The Everglades of Florida

Wetlands are areas of standing water with aquatic plants Marshes, swamps and bogs are all considered

wetlands Wetlands have the highest species diversity of all

ecosystemsThe wetlands are home to many species such as

amphibians, reptiles, birds and furbearersNot all wetlands are freshwater ecosystems

because there are ecosystems, like salt marshes. These saltwater ecosystems are also home of other species.

very diverse flora and fauna 2000 different kinds of

plants including the pinelands and the mangroves

The Everglades consist of several habitats: mangrove swamp, tropical hardwood hammocks, pinelands, tree islands, freshwater marshes and coastal estuary

this biome with its habitats allows a huge biodiversity and an unique ecosystem

The Florida EvergladesFlora

The Fauna The Everglades are the only

region in the world where alligators and the endangered crocodiles live in the same place

The National Park is the only place in the U.S.A. where wild flamingos live

350 birds, 300 different fish, 40 species of mammals and 50 species of reptiles live there

the Florida panther is a rare species, brought near to extinction by the loss of habitat

Environmental Problems The water of the Everglades comes from the Lake

Okeechobee In the 1940‘s the building of canals and draining for the

agriculture startedToday about 50% of the original Everglades are lost to

agriculture, the rest is mostly protected by the National Park and other parks

The water of the Everglades is used as a water supply for Miami and other cities which is a big environmental problem because the water is indispensable to life for the ecosystem

This is, in fact the most threatening problem because lower water levels reduce the population of species like fish and snails, that other species need to feed, and disturb the whole food web

Environmental Problems continued36 threatened or protected species live in the Everglades

National ParkPollution through fertilizers and mercury are also a threatBecause of the increasing drought and lower water level

there is also a higher chance for drought firesThe Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)

was first authorized in 1948 and intends to solve the listed environmental problems of the Everglades

It includes more than 60 points, will take more than 30 years to construct and will cost more than $7.8 billion dollars

This is the biggest environmental project in the U.S. history

Food Web of the Florida Everglades

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/wetlandsgallery.php

http://www.scientific-art.com/GIF%20files/Natural%20history/Everweb.jpg

Sourceshttp://forestencyclopedia.net/p/p269http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214223/bhflorafauna.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everglades_National_Park