Special Adaptations to Survive

Amphibians and some insects lay their eggs in water as an adaptation to the wet conditions. These eggs hatch and the emerging larva have gills through which they "breathe" oxygen from the water. The larva grow and undergo a metamorphosis into air-breathing terrestrial adults. Once adults, these organisms continue to live their lives near aquatic ecosystems such as a wetlands so that they can lay their eggs in the water.

Map

Everglade's Food Web

The Everglades (Florida Map)

The Everglades National Park is 1.4 million acres of wetland in southern Florida. Its water source begins near Orlando in the Kissimmee waterway then flows southward through sawgrass prairies and finally meeting the sea via Florida Bay.

Animals in the Everglades!

Soil Conditions

The ground in the Everglades is the result of the slow decay of plants in a warm, rainy place at a low elevation. The river of grass is covered with sawgrass, myrtle, willow, and other vegetation. Soil in the glades has a high nitrogen content with comparatively low potassium and phosphate contents. The soil is composed of fine sand, silt, clay, and decaying organic matter. The main soil types in the Everglades are muck and peat.

Anthropogenic Environmental Threats

The Everglades National Park is often called "the most threatened park in the U.S."

The Everglades were recently considered by some politicians as a potential location to drill for oil. This disruption of such a delicate environment could be disastrous. The citizens of Florida recognized this and there has been strong public opposition.

After several major hurricanes, Florida's leaders became concerned with controlling and diverting the natural flow of water around the state. Drainage canals mostly stopped the movement of water across southeastern Florida. This process of drainage and diversion has destroyed thousands of acres of wetlands over the past century.



Invasive species brought in both unintentionally and intentionally (pets, food sources, biological controls) by people have wreaked havoc by outcompeting the native flora and fauna of the Everglades.

Population and industry growth within Florida has created increasing pressure and incentive to develop natural land. Over half of the original Everglades was destroyed as a result of those pressures. Farms for dairy, sugarcane, and rice all exist on drained parts of the river of grass.

"Conservation in Action" covers threats and a restoration plan concerning the Everglades

Bibliography

Cain, Chase. "Michele Bachmann Maintains Her Stance on Drilling for Oil in the Everglades, Upsetting Floridians and Fellow Tea Party Members." Tampa Bay Fl News | Connect to 10 News in Tampa, Sarasota, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Florida. 31 Aug. 2011. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. .

Dovell, Junius. "SOFIA - A History of the Everglades of Florida - Chapter 1, Section 2." South Florida Information Access (SOFIA) -- USGS Greater Everglades Ecosystems Science. U.S. Department of the Interior, 30 Oct. 2006. Web. 17 Feb. 2012. .

"FLMNH Ichthyology Department: South Florida Aquatic Environments." Florida Museum of Natural History. Florida Museum of Natural History. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. .

Robbins, Erica. "Plants and Animals of the Everglades." Welcome to the Official Website of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. .

Keystone Species

Periphyton algae is the base of the Everglades food web.  It is one of the smallest organisms around and it found throughout the Everglades.  It is eaten by aquatic animals and bugs.  



Mangroves provide a barrier between salt- and fresh-water areas.  Their expansive root systems also prevent erosion and their decomposition helps create soil. 

Aerial View of the Everglades