The Joint Ecosystem Modeling team is developing and applying ecological models and other decision support tools for Greater Everglades restoration project planning.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Ecological models are needed to facilitate evaluation and assessment of alternative approaches to restore Greater Everglades ecosystems. However, the provision of useful and accessible models is a challenge because there is often a disconnect between model developers and model users. Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) was established to meet this challenge, with the goal of getting ecological models into the hands of users. Joint Ecosystem Modeling is a partnership among federal and state agencies, universities, and other organizations. More information is available on the JEM website, https://www.jem.gov.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Joint Ecosystem Modeling continuously develops and applies ecological models and other decision support tools for Greater Everglades restoration project planning. Joint Ecosystem Modeling was created to encourage collaboration among agencies, universities, and others toward the standardization of programming, input and output formats, and documenting the predictive ecological models being developed. We develop:
- Tools: A suite of desktop and web-based tools to manage, manipulate, and visualize scientific data.
- Models: Software packages to model species populations, determine habitat suitability, and forecast hydrologic conditions in the Greater Everglades region.
- Data Standards: NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) metadata conventions that support data sharing and interoperability within the Everglades restoration community.
Future Steps: We adapt our approach and the tools we develop based on the needs of the restoration planning community. We have transitioned from solely developing desktop software to including web interfaces that enable the management and display of biological data and modeling output. In addition to the models that are available for download on our website, we also provide ecological model outputs for a number of species and habitats for restoration planning.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Joint Ecosystem Modeling: Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow Marl Prairie Indicator
Joint Ecosystem Modeling: EverSnail
Joint Ecosystem Modeling: Alligator Production Probability Model
Advanced Technological Solutions in Support of Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystem Science: Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM)
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) Support
The JEM community of practice is focused on ecological modeling and monitoring across the Greater Everglades, with particular interest in habitats, how various factors affect habitat change, and how the organisms dependent on those habitats respond today and into the future.
Everglades Eco-Modeling Data Visualization and Tool Development
Working with the Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) community of practice, the WARC Advanced Applications Team developed and maintains the EverVIEW Data Viewer desktop visualization platform, which allows users to easily visualize and inspect standards-compliant NetCDF modeling data and has experienced tremendous feature growth driven by user feedback.
EverVIEW Lite
Recently, the Team has developed and released EverVIEW Lite, an online web mapping framework based on the core features available in the desktop viewer.
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
The Joint Ecosystem Modeling team is developing and applying ecological models and other decision support tools for Greater Everglades restoration project planning.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Ecological models are needed to facilitate evaluation and assessment of alternative approaches to restore Greater Everglades ecosystems. However, the provision of useful and accessible models is a challenge because there is often a disconnect between model developers and model users. Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) was established to meet this challenge, with the goal of getting ecological models into the hands of users. Joint Ecosystem Modeling is a partnership among federal and state agencies, universities, and other organizations. More information is available on the JEM website, https://www.jem.gov.
Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) example from EverView Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Joint Ecosystem Modeling continuously develops and applies ecological models and other decision support tools for Greater Everglades restoration project planning. Joint Ecosystem Modeling was created to encourage collaboration among agencies, universities, and others toward the standardization of programming, input and output formats, and documenting the predictive ecological models being developed. We develop:
- Tools: A suite of desktop and web-based tools to manage, manipulate, and visualize scientific data.
- Models: Software packages to model species populations, determine habitat suitability, and forecast hydrologic conditions in the Greater Everglades region.
- Data Standards: NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) metadata conventions that support data sharing and interoperability within the Everglades restoration community.
Future Steps: We adapt our approach and the tools we develop based on the needs of the restoration planning community. We have transitioned from solely developing desktop software to including web interfaces that enable the management and display of biological data and modeling output. In addition to the models that are available for download on our website, we also provide ecological model outputs for a number of species and habitats for restoration planning.
EverVIEW Data Viewer map panels EverVIEW Data Viewer data panel - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Joint Ecosystem Modeling: Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow Marl Prairie Indicator
Marl prairie is the most diverse freshwater vegetation community in the Greater Everglades and provides the only suitable habitat for the federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (CSSS; Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis).Joint Ecosystem Modeling: EverSnail
EverSnail, developed in collaboration with the University of West Florida, is an age- and size-structured spatially-explicit landscape model of native apple snails (Pomacea paludosa).Joint Ecosystem Modeling: Alligator Production Probability Model
Because the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is a keystone species of the Everglades ecosystem, managers need a way to quantitatively assess the effects of alternative restoration scenarios on alligators.Advanced Technological Solutions in Support of Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystem Science: Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM)
The JEM Biological Database offers secure data storage in relational databases, as well as web applications to manage, search, analyze, and report on captured data. - Web Tools
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) Support
The JEM community of practice is focused on ecological modeling and monitoring across the Greater Everglades, with particular interest in habitats, how various factors affect habitat change, and how the organisms dependent on those habitats respond today and into the future.
Everglades Eco-Modeling Data Visualization and Tool Development
Working with the Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) community of practice, the WARC Advanced Applications Team developed and maintains the EverVIEW Data Viewer desktop visualization platform, which allows users to easily visualize and inspect standards-compliant NetCDF modeling data and has experienced tremendous feature growth driven by user feedback.
EverVIEW Lite
Recently, the Team has developed and released EverVIEW Lite, an online web mapping framework based on the core features available in the desktop viewer.
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.