary boundaries have elevated the necessity for prescribed fires to cut back vegetative particles that could possibly be ignited by lightning strikes. On the identical time, the must be conscious of the consequences of wind-driven smoke on developed land constantly reduces the variety of acres that may be burned every year. The trouble to satisfy the wants of fire-dependent habitats is additional sophisticated by altered freshwater flows and inconsistent climate patterns worsened by local weather change.
ADAM HERDMAN — Reestablishing Ghost Orchid Populations
The rising demand for water sources is lowering the water accessible for wetland capabilities, leading to unintended penalties for crops like ghost orchids. Adam Herdman, a PhD pupil on the College of Florida, defined the significance of wholesome wetlands for these and different delicate crops, which depend on a posh mixture of environmental situations, in addition to pollinators, fungi, and neighboring species. Research like his to know ghost orchid populations are essential for conserving these uncommon species, together with consideration of any laws to supply them extra safety.
JOHN CASSANI, DEAN CROSHAW, ANDREW DURSO, EDWIN EVERHAM, III, AND WHITNEY JO HUMMEL — FrogWatch and Altering Land Use
Many wetland species are instantly affected by growth, however few animals present these impacts as dramatically as amphibians. John Cassani and others with Florida Gulf Coast College described the outcomes of 26 years of frog name surveys throughout Southwest Florida, with native information echoing the worldwide decline of those environmental indicators. By means of the FrogWatch program presentation, the viewers realized that at the least three species are hardly ever or now not heard calling throughout a lot of their historic vary, together with refrain frogs, gopher frogs, and spadefoot frogs. It’s well-known that these animals reply unfavorably to air pollution, rainfall deficits, predation, and microbes, however species such because the pinewoods treefrog and Southern cricket frog might not be adapting when their habitat is misplaced. Whereas some species seem secure, the one one which confirmed a transparent improve in inhabitants over this era was the invasive cane toad.
PETER SEBASTIAN — Parasites and Panthers
Pet populations are having a direct impression on native wildlife, together with by transmitting ailments and parasites. Peter Sebastian, PhD, DVM, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee, described what could also be one other of those impacts as an injured Florida panther was found to have a particular sort of heartworm that hadn’t beforehand been seen within the U.S.
NATE DORN, PHD — Asian Swamp Eel Invasion
Rounding out the day was a presentation by FIU professor Nate Dorn, PhD, who described the invasion of Asian swamp eels within the Everglades. Whereas the final identified introduction of this fish was many years in the past, these aquatic predators are increasing their vary and devouring a wide range of prey which can be essential for the survival of wading birds and different predators. Dorn reported a lack of 98% of crayfish at one examine website the place eels are current. As a result of crayfish make up a large a part of wading birds’ weight-reduction plan, birds are threatened by the eels’ arrival. Asian swamp eels haven’t but been present in Collier County (together with Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary), however Sanctuary biologists stay looking out. Watch a current, one-hour webinar by Dr. Dorn about Asian swamp eels here.
A number of different shows shared greatest practices and/or analysis outcomes, together with methods to extend plant species variety in wetland mitigation, using multispectral imagery to map and determine invasive crops, the monitoring of mammal populations in the watershed, and the way illegally harvested and confiscated native turtles survive after reintroduction.
Conclusion
Realizing extra about threats and their impacts on the ecosystem is essential for managing land whereas defending wildlife, crops, and water sources in a altering panorama. Occasions just like the annual Corkscrew Watershed Science Discussion board enhance our capacity to guard essential habitats that Audubon manages and safeguard the issues which can be essential to birds and folks. It additionally strengthens the ties between the locations birds want throughout the hemisphere.
See the entire list of presentations and presenters here.
