Even though Hurricane Erika may have lost its steam before hitting southern Florida this past weekend, its the perfect time to think about how a hurricane might have affected the Florida Everglades, and more specifically the wildlife that can be found here. Usually following a hurricane, a large majority of the media coverage is centered […]
Between all of the birds, fish, and reptiles that can be found within the Florida Everglades, it is certainly a very colorful place. But have you ever wondered why some species are more colorful than others, or why there is so much variation within species sometimes? For instance, have you ever wondered why some flamingoes […]
Restoration ecology is a special field of science, having been first classified in the 1980′s, which has become an integral part of the conservation and restoration efforts in such places as the Florida Everglades. But what is restoration ecology? The official definition of restoration ecology as defined by the Society for Ecological Restoration is the […]
If you have ever asked yourself the question, “Why do bald cypresses have knees?” then you are not alone. Cypress trees are unusual when compared to most other tree species, whose root systems run underground, because although cypress roots do run underground, some of their root structures also come back up. When this happens we […]
The Florida Everglades provide a lush and hospitable environment for a variety of plants and animals. While the majority of species found in the Everglades are harmless to humans, there are a few that should be watched out for. Among these are the American alligator, the Burmese python, and the poisonwood tree. While you might […]
The ghost orchid, also known by its Latin name of dendrophylax lindenii, is often talked about but rarely seen, and is today considered to be one of the rarest flowers in the United States, if not the entire world. First discovered in 1844, the elusive flower has only been spotted in three places: Cuba, the […]
Mangroves are one of the last true natives in Florida, with an estimated 469,000 acres of mangrove forests found throughout the southern coastal areas of Florida. Because they thrive in saltwater and brackish water environments, they have made a comfortable home here since prehistoric times, and today, though there are more than fifty species of […]
To understand the beauty and unique characteristics of the Florida Everglades ecosystem, one first learns that the Everglades are classified as wetlands. Wetlands are areas of land that remain saturated by water either seasonally or throughout the year. What separates wetlands from rivers and oceans is the ever present abundance of plant life and vegetation. […]
