EvergladesEvergladesBy: Briana BetressBy: Briana Betress
Location
• Southern tip of Florida, from Lake Okeechobee southward to the Florida Bay
• Has an area of 34,000 –km2
• About half of the area has been lost to agriculture/urbanization
History• 1841-1856 US forces explored the
everglades to drive out the Seminoles
• 1850 the Swamp and Overflow Act turned over the area to the government
• 1881-1905 a series of canals were dug
• The now drained area was found to be very fertile and suitable for agriculture
Some Facts• Sometimes called the River of Grass
• Everglades National Park covers 20% of the original land
• Water is used for Miami’s water supply as well as other surrounding regions
• There are several small outlets including Miami River, New River, and Shark River
• It has a subtropical climate with annual rhythms of drought, flood, and fire
• Only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist together
Flora
Scorpion's Tail
Climbing aster Sixangle Foldwing
Beggarticks False Foxglove
Fireflag
Flora II
Wetland Fireflag,
Arrowroot
White Fragrant Water Lily Spike Rush
SawgrassMahogany
Fireflag
Willow
Fauna
West Indian Manatee
White-tailed Deer
Racoon
Great Blue Heron
Florida PantherGreat Egret
Brown Pelican
Black-necked Stilt
Fauna II
Everglades Crayfish
Green Tree Frog
Dragonfly
Florida Cooter
American Alligator
Flagfish
Southern Cricket Frog
Everglades Ratsnake
Threats
• Water Control– Drainage canals– Pumping stations
• Introduced, Exotic, and Invasive Species– Mayan Cichlid,
Melaleuca tree, Burmese Python
• Development– Urbanization,
Agriculture, Industry• Drought• Fires
Introduced, Exotics, and Invasives
Mayan Cichlid
Melaleuca Tree
Water Hyacinth
Brazilian Holly
Burmese Python
Problems
• 90-95% wading bird population reduction
• 68 plant and animal species endangered or threatened
• 1.5 million acres infested with invasive and exotic species
• 1.7 billion gallons of discharge into the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
• Saltwater intrusion
• Over 1 million acres under health advisories for mercury
Conservation
•Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)
•It will take more than 30 years and $7.8 billion dollars
•The plan is to capture discharged water before going to ocean and reroute it, first, to deficient areas and then agricultural areas.
Any Questions?Any Questions?
References
• http://evergladesplan.org/about
• http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/wrp/wrp_evg/2_wrp_evg_info/photos_exotic.html
• Mitsch W. and Gosselink J. Wetlands. 2000 John Wiley & Sons Inc.
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