An Unlikely Hero: Periphyton's Role in Everglades Restoration by buttercup studios

The Everglades, a world-heritage site and largest wetland on the East coast of the United States is not only home to many endangered species but is also a primary source of drinking water for 8 million people. And yet, they are suffering environmentally. Less than 50% of the historic Everglades remain. The key issue at play affecting everything is the underlying water system, the broken “River of Grass” which nourishes all of South Florida. To understand what is polluting the water, we have to understand the history of its ecosystem, its demise and the legal challenges that precipitated a call for change and restoration.

Out of this setting, an unlikely hero, periphyton, a community of organisms emerges as the historic foundation of the food web, contributor to healthy waters and the current measure for sniffing out pollution in the form of phosphorus. “As goes periphyton, so goes the Everglades” (Dr. Thomas Van Lent). Through scientific research and data we can track where periphyton flourishes and why it does and advocate for remediation and progress where it doesn’t. In “An Unlikely Hero” my goal was to make the data and story of periphyton accessible to those interested in environmental issues whether the newcomer to Florida, the student or policymaker.

I chose to tell the story of periphyton as a hero for my Capstone project while enrolled in Maryland Institute College of Art’s Data Analytics and Visualization Masters program. Incidentally, this project was selected as the Capstone winner for my cohort. Without the guidance of Dr Tom Van Lent a chief scientist of Everglades ecology this would not have been possible. He guided me to the story of periphyton and the work of Dr. Evelyn Gaiser, whose data from her research work at Florida International University serves as the foundation of my visualizations. More importantly, two of Dr. Gaiser’s doctoral students, Paige Kleindl and Thomas Shannon directed me to the academic research and data while reviewing my work making sure I handled the data correctly. Without them this would not have been possible. (Additionally, my professors and cohort were key partners in giving me guidance and feedback). 

Though I am a long-time graphic and visual designer, the world of data visualization is a newfound love. My one regret is that I didn’t discover this powerful tool for helpful illumination earlier in my career. My immediate hope is that this scrollytelling story can demonstrate through the data that too much phosphorus in the Everglades affects everyone: flora, fauna, and humans. Our choices matter. My deepest desire of all is to use what talents and skills I have to be part of life’s solution instead of its demise. I hope this will be just one of many projects to help make the work of scientists, journalists and truth tellers accessible to the public.