The Everglades

1. The Everglades By: Matt, J.P., Alyssa, Reed and Nikki River Of Life - English - 4 mins.m4v

2. Where are the Everglades? = Everglades Ecosystem

3. Where are the Everglades? • The Everglades are located in the Northern Hemisphere on the continent of North America. • The Everglades can be found at the southern most tip of the mainland of Florida in the United States of America. • GPS coordinates:25°23'42.97" N 80°34"59.36" W

4. Characteristics • Animal and plant species that inhabit the everglades are adapted to tolerate harsh conditions like fire, hurricanes, heat, humidity, saltwater and large amounts of freshwater. • The everglades is a subtropical wilderness of saw-grass prairie, jungle-like hammock, and mangrove swamp that originally extended from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. • Everglades abiotic factors include temperature, fire and hurricanes.

5. Characteristics • Everglades national park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist. • The everglades are often called the “river of grass”. • The everglades ecosystem contains a mix of tropical and temperate plants and animals including more than 700 plant and 300 bird species, as well as the endangered manatee, crocodile, and Florida panther.

6. Animals (American Alligator) Characteristics Adaptations Alligators have skin that acts like armor and its color provides camouflage. Alligator females will protect young for up to 2 years after hatching. Alligators are generalists and eat many different species of animals. • Alligators are carnivorous, eating mostly meat which includes species such as crabs, crayfish, frogs, fish, snakes, birds, deer, raccoons and other animals. • Alligators are cold blooded and have a scaly body that acts as armor • Females build mounds for nests and lay up to 30 eggs. • Egg gender is determined by the temperature of the nest. • 91 degrees and higher, eggs will be male, 85 degrees and lower, eggs will be female.

7. Animals (Osprey) Characteristics Adaptations Ospreys are the only raptors whose outer toe is reversible, allowing them to grasp prey with 2 toes in front and 2 in back. The oldest osprey chicks rule the nest and younger chicks have been known to leave the nest to find foster parents. Ospreys emit an oily substance that coats their feathers and makes them waterproof, enabling them to plunge into the water to catch fish. • The osprey is an indicator species and can be used to monitor habitat conditions. • Ospreys have a 6 foot wingspan and have white coloration on head and underbelly with brown wings and back. • Ospreys are carnivores, feeding mainly on fish; thus, ospreys are normally found near water.

8. Animals (West Indian Manatee) Characteristics Adaptations Manatees feed on many types of aquatic plants and seagrasses and may spend up to 8 hours per day feeding. They retreat to warmer waters during winter months, like Florida bay and Homosassa Springs. Their lungs are positioned along backbone to help with buoyancy control. Manatees can stay submerged for up to 20 minutes. • Manatees are marine mammals that breathe air and feed on aquatic plants and seagrasses making them herbivores. • Manatees can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and are adapted to live in the tropics. • They have a large paddle like tail and move slowly through the water.

9. Keystone Species • Alligators dig “gator holes” which provides a home for many insects, fish, turtles, birds and more during winter (drought) months. • Plants piled beside “gator holes” decay to form soil in which seeds from other plants germinate, take root and grow and can form new islands. • Alligators feed on many different species helping to keep wildlife populations in balance.

10. Plants (Mangroves) Characteristics Adaptations Mangroves are both salt and fresh water tolerant. Seeds can begin to grow while still on parent tree. Seedlings float and lodge themselves at first opportunity. • Mangroves have extensive root systems above and below the ground. • Mangroves serve as a nursery for a variety of marine species. • They provide defense against winds and storm surge.

11. Plants (Slash Pine) Characteristics Adaptations Slash pines are very tolerant of fire. Cones produce paper thin seeds that are adapted to catch the wind to spread out. Slash pines can survive on sandy soils. They produce sap to deter insects from burrowing into their wood. • Slash pine will take root on exposed limestone substrate. • Slash pines are found in coastal areas and are slow growing trees. • These pines are evergreen trees and produce needles in pairs instead of producing 3 needle clusters like other pines. • Pinelands provide refuge for the Florida panther.

12. Plants (Bald Cypress) Characteristics Adaptations Cypress trees can survive in standing water. The base of the tree can be up to 1.8 meters in diameter and supports the root system. Cypress trees can grow on very shallow soil. • Bald cypress trees are deciduous conifers and loose their leaves during winter. • Cypress trees can grow up to 100-120 feet tall. • Cypress trees grow what are referred to as “knees”, which biologists are unsure what purpose they serve.

13. Climate • South Florida's subtropical climate is characterized by warm, humid, rainy summers and mild, dry, pleasant winters with periodic incursions of cool air. • The everglades are frequented by thunderstorms during the summer that can produce fire which is an essential part of the ecosystem. • Average rainfall in the everglades is around 60 inches per year. • The everglades lie within one of the most active hurricane areas of the united states. • The temperature in the everglades ranges from 50-95 degrees.

14. Climate

15. Environmental Concerns • Burmese pythons were discovered in the everglades in 2000 and have expanded their range throughout the park and outlying areas. • These pythons are voracious feed on a variety of mammals and birds. • Burmese pythons pose a significant threat to endangered species that are found in the everglades. • Burmese pythons can grow to 20 feet long and weigh 200 pounds, at this size its only predators are humans and alligators. • Pythons are highly adaptable to the everglades. • Female pythons have been found carrying 30-50 fertile eggs.

16. What can you do to help? Burmese Python Everglades and other Ecosystems Volunteer or visit the everglades Donate Do not liter Inform your friends and family about the everglades and other ecosystems. Be responsible when buying exotic pets • You can quickly report and/or remove nonnative species to help in efforts currently underway. • If you have a non-domesticated animal you can no longer care for, consider attending one of the Nonnative Pet Amnesty Days presented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. • Learn to identify our incredible native reptiles so you won’t confuse them with exotics.

17. What if only man-made structuresexisted? • Ecosystems like the everglades are crucial for the survival of many plant and animal species, some of which would go extinct if the ecosystem it inhabits disappeared. • Ecosystems like the everglades not only provide us with the ability to enjoy recreational activities like hiking and kayaking but also benefit us in ways such as: • Filtering water • Providing medicines • Acting as buffers against storms • Providing food • If man-made structures only existed many species, habitats, recreational opportunities, and beneficial resources that we enjoy would not exist. • If I could only live in one biome it would be the temperate forest because that is where I live now and I enjoy the climate.

18. Sources • Moeller, Karla. Ask a Biologist: Boundless Biomes. Arizona State University, 19 July. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. • n.p. Everglades National Park, Monroe, FL. Map. Google Maps. Google, 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. • n.p. Everglades National Park. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, 2014. Web 20 Feb. 2014. • n.p. GORP Everglades National Park: Plant Life. Orbitz Away LLC, 2002. Web 19 Feb. 2014. • n.p., National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 1996-2014. Web 20 Feb. 2014. • Uhler, John. Everglades National Park Flora & Fauna Page. HillclimbMedia, 1995-2007. Web 19 Feb. 2014.