By: Matt, J.P., Alyssa, Reed and Nikki

The Everglades

River Of Life - English - 4 mins.m4v

Where are the Everglades?

= Everglades Ecosystem

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

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.

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.

Animals (American Alligator)

Characteristics• 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.

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.

Animals (Osprey)

Characteristics Adaptations

• 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.

• 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.

Characteristics Adaptations• 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.

• 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.

Animals (West Indian Manatee)

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.

Plants (Mangroves)

Characteristics• 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.

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.

Characteristics• 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.

Plants (Slash Pine)

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.

Plants (Bald Cypress)Characteristics

• 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.

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.

• 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.

Climate

ClimateMonth Average Maximum Temperature Average Minimum Temperature Average Precipitation

(deg. F) (deg. C) (deg. F) (deg. C) (inches) (mm)

Jan 78 25 54 12 1.65 42

Feb 80 27 56 13 1.85 47

March 82 28 58 15 1.92 49

April 85 29 61 16 2.77 70

May 88 31 66 19 5.86 149

June 90 32 71 22 9.07 230

July 91 33 73 23 7.07 180

Aug 92 33 73 23 8.30 211

Sep 91 32 73 23 8.71 221

Oct 87 31 70 21 5.54 141

Nov 83 28 63 17 2.28 58

Dec 79 26 57 14 1.37 35

Annual 85 30 65 18 56.4 1,432

• 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.

Environmental Concerns

What can you do to help?

Burmese Python• 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.

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

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.

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.

Hillclimb Media, 1995-2007. Web 19 Feb. 2014.