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Big Cypress National Preserve National Park Service. Pre-Site Information Anticipation Guide Water GPS Introduction to Swamp Ecosystems Backpack Orientation. Anticipation Guide.
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Big Cypress National Preserve National Park Service Pre-Site Information Anticipation Guide Water GPS Introduction to Swamp Ecosystems Backpack Orientation
Anticipation Guide In your anticipation guide, quietly work through the ten questions. Keep this paper, and we will find answers to each question before we go to the SWAMP! The answers will not come in order, so you must remember what you guessed while we go over the information!
Immokalee Naples Water in Big Cypress The water in Big Cypress affects everyone in Collier County every day.
Immokalee Naples Water in Big Cypress Why does the water flow from north to southwest?
Water in Big Cypress What happens to the water while it flows across the swamp? Bill Nye the Science Guy
Water in Big Cypress The swamp, or wetlands, act as a filter. The swamp removes pollution from the water, making it cleaner as it flows south and down into the aquifer. The swamp also slows down the water to prevent flooding. • The water that you use every day comes from the Shallow Aquifer of Southwest Florida. What happens to the water while it flows across the swamp?
Water in Big Cypress The Shallow Aquifer of South Florida is located under the majority of Collier County. Rainwater refills the aquifer. Without Big Cypress, the rain would flow straight into the Gulf of Mexico, rather than down into the aquifer. Source: United States Geological Survey http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/wri/78-107/biscayne.html
Water in Big Cypress Everyone depends on water. “70% of the Earth's surface, 75% of the human body, 90% of blood and sap. 97% of Earth's water is in the oceans, 2% is frozen in icecaps, 1% is fresh, but much of this is inaccessible, deep in the Earth. From what is left, we use 98% for industrial purposes and agriculture, only 2% for the nutrition and health of every living organism.” http://www.wellnessgoods.com/waterimportant.asp
Water in Big Cypress Water also impacts what types of animals and organisms live in and around an area. What kind of animals or organisms might live in these areas?
Water in Big Cypress There are four factors that determine what lives in or near a body of water. Water Depth Water Temperature Level of Dissolved Oxygen pH Level
Water in Big Cypress Water Depth
Water in Big Cypress Water Temperature The water must allow for animals to live in the water. The water temperature is also affected by other factors, such as how water depth, air temperature, and exposure to the sun. Why do you think that is?
Water in Big Cypress Level of Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved Oxygen is the amount of oxygen in the water.
Water in Big Cypress 4. pH
Global Positioning System (GPS) Global positioning system (G.P.S.) is a navigational tool that uses satellites orbiting the Earth to: Determine the coordinates of your position on the ground Show your elevation, ground speed and compass heading Find the coordinates of a landmark Plot your route from one landmark to the next Estimate the distance from your current position to your destination Guide you in the right direction and keep you on course
Coordinates?! Coordinates are described in latitude and longitude. Latitude describes the location of a place based on the distance from the Equator, which is an imaginary line that separates the top and bottom portions of the Earth. Longitude describes the location of a place based on the distance from the Prime Meridian, an imaginary line that reaches from the North to South Poles.
In Big Cypress… Scientists in the Big Cypress National Preserve use G.P.S. to: Plot the position of wildlife or certain plants; Track animals such as the endangered Florida panther; Plot trails created by off-road vehicles (O.R.V.s) and airboats; Mark boundaries for prescribed vegetation burns; Plot habitats such as sawgrass prairies, slash pine flatlands, hardwood hammocks, mangroves and cypress domes; (this is what you will do!) and Mark the location of sampling sites for water quality testing so that the sites can easily be found. You will be using a G.P.S. unit during the field trip to find coordinates. These will be used in a mapping activity back in your classroom.
What do you think might influence the different types of habitats?
Hardwood Hammock Three types of vegetation found in this ecosystem: Oak tree Cabbage Palm Saw palmetto Illustration: Source: www.nps.gov/ever
Hardwood Hammock Three types of animals found in this ecosystem: Florida Panther Florida Black Bear White tailed deer Illustration: Source: www.nps.gov/bicy
Hardwood Hammock What role does water play in your ecosystem?(How much water? Where is it found? Is it there all year long?) Hardwood hammocks are at a slightly higher elevation than most of Big Cypress (the ground is a little higher). Because of this, there is not as much standing water. Hardwood hammocks have a hydroperiod (amount of time that it is covered with water) of about 10-45 days per year.
Hardwood Hammock What is one characteristic that is unique to your ecosystem? There are so many trees that the ground is shaded and much cooler than other areas!
Hardwood Hammock What is one characteristic that is similar to the other two ecosystems? 1) Other Ecosystem: ____________________ Similarity: _____________________________________________ 2) Other Ecosystem: _____________________ Similarity: _____________________________________________ Put the ecosystems in order from highest elevation to lowest elevation: Hardwood Hammock→ ___________ → ___________ → ___________ → ___________ We can’t answer these questions until after we jigsaw!
Mangrove Estuary Three types of vegetation found in this ecosystem: Red Mangrove Black Mangrove White Mangrove Illustration: Source: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/mangroves/mangrove_facts.htm
Mangrove Estuary Three types of animals found in this ecosystem: West Indian Manatee Many types of fish Wading and water birds (like a Great Egret) Illustration: Source: http://www.fws.gov/daphne/es/manatee/Manatee-Index.html
Mangrove Estuary What role does water play in your ecosystem?(How much water? Where is it found? Is it there all year long?) Source: http://www.naturefoundationsxm.org/education/mangroves/red_mangrove.htm
Where does it live? Based on what you have learned about each ecosystem in the swamp, take a guess as to which ecosystem each plant or animal calls “home”.
Where does it live? Florida Panther I like dry ground. I make a den for my babies around the saw palmetto roots. I like other animals to be around so I can have them for dinner! Source: http://www.floridapanther.com/articles/FLORIDA%20PANTHER.htm Habitat…. Pinelands!
Where does it live? Black Bear In the fall, I like to migrate stay in a certain area. I stay in one place that has lots of acorns falling from the oak trees! I also like to stay dry. Habitat… Hardwood Hammock! Source: http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/interactive/springscoast/blackbear.shtml
Where does it live? White Tailed Deer I travel through many habitats in Big Cypress. I really like to visit a certain habitat after wildfires. When the saw grass is growing back after a fire, I like to eat it when it is still very short and sweet! Habitat… Prairie Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidavillaronga/5085061447/
Where does it live? Airplants (bromileads) I am epiphytic (I grow on other trees.) I am sometimes mistaken for a bird’s nest! I like to be in a wet forest with damp air with high relative humidity. The other trees keep me safe, and the damp air gives me water! Habitat… Cypress Dome Source: http://prometheus.med.utah.edu/~bwjones/wp-content/uploads/iblog/Air%20plant.jpg
Backpack Orientation This backpack contains all the technology and information that we will be using in the swamp! Today we will be learning about each item and what we will be doing in each ecosystem that we visit.
Backpack Orientation There are currently five stations set up that will allow you to get familiar with the activities that we will do in the swamp. Stations: Weather Water Location Animal Vegetation
Weather Station At the weather station, there are three items for you to inspect: Sling Psychrometer Weather Vane Anemometer These three instruments measure different properties of the atmosphere that you will use during the SWAMP program.
Water Station At the water station, there are five items for you to inspect: Thermometer Depth stick/ruler White sheet of paper pH strip Glass ampoule Items at this station are very fragile!
Location Station At the location station, there are five items for you to inspect: Habitat hand-out Landmark hand-out Compass G.P.S. (optional) Items at this station are very fragile!
Animal Station and Vegetation Station At these stations, you will practice making observations like you will do in the swamp. You will be responsible for observing plants, animals, and evidence of animals or people. When you see plants, think: what kind of cover does this provide? What food source does it provide? How have humans or other disturbances changed the way it all looks?