The habitat of the Florida Panther, which once ranged throughout the southeastern United States, has been decreasing at a steady rate. Currently, the Florida Panther seeks shelter within the Florida Everglades. Today only 50 to 70 adult panthers remain in southwest Florida. They are among the most endangered animals in the world.

 

During the last 100 years, farming and housing projects in South Florida have dramatically altered the Everglades, the home of the Florida Panthers. The Everglades are now half its original size. Its water supply has been diverted and controlled for uses like crop irrigation, city water supplies, and flood control.

 

Over the past few decades, people have begun to notice the negative environmental impacts caused by removing the water from the Everglades' ecosystem. Agencies have begun to fight for the protection of the Everglades, and people are taking an interest in preserving and restoring this unique wetlands ecosystem. In 1994, the Everglades Forever Act was passed. It provides for a comprehensive clean-up and restoration plan that addresses problems with the quality, quantity, and timing of restored water flow and level.

 

However, preserving and restoring the Florida Everglades may not be as simple as opening a floodgate or pumping water back into the area. Restoring the flow of water to these wetlands has had both positive and negative consequences. Several complicated issues have caused controversy. For instance, the Everglades Wildlife Refuge is worried that the restoration of the natural flow and level of water through the Everglades could further endanger the Florida Panther.

 

The Everglades Wildlife Refuge has asked you to help them address their concern for the Florida Panther. You are being asked to perform an Earth System Science (ESS) analysis of the impacts of the restoration of water level and flow to the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere of the Everglades' ecosystem. From this, you will make predictions about the future of the Florida Panther based on your ESS analysis.