MEASUREMENT OF WETLAND HYDROPERIOD USING HARMONIC-ANALYSIS

The pattern of water-level fluctuations in a wetland is its hydroperio d. Characterization of this pattern cannot be accomplished by measurin g a single parameter, but some means of measuring hydroperiod is neede d so that comparisons can be made both between wetlands and within a s ingle wetland over time. Harmonic analysis can be used to characterize hydroperiod quantitatively by obtaining the amplitude and timing of t he dominant periodic component in a time series of water levels. The u tility of this method is demonstrated by investigating the link betwee n water management in South Florida and nesting failure by wood storks in the Everglades wetland. With the quantitative measures of hydroper iod derived by harmonic analysis, I am able to demonstrate statistical ly the relationships between water management and hydroperiod in the E verglades and between hydroperiod and the probability of nesting failu re. The simplicity and directness by which these results are achieved suggests the potential for harmonic analysis of hydroperiod as a gener al tool for wetland science.