Everkite is a spatially-explicit individual-based simulation model that aims at predicting the population dynamics of the Florida Snail kite under various hydrological regimes in Florida’s major wetlands.

The predictions made by Everkite should only be interpreted in a relative sense. They can be used to compare the predicted performance of the snail kite under two different hydrological scenarios. They can also be used to evaluate the relative sensitivity of Everkite for its biological parameters.

This document describes Everkite version 3.00. Everkite version 3.00 is implemented as an application of the simulation framework Osiris version 3.01. Currently, this document is the only documentation of Everkite version 3.00. A scientific paper on Everkite version 3.XX is in preparation. Osiris is documented in a scientific paper in Ecological Modelling (vol 93, pp. 139-153). An pdf version of this paper will be send on request (e-mail to Wolf M. Mooij at mooij@cl.nioo.knaw.nl).

Version 3.XX of Everkite implements a full spatially-explicit individual-based model of the Florida snail kite that can be linked with hydrological scenarios at the wetland level. Version 1.XX (currently not available to end users) operates at the system level, and is based on Steve Beissingers' snail kite model (published in Ecological Applications 5: 618-631). Version 2.XX implements (currently not available to end users) an exploratory spatially-explicit individual-based model at the wetland level but with a highly simplified biology and hydrology (documented in a paper in press in Ecological Modelling). Conceptual work on version 4.XX that operates at a 2*2 mile cell level is in progress. The actual implementation of this version depends, among other things, on a continued funding of the work on Everkite.

To keep track of newer versions of Everkite you should consult the file Update Everkite.doc on a regular basis. Everkite will be updated without prior notice. Minor changes may not always result in a new version number. However, update information on any version of Everkite will be documented in the Microsoft Word document Update Everkite.doc which can be downloaded from folder CL/mooij/Osiris Everkite/Kite located at site ftp://ftp.nioo.knaw.nl. Login name and password needed for access to this folder will be provided on request (e-mail to Wolf M. Mooij at mooij@cl.nioo.knaw.nl). This version of file Kite300.doc is last updated on May 29, 2001.

Currently only the PC version is available to end users. Everkite version 3.00 was developed, compiled and linked on PC using the Borland C++ compiler, version 5.02, and runs under Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000/NT. However, since both Osiris version 3.01 (ca. 12000 lines of C++ code) and Everkite version 3.00 (ca. 2000 lines of C++ code) are written in ANSI C++ they can in principle be compiled and linked on any platform for which a C++ compiler is available. This has been tested on various UNIX systems (including LINUX) using the GNU compiler. A major advantage of running Everkite on PC under a 32 bits version of Microsoft Windows is that this allows one to take advantage of the supplied user interface through Microsoft Excel (assuming this program is available).

The Everkite software including this document can be downloaded from folder CL/mooij located at site ftp://ftp.nioo.knaw.nl of the Netherlands Institute (for further information on how to download files using ftp consult your system manager). Login name and password needed for access to this folder will be provided on request (e-mail to Wolf M. Mooij at mooij@cl.nioo.knaw.nl). The subfolder Osiris Everkite of folder CL/mooij contains the files that make up Everkite. To install Everkite copy the entire folder Osiris Everkite to a local disk. Before doing so, users should take notice of the disclaimer at the end of this document. Currently of Everkite takes about 20 MB of disk space at installation. It is good practice to make the files Kite300log.xls, Kite300out.xls and Kite300dmp.xls in subfolder Osiris Everkite/kite/3.00 read only directly after the files have been downloaded. This ensures the continued proper functioning of these prepared worksheets in giving access to the output of Everkite.

Everkite was developed by Wolf M. Mooij of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Limnology, in close cooperation with Don L. DeAngelis, and Rob E. Bennetts. The scientific responsibility for Everkite rests with W.M. Mooij and D.L. DeAngelis. Significant contributions to the development of Everkite were made by Ronnie Best, Jane Comiskey, Phil Darby, Vicky Dreitz, Scott Duke-Sylvester, Lou Gross, Wiley Kitchens and Paul Richards. This work was financed in part by The Netherlands Institute of Ecology, in part by the Department of Interior's Critical Ecosystem Studies Initiative, a special funding initiative for Everglades restoration, administered by the National Park Service, in part by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and in part by the USGS's Florida Caribbean Science Center, by means of a subcontract through the University of Miami. Everkite is developed within the USGS’s Across Trophic Level Systems Simulation (ATLSS) program. Osiris was developed by Wolf M. Mooij of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Limnology.