BRS John Kominoski: Lessons in disturbance and restoration from long-term ecological research: 25 years of the Florida Coastal Everglades

host: John Richardson

Title talk: Lessons in disturbance and restoration from long-term ecological research: 25 years of the Florida Coastal Everglades

Abstract: Coastal ecosystems provide many benefits and services to society, including protection from storms, habitat and food for important fisheries, support of tourism and local economies, filtration of fresh water, and burial and storage of carbon that offsets greenhouse gas emissions. Like many coastal ecosystems, the Florida Everglades has been threatened by diversion of fresh water to support urban and agricultural expansion but is undergoing widespread restoration of seasonal pulses of fresh water. Everglades Restoration -the largest effort attempted in the world -is ushering in changes in South Florida. Since 2000, the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (FCE-LTER) Program has been studying these changes in the Everglades and communicating results to state and federal agencies and policymakers. Water levels are returning to levels not seen in more than 100 years. Microbes in soils and algae are responding and in some regions,phosphorus is increasing from legacy hot spots. Sea grasses are still too salty and warming, and mangroves are growing but need to grow faster than rising sea levels. Key plant and animal communities are being tracked to better understand how their movements reflect the region’s changes in water. The economic value of the Everglades ecosystems is multiples of billions of USD. Our long-term ecological research addresses why coastal ecosystems and services are changing and may be explained by shifts in hydrology. Unlike most coastal regions in the world that are experiencing rapid sea-level rise, we in Florida have the capacity to mitigate and adapt to uncertainties by continuing restoration efforts that ultimately protect nature and society.

Short biography: John Kominoski is a Professor in the Institute of Environment and Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University. He is the Lead Principal Investigator of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program, which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). His research focuses on biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology, especially on organic matter processing and the dynamic role of disturbances on spatiotemporal patterns of carbon and nutrients in coastal ecosystems. John's research spans streams, wetlands, and coastal marshes and mangroves. He has conducted research for nearly 15years in the Florida Everglades. John collaborates broadly and incorporates both ecological theory and application in his research. He is co-leading an NSF-funded Research Coordination Network called "Hurricane Ecosystem Response Synthesis" that compares storm characteristics and ecosystem responses across subtropical and tropical ecosystems. John has published more than 120 peer-reviewed articles, been awarded grants that have totaled over $20million, and advised 10Ph.D. and M.S. students. He served as Vice President for the Society for Freshwater Science. In 2024, he was honored as a Sustaining Fellow by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography for his advances to aquatic ecology.He received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award in 2025to conduct research in Canada.