The Florida Everglades

Words: 563
Pages: 3
Open Document
Ecosystem Paper
An ecosystem describes the interactions of several different organisms in a defined area, each performing different functions and working together to sustain life (Botkin & Keller, 2014). The size and complexity of ecosystems varies, depending on a number of factors, including geographical area, the number of species inhabiting it, abiotic factors, food chains, and nutrient cycles. The following is an overview of an ecosystem in south Florida, known as the Everglades.
The Florida Everglades
The Everglades is a vast, swampy region covering over 2.5 million acres in southern Florida (Clark & Bundy, 2011). Dominant species in the region include sawgrass, cattails, saw palmetto, various pine trees, cypress trees, water lilies, …show more content…
Abiotic features of an ecosystem affect how it functions, and thus could have a direct impact on its living organisms. Frequent wild fires, flooding, droughts, and hurricanes are all examples of major abiotic factors in the Everglades (Brown, et. al., 2006).
Nutrient Cycle, Food Chain, & Invasive Species
Much of the Everglades is underlain by peat, which is made up mostly of the decomposed remains of plants that had lived in the area. Peat plays a very important role in the recycling of important nutrient elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Peat, along with algal mats, are home to bacteria, zooplankton, and photosynthetic algae, which are central to the cycling of these nutrients (Brown, et. al., 2006). Algae also make up part of the first trophic level in the Everglades’ food chain, as it is the primary food source for many of the small fish, such as minnows and shiners. These fish are then eaten by frogs and snakes, which are consumed by wading birds; and by bass, sunfish, and crappie, which are major food sources of the American alligator. Other food sources to
Show More

Related Documents: The Florida Everglades

The Florida Everglades

The Everglades have been around as long as the state of Florida. It has suffered a lot since then. People depend on the Everglades, but it has been damaged by people and nature and is not as grand as it used to be. But despite this, it can still be saved from the future that awaits it. The Everglades are not only a national treasure, but so many people and animals rely on it every day. “Past and Present: The Florida Everglades”, by Toby Haskell, states, “The Everglades have always existed in a delicate…

Words 351 - Pages 2

Florida Everglades

The Florida Everglades are a popular destination for vacations and are full of wildlife, However, over the last few decades human production and water supply changes are affecting the Everglades because many animals have gone extinct, the Everglades are a main resource for millions of people, and the quality of the water being sent to the Everglades is not good enough. To start off, many rare and exotic species have gone extinct due to changes in the environment. Many decades ago, Indian tribes…

Words 491 - Pages 2

Florida Everglades Essay

Why Wetlands Need Our Help When the words wetlands or Florida Everglades are mentioned what comes to mind? The science lesson that you really weren't paying much attention to. A dark scary swamp filled with Indiana Jones' worst fear, snakes. Or maybe even that field trip to the Everglades you took in middle school where talking to your friends and looking at the native American jewelry was more important then paying attention to the slowly dying ecosystem around you. Back then none of these situations…

Words 980 - Pages 4

Summary: The Florida Everglades

The Florida Everglades is an area of subtropical wetlands. The water supply has been going down hell and any minor change can strongly impact the wilderness. The difference in water supply has effected the wildlife, drinking water, and water that animals like in. The water supply really needs to be safe. First, water has had huge effects on the Everglades’ wildlife. The amount of animals has greatly decreased. According to Tobey Haskell, author of Past and Present:The Florida Everglades, states…

Words 414 - Pages 2

The Burmese Python In The Florida Everglades

Each animal in every ecosystem play an enormous role where they’re native to. In the Everglades, the native species of the snail kite thrive and flourish in the large overlapping trees of the marshes. But then, a cheetah patterned reptile juts his head out from the mangy bushes and snaps the poor snail kite right in half in one pinch. In muddy and murky marshes, the American Alligator swims freely, bobbing it’s eyes up and down to see over the murky water. Then you hear the cock of a gun “Crrrrrok…

Words 822 - Pages 4

Pythons Invade The Florida Everglades

Pythons invade the Florida Everglades? That part may be true, but are they a threat or simply hanging around? The author of the expository text Pythons Invade the Florida Everglades seems to believe so. In the story the point is focused on pythons invade the Florida Everglades and how they did and how they are trying to fix it. In the story Pythons Invade the Florida Everglades, the author shares his opinion that the Burmese Python is an incredible threat to the Everglades. We will be analyzing…

Words 367 - Pages 2

Burmese Python In The Florida Everglades

and have prehensile tails. Invasive species Python invasion has been particularly extensive in South Florida, where a large number of pythons have made their way to the Everglades. It has been suggested that the current number of Burmese pythons in the Florida everglades has reached a minimum viable population and become an invasive species. More than 1,330 have been captured in the Everglades. The importation of Burmese pythons was banned in the United States in January 2012 by the U.S. Department…

Words 830 - Pages 4

Florida Everglades Research Paper

many threats to the Florida Everglades. These big threats are reclaiming the Florida Everglades for agriculture and an invasive species called the pythons. These two problems are affecting the Florida Everglades. The passage stated that, “The area was designated as one of the world’s most important wetland areas.” So shouldn't we protect it? Well, efforts are being made to restore all of the Florida Everglades. First, we need to address the problems of the Florida Everglades. Deforestation and drying…

Words 323 - Pages 2

Florida Everglades Research Paper

to go. This “subtropical wilderness” is called the Florida Everglades. First off, the Florida Everglades provide clean water to about 7 million FLorida residents and was one home to many exotic species making the Everglades very important. In 1905-1910 settlers coming from outside of Florida had an idea to drain the Florida Everglades in order to create more farmlands. Railroads were being built and the population just kept growing. The Everglades wildlife was decreasing fast and so did the wetlands…

Words 613 - Pages 3

Florida Everglades Research Paper

The Florida everglades are very important to Florida's ecosystem. The Florida everglades is home to many different species of animals. Florida's everglades also provides for a very big part in Florida's water supply. Wetlands and the Florida Everglades can protect Florida from natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. If the Florida everglades keeps dissipating like it is then humans and animals alike are going to have a massive problem. Everglades Quick Facts explains that ''The everglades…

Words 443 - Pages 2