Introduction
      This page contains data and information describing Across Trophic Level System Simulation (ATLSS) Model runs made in support of the Initial Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Update (ICU). Background information about CERP can be found at the CERP Everglades Plan web-site, describing REstoration COordination and VERification (RECOVER) and the the Regional Evaluation Team (RET) .

ATLSS models are considered in this context to be System Wide Models in that they cover the entire region involved in the CERP effort. Other examples of System Wide Models include the South Florida Water Management Model (SFWMM) , and the Everglades Landscape Model (ELM) . Additional information concerning the ATLSS models may be found at the ATLSS web-site and the ATLSS section of the South Florida Information Access (SOFIA) web-site.

The CERP/RECOVER System Wide Modeling page provides detailed descriptions of the hydrology scenarios being analyzed. This collection of pages present results of a variety of ATLSS models as a complement to the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) Models developed by the South Florida Water Management District. SFWMM HSI models operate at a coarser spatial resolution and are designed with different assumptions from the ATLSS models. In general, ATLSS results are displayed at a spatial resolution of 500 meters, although they have a finer underlying spatial resolution. SFWMD HSI models generally operate at a 2 mile scale of spatial resolution. Both sets of models utilize the CERP/RECOVER hydrologic scenarios. The CERP/RECOVER System Wide Modeling page provides information about hydrology scenarios and displays performance measures for the SFWMD HSI Models are also described (Select "Habitat Suitability Indices" from the "Search by Topic" section and then click on the "Update Maps & Figures" button).

Four of the ATLSS Spatially Explicit Index (SESI) models were selected to be utilized in this phase of the CERP/RECOVER effort. The species modeled are the American Alligator, White-tailed Deer, and Short- and Long-legged Wading Birds.

Description of output
Three types of ATLSS model outputs are available on this site. The first type, "comparison maps," displays three map panels. The first, or left, panel contains a spatial display of the index values for a scenario (usually an "alternative" scenario). The third, or right, panel contains the spatial display of another scenario (typically the "base" scenario). The second, or middle, panel displays a difference map that represents the cell-by-cell difference between the two scenarios. The second type of output available is line graphs displaying yearly SESI index values averaged over groups of Indicator Regions. The final type of output is binary output files produced by the ATLSS SESI models. These files are designed to be viewable by the ATLSS Data Viewer .