? ? The Everglades is a two million acre subtropical wetland ecosystem that is approximately two million acres. It reaches from central Florida, near Orlando, all the way south to Florida Bay. (Federation, 2000) The geology of Southern Florida, has a warm and wet subtropical climate that provides conditions that help the large marshland ecosystem flourish. Layers of porous and permeable limestone create water bearing rock and soil that effect the climate, weather and hydrology of Southern Florida.
The climate of South Florida is noted for its variability, as average annual temperatures range from 60 °F (16 °C) to 80 °F (27 °C). Temperatures in summer months typically exceed 90 °F (32 °C). (Wikipedia,2010) ? ? Writer Marjory Stoneman Douglas invented the term “River of Grass” to describe the sawgrass marshes of the Everglades. This is part of the components of the eocsystem that also include cypress swamps, the estuarine mangrove forests of the Ten Thousand Islands, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine rockland and the marine environment of Florida Bay. (Federation, 2000) ? ? ? Sawgrass thrives in the slowly moving water, but may die in unusually deep floods if oxygen is unable to reach its roots, and it is particularly vulnerable immediately after a fire. Aquatic animals such as turtles, alligators, snakes, and fish thrive in sloughs; they usually feed on aquatic invertebrates. Submerged and floating plants grow here, such as bladderwort, waterlily, and spatterdock . The region’s subtropical to tropical climate features a 7-month wet season from April through October, when 75 percent of precipitation is related to tropical cyclones and thunderstorms. Wikipedia,2010) ? ? ? ? ? ? As the population of Florida has grown many thousands of acres of swampland have been logged and drained for residential and agricultural uses. Much of the once wet and mucky land has been filled in and used for growing crops, grazing livestock, or building homes. Where swampland once was there are fields of sugarcane, citrus orchards, or pastureland. Much of the remaining wetlands have been polluted by run-off from farms and urban areas. More than 50% of the original wetlands in the state have already been destroyed. (Wikipedia, 2010).
Human activities have altered drainage patterns, destroyed wildlife habitat, and interfered with the natural filtration systems of the wetlands. Extensive draining, dredging, and canal-building has reduced swamplands and affected the natural draining and filtering processes of the ecosystem. Most of these activities were conducted before the Everglades became a National Park in 1947. ? ? ? ? Collectors of species wreak havoc on the Everglades and take a toll on this area because of its rare species. The creations which now face extinction include several different kinds of orchids and ferns, Florida tree snails, and the indigo snake.
The intrusion of the Water Conservation Areas though places this pattern in serious jeopardy. The levee system interrupts the drydown as conditions on one side may not match with conditions on the other. Changes in the dry/wet season cycle, affect alligator reproduction, interrupting mating and often drowning their eggs. This can cause extinction with this species as well. Mercury has been found in local fish at such high levels that consumption warnings were posted for fishermen. A Florida panther was found dead with levels of mercury high enough to kill a human.
Scientists have found that power plants and incinerators using fossil fuels were expelling mercury into the atmosphere, and it falls as rain or dust during droughts. This is potentially damaging to the foodchain. ? ? ? ? ? There are many ways to minimize the damaging effects of construction or other activities on wetlands and other surface waters. The impacts from road construction can be reduced by selecting the least damaging alignment and by building a bridge rather than a filled causeway to cross wetlands or other surface waters.
Erosion not only removes your top soil, but it also transports suspended sediment into water bodies. You can reduce erosion by mulching, or planting ground cover over exposed soil in heavily trafficked areas, flower beds, and shaded areas. Recycle the vegetation. Rather than piling, raking, or blowing leaves or grass clippings into the streets where they will wash into streams or lakes, then decay and become a source of pollution, make a compost pile and return these materials to your soil. Let ain water soak into the ground rather than letting it run off your property on impervious surfaces. • Federation, (2000)N. W. Everglades [Web article]. Retrieved from http://www. nwf. org/Wildlife/Wild-Places/Everglades. aspx • Protection, F. D. O. E. (1996). Florida state of the environment-Wetlands: A guide to living with florida’s wetlands [PDF article]. Retrieved from http://www. dep. state. fl. us/water/wetlands/docs/erp/fsewe t. pdf • Wikipedia. (2010, August 12). Everglades [Web article]. Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Everglades
