Ashley Smyth

0000-0002-6649-1864

Soil Arsenic in Miami-Dade County

Yuncong Li, Ashley Smyth, Jonathan Crane, Christopher Teaf, and Guangliang Liu

Sources and Transformations of Nitrogen in Urban Landscapes

Alexander J. Reisinger, Mary G. Lusk, and Ashley R. Smyth

How Is Our Future Climate Projected?

Young Gu Her, Zachary Brym, Ashley Smyth, and Elias Bassil

Living Shoreline Monitoring—How do I evaluate the environmental benefits of my living shoreline?

Laura K. Reynolds, Natalie C. Stephens, Savanna C. Barry, and Ashley R. Smyth

How Ecosystem Services are Measured and Why it Matters for Florida

Charles Wallace, Anna Braswell, Mysha Clarke, Andrew Ropicki, Tara Wade, Frank Asche, Ashley Smyth, Armando Ubeda, and Ed Camp

This publication describes some of the ways to measure ecosystem services and explains how the different approaches to assess ecosystems might be selected, depending on what is most important to the user.

Ecosystem Services Provided by Living Shorelines

Ashley R. Smyth, Laura K. Reynolds, Savanna C. Barry, Natalie C. Stephens, Joshua T. Patterson, and Edward V. Camp

The purpose of this new 6-page document is to explain the types of ecosystem services provided by different types of living shorelines and how to quantify these values. The target audience for this document is local governments and municipalities that make decisions about developing, conserving, and restoring living shorelines; state management agencies that oversee broader scale habitat management; and finally, homeowners who will be immediately affected by any of these decisions. Written by Ashley R. Smyth, Laura K. Reynolds, Savanna C. Barry, Natalie C. Stephens, Joshua T. Patterson, and Edward V. Camp and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences.

What Else Can Surface Water Buffer Systems Do? Exploring Multiple Ecosystem Services

Ashley R. Smyth, Lei Wu, Rafael Muñoz-Carpena, and Yuncong Li

This fact sheet provides information on buffers' multiple ecosystem benefits, such as niche products production, carbon sequestration, and flood risk mitigation, as well as recommendations on future research needs necessary to enhance multiple ecosystem services and benefits of buffers.

Linking Waterbody Acidification and Aquatic Plant Metabolism: A Lesson Plan for Middle School Students

Alexandra L. Bijak, Laura K. Reynolds, and Ashley R. Smyth

Ocean acidification, the lowering of seawater pH due to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is an emerging environmental challenge associated with climate change. This publication is intended for Florida grade eight educators and other environmental educators of middle school students. We designed a lesson plan to reinforce fundamental concepts in acid-base chemistry, including the pH scale, and to introduce students to waterbody acidification, its negative effects on shell-forming organisms, and the potential role of aquatic plant metabolism (i.e., photosynthesis and respiration) in mitigating these effects. The goal of the lesson plan is to encourage students to link water chemistry and biological processes while learning about the challenges and potential solutions to acidification within a local context. This lesson plan will contribute to state learning standards while generating appreciation for the complexity of the natural environment. 

What are urban mangroves?

Gabriela Reyes, Ashley Smyth, and Laura Reynolds

Urban mangroves are mangroves located in cities and residential areas. While urban mangroves may be highly impacted by humans, they continue to provide important ecosystem services, or benefits to society. In fact, due to their location, more people may benefit from these urban mangroves than from pristine mangroves, which are often located in protected areas. The following document describes the role of mangroves in urban areas. This document is intended for coastal residents, coastal resource managers, and urban planners who are interested in learning about mangroves and their importance in cities. Written by Gabriela Reyes, Ashley Smyth, and Laura Reynolds, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences; 4 pp.

Climate Change: Effects on Salinity in Florida’s Estuaries and Responses of Oysters, Seagrass, and Other Animal and Plant Life

Ashley R. Smyth, H. Dail Laughinghouse, Laura K. Reynolds, Edward V. Camp, and Karl Havens

Florida’s economically important estuaries could be heavily impacted by sea-level rise and altered river flow, both caused by climate change. The resulting higher salinity, or saltiness of the water, could harm plants and animals, alter fish, and bird habitat, and reduce the capacity of estuaries to provide such important services as seafood production and the protection of shorelines from erosion. This publication contains information for stakeholders, students, scientists, and environmental agencies interested in understanding how changes in salinity impact Florida’s estuaries.

¿Qué son los manglares urbanos?

Gabriela Reyes, Ashley Smyth, Laura Reynolds y Ana Zangroniz

En Florida, el 80 % de los residentes viven entre 10 millas de la costa. Como resultado, los hábitats costales, como los manglares, han sido significativamente alterados por las actividades humanas. Los manglares urbanos son manglares ubicados en ciudades y zonas residenciales. Por lo tanto, los manglares urbanos pueden ser altamente impactados por la actividad humana, pero a la misma vez siguen proporcionando importantes servicios ecsistémicos, ó beneficios para la sociedad. De hecho, por su ubicación, mas personas pueden benificarse de estos manglares urbanos que de los manglares prístinos, que a menudo se encuentren en áreas protegidas. El siguiente documento describe el papel de los mangles en areas urbanos. Este documento está dirigido a los residentes costales, los gestores de recursos costeros, y los planificadores urbanos que quieren aprender sobre los manglares y su importanica en las ciudades.

How Do Oysters Remove Nitrogen?

Heather Donnelly, Ashley Smyth, Shirley Baker, Laura Reynolds, and Angela Collins

Nitrogen is natural and necessary, yet nitrogen levels above natural levels can cause algal blooms and eutrophication of coastal systems. The purpose of this document is to describe how oysters and oyster reefs remove nitrogen. This new 7-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences is intended for policymakers, environmental organizations, and coastal residents who want to know about oysters' role in improving water quality through nitrogen removal. Written by Heather Donnelly, Ashley Smyth, Shirley Baker, Laura Reynolds, and Angela Collins.

What Is Oyster Shell Recycling?

Ana Zangroniz, Marian Azeem-Angel, Katie Heiden, Heather Donnelly, and Ashley R. Smyth

This publication is intended to serve Natural Resources or Florida Sea Grant Extension agents, as well as local partners considering establishing a local oyster shell recycling program or local restaurants interested in learning more about oyster shell recycling, and shares lessons learned from starting a program in Miami-Dade County.

Climate Change and Florida: Frequently Asked Questions

Joshua Papacek, Ashley Smyth, Holly Abeels, and Alicia Betancourt

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. Published by Climate

Rethinking the Role of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Eutrophication of Aquatic Ecosystems

Ashley Smyth, H. Dail Laughinghouse IV, Karl Havens, and Thomas Frazer

Nitrogen and phosphorus are two nutrients that are essential for the growth and survival of plants and animals but are often present in short supply. Both nitrogen and phosphorus are applied regularly through fertilizer to increase the yield of crops needed to feed human populations and for residential and commercial landscaping purposes. This publication contains information for stakeholders, students, scientists, and environmental agencies interested in understanding how nitrogen and phosphorus affect water resources. Major revision by Ashley Smyth, H. Dail Laughinghouse IV, Karl Havens, and Thomas Frazer; 5 pp.

Saltwater Intrusion and Flooding: Risks to South Florida’s Agriculture and Potential Management Practices

Haimanote K. Bayabil, Yuncong Li, Jonathan H. Crane, Bruce Schaffer, Ashley R. Smyth, Shouan Zhang, Edward A. Evans, and Trent Blare

This article highlights the impacts of saltwater intrusion and flooding on the health of agricultural soils. It also discusses management practices to reduce the negative impacts of soil salinity due to saltwater intrusion and/or flooding. Written by Haimanote K. Bayabil, Yuncong Li, Jonathan H. Crane, Bruce Schaffer, Ashley R. Smyth, Shouan Zhang, Edward A. Evans, and Trent Blare, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, May 2022.

The Coral Holobiont: A Brief Overview of Corals and Their Microbiome

Monica D. Schul, Ashley R. Smyth, Joshua T. Patterson, Ana N. Zangroniz, Shelly L. Krueger, and Julie L. Meyer

Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic reefs have declined drastically since the 1970s. In some locales like the Florida Keys, the decline of branching corals approached 98%. These declines are widely attributed to recurring stressors such as high ocean temperatures and disease. The preservation and restoration of reefs is imperative as coral reefs support 25% of the world's known marine species and create billions of dollars in economic value. However, current restoration efforts have low success rates, so researchers are looking to better understand how stony corals respond to and overcome these stressors. Pioneering efforts to elucidate the role of the coral microbiome have shown that microbes are an important component for stony coral health, nutrition, and disease defense. This publication is for various natural resource professionals who want information on corals, microbiomes, and how coral microbial ecology research is pushing our knowledge of corals and restoration forward.

What is blue carbon?

Alexandra L. Bijak, Ashley R. Smyth, Savanna C. Barry, and Laura K. Reynolds

Vegetated coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, store large amounts of carbon in plant biomass and underlying sediments, known as blue carbon. There is increasing interest among policymakers and natural resource managers in quantifying and monetizing the carbon stored in blue carbon ecosystems. However, carbon cycling in the marine and coastal environment is complex. This complexity and the logistical issues in accurately measuring blue carbon limit our ability to manage and restore blue carbon ecosystems as nature-based tools for climate change mitigation. This publication provides a general introduction to the processes that affect net carbon storage in blue carbon habitats and addresses implications for natural resource managers interested in quantifying net carbon storage.

Online Sources for Sea Level Rise Education and Extension

Young Gu Her, Ashley Smyth, Jiangxiao Qiu, Elias Bassil, Ulrich Stingl, and Laura Reynolds

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: ==Water==

Living Shoreline Ecosystem Service Valuation Tool

Ashley R. Smyth, Laura K. Reynolds, Savanna C. Barry, Natalie C. Stephens, Joshua T. Patterson, and Edward V. Camp

Living shorelines are an increasingly popular way to protect and stabilize waterfronts for coastal property owners. Living shorelines provide valuable benefits to humans, including water quality improvement, habitat, fisheries, and carbon sequestration. Estimating the economic value of the ecosystem services living shorelines offer is an integral part of management decisions. The living shoreline valuation tool can help quantify the costs and benefits of living shorelines projects. This publication briefly describes the ecosystem services associated with living shorelines. The purpose of this publication is to introduce the ecosystem service valuation tool. Our target audience for the living shoreline evaluation tool includes natural resource extension agents, community organizations, and coastal homeowners who want to calculate the value of ecosystem services provided by coastal restoration projects, including living shorelines. 

Repensando el papel del nitrógeno y fósforo en la eutrofización de los ecosistemas acuáticos

H. Dail Laughinghouse IV, Ashley Smyth, Karl Havens y Thomas Frazer

Históricamente, las agencias ambientales han buscado mejorar la calidad del agua de los lagos y ríos de agua dulce mediante el manejo de un solo nutriente. El fósforo era el nutriente principal de preocupación en los sistemas de agua dulce y el nitrógeno estaba regulado en los sistemas costeros y estuarios. Investigaciones recientes indican que debemos reducir tanto el fósforo como el nitrógeno para revertir los síntomas de eutrofización en todos los sistemas acuáticos. This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences, written by H. Dail Laughinghouse IV, Ashley Smyth, Karl Havens, and Thomas Frazer, is a translation of SGEF190/SG118, "Rethinking the Role of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Eutrophication of Aquatic Ecosystems."

How Are Our Future Agriculture and Natural Resources Projected under Varying Climate?

Young Gu Her, Ashley Smyth, Zachary Brym, and Elias Bassil

This article explains how agriculture and natural resources may respond to projected future climate and how climate projections can be useful in developing management plans for the improved sustainability of Florida’s agriculture and natural resources. It also aims to help increase the public awareness of climate change impacts on Florida and improve understanding of the connections among climate, agriculture, and natural resources.

Oyster Habitat Restoration and Shoreline Protection

Charles Wallace, Edward Camp, and Ashley Smyth

As the climate continues to change, coastal areas and the people that live there face increasing risks from erosion and wave damage. This is made worse by declines in natural oyster reefs, which would provide some natural protection. However, oysters can be restored for the specific purposes of protecting shorelines. The practicality and cost effectiveness of using oysters in this way is described in this publication, which is intended to be used by coastal property owners, as well as local governments that must make decisions about protecting shorelines in the face of a changing climate.

Water Quality Notes: What are concentrations and loads, and why do they matter?

Alexander J. Reisinger, Andrea Albertin, Eban Bean, Ashley Smyth, and P. Christopher Wilson

Water quality is a broad term used to describe a range of physical, chemical, and/or biological characteristics of water. Many different factors contribute to water quality. The decision of whether the quality of a given water body is good or bad, whether it is acceptable or unacceptable, varies from place to place and depends on the intended use of that water body. In Florida, water quality criteria have been established for six different types of water bodies, and these criteria vary by the use of each water body type. This publication defines general terminology and approaches used to describe water quality. It is targeted towards individuals who have an interest in water quality issues but may not have training in the specific details of these issues. Ultimately, this publication will allow the reader to have a deeper understanding of specific water quality issues and regulations.

Cambio climático: Efectos sobre la salinidad en los estuarios de Florida y respuestas de las ostras, las praderas marinas y otras formas de vida animal y vegetal

Ashley R. Smyth, H. Dail Laughinghouse IV, Laura K. Reynolds, Edward V. Camp y Karl Havens. Traducido por H. Dail Laughinghouse IV.

Los estuarios económicamente importantes de Florida podrían verse fuertemente afectados por el aumento del nivel del mar y la alteración del flujo de los ríos, ambos causados por el cambio climático. La resultante mayor salinidad o salinidad del agua podría perjudicar plantas y animales, alterar el hábitat de peces y aves y reducir la capacidad de los estuarios para proporcionar servicios tan importantes como la producción de mariscos y la protección de las costas contra la erosión. Esta publicación contiene información para las partes interesadas, estudiantes, científicos y agencias ambientales interesadas en comprender cómo los cambios en la salinidad impactan los estuarios de Florida con estudios de casos específicos.

Vegetative Filter Strips—A Best Management Practice for Controlling Nonpoint Source Pollution

Ashley Smyth, Lei Wu, Rafael Muñoz-Carpena, and Yuncong Li

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Agriculture Water