The large‐scale restoration of fire and water regimes in Everglades National Park reveal little change in plant diversity along an elevational gradient

Despite significant restoration efforts aimed at restoring natural fire and water regimes in the Everglades National Park, no systematic shifts in plant diversity or composition have been observed along an elevational gradient. The study, conducted between 1997–1999 and 2024, resampled transects spanning from seasonally inundated marl prairie to frequently burned pine rockland on Long Pine Key. Researchers used generalized linear mixed models to analyze the effects of fire frequency, water depth, and elevation on plant species richness and composition. While no overall changes were detected, complex interactions between fire and water were found to structure plant communities, maximizing species richness under varying conditions: low burn frequencies in wet sites, moderate frequencies in moderately wet sites, and high frequencies in dry sites.

Schneider, O., Crandall, R. M., & Baiser, B. (2024). The large‐scale restoration of fire and water regimes in Everglades National Park reveal little change in plant diversity along an elevational gradient. Restoration Ecology, 32(5). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14138