,handbook #adc ,everglades ,wildguide by ,jean ,craighead ,george ,illustrations by ,betty ,fraser ,the ,natural ,history of ,everglades ,national ,park1 ,florida ,division of ,publications ,national ,park ,service ,u4,s4 ,department of the ,interior ,washington1 ,d4,c4 #aihh ,about ,this ,book ,here is the story of the plants and animals of the ,everglades1 this country's subtropical kingdom4 ,plants and animals found nowhere else in the #ej states are found here in abundance1 though in an increasingly perilous state4 ,in this handbook1 first published in #aigb1 author and researcher ,jean ,craighead ,george brings to the telling of this story long years of study and understanding4 ,checklists and glossaries at the back buttress her account of the natural history of this national park4 ,national ,park ,handbooks1 compact introductions to the great natural and historic places administered by the ,national ,park ,service1 are published to support the ,national ,park ,service's management programs at the parks and to promote understanding and enjoyment of the parks4 ,each is intended to be informative reading and a useful guide before1 during1 and after a park visit4 ,more than #ajj titles are in print4 ,this is ,handbook #adc4 ,you may purchase the handbooks through the mail by writing to ,superintendent of ,documents1 ,u4,s4 ,government ,printing ,office1 ,washington1 ,,dc #bjdjb4 ,library of ,congress card number3 #gc-fjjjgg ,,isbn #j-iabfbg-bi-h ,,gpo3 #aihg--aha-iag_/fjejd ,preface vii ,america's ,subtropical ,wonderland #a ,pine ,rockland #g ,tree-,island ,glades #ab ,mangrove ,swamp #af ,florida ,bay and the ,coastal ,prairie #ba ,big ,cypress ,swamp #bf ,plant-and-,animal ,communities #bi ,tropical ,hardwood ,hammock #cj ,cypress ,head #ce ,bayhead #ch ,willow ,head #dj ,web of ,life in the ,marsh #db ,alligator ,hole in the ,glades #de ,discovering ,everglades ,plants and ,animals #di ,air ,plants #eb ,mammals #ei ,birds #fd ,reptiles and ,amphibians #gj ,fishes #gb ,animals without ,backbones #ge ,indians of the ,everglades #gg ,appendix #hj ,glossary #ha ,for ,reading and ,reference #hd ,rare and ,endangered ,animals #hf ,checklist of ,mammals #hg ,checklist of ,birds #hh ,checklist of ,reptiles and ,amphibians #if ,checklist of ,trees #ih ,illustration3 ,,everglades ,,national ,,park ,illustration3 ,alligator nest ,,preface ,the shimmering waters of the everglades creep silently down the tip of ,florida under warm subtropical skies4 ,in a vast1 shallow sheet this lazy river idles through tall grasses and shadowy forests1 easing over alligator holes and under bird rookeries1 finally mingling with the salty waters of ,florida ,bay and the ,gulf of ,mexico in the mangrove swamps4 ,from source to sea1 all across the shallow breadth of this watery landscape1 life abounds4 ,everglades ,national ,park is to most ,americans an ,eden where birds1 mammals1 reptiles1 and orchids find sanctuary4 ,sunshine sparkles on sloughs teeming with fish1 and on marshes where wildflowers bloom the year around2 it shines on tree islands where birds roost and deer bed down4 ,in this semitropical garden of plant-and-animal communities1 every breeze-touched glade1 every cluster of trees is a separate world in which are tucked yet smaller worlds of such complexity that even ecologists have not learned all their intricate relationships4 ,this book has been written to help you see how the many pieces of this ecological puzzle fit together to form a complex1 ever-changing1 closely woven web of plants1 animals1 rock1 soil1 sun1 water1 and air4 ,,america',s ,,subtropical ,,wonderland ,everglades may not be our largest national park 7that honor belongs to ,wrangell-,st4 ,elias in ,alaska71 but it is certainly the wettest4 ,during and after the rainy season1 when not only the mangrove swamp but also the sawgrass prairie is under water1 most of the park abounds in fish and other water life1 and even the white-tailed deer leads a semi-aquatic existence4 ,despite the fact that it is low1 flat1 and largely under water1 ,everglades is a park of many environments3 shallow1 key-dotted ,florida ,bay2 the coastal prairie2 the vast mangrove forest and its mysterious waterways2 cypress swamps2 the true everglades--an extensive freshwater marsh dotted with tree islands and occasional ponds2 and the driest zone1 the pine-and-hammock rockland4 ,the watery expanse we call 8everglades10 from which the park gets its name1 lies only partly within the park boundaries4 ,originally this river flowed1 unobstructed though very slowly1 southward from ,lake ,okeechobee more than #ajj miles to ,florida ,bay4 ,it is hardly recognizable as a river1 for it is #ej miles wide and averages only about #f inches deep1 and it creeps rather than flows4 ,its source1 the area around ,lake ,okeechobee1 is only about #ae feet above sea level1 and the riverbed slopes southward only #b or #c inches to the mile4 ,as you can see by the maps on pages #b and #c1 the works of man have greatly altered the drainage patterns and the natural values of south ,florida1 and you can imagine how this has affected the supply of water--the park's lifeblood4 ,the park's array of plants and animals is a blend of tropical species1 most of which made their way across the water from the ,caribbean islands1 and species from the ,temperate ,zone1 which embraces all of ,florida4 ,all of these inhabitants exist here through adaptation to the region's peculiar cycles of flood1 drought1 and fire and by virtue of subtle variations in temperature1 altitude1 and soil4 ,illustration3 ,,historic ,,drainage ,,patterns ,,of ,,south ,,florida ,illustration3 ,,drainage ,,patterns ,,of ,,south ,,florida ,,today ,illustration3 ,,plant ,,communities ,,of ,,everglades ,,national ,,park ,the horizontal distance represented on this diagram1 from the ,pineland to ,florida ,bay1 is #ae miles4 ,with a greatly exaggerated vertical scale1 the difference between the greatest elevation of the pine ridge and the bottom of the ,florida ,bay marl bed is only #ad feet4 ,,florida ,,bay 7,,salt ,,water7 ,,mud ,,bank ,,key ,,coastal ,,prairie ,,mangrove ,,swamp 7,,brackish7 ,,buttonwood ,,levee ,,tree-,,island ,,glades 7,,fresh ,,water7 ,,bayhead ,,cypress ,,head ,,willow ,,head ,,hardwood ,,hammock ,,pine ,,and ,,hammock ,,ridge ,underlying the entire park is porous limestone 7see glossary71 which was deposited ages ago in warm seas that covered the southern part of today's ,florida peninsula4 ,over this limestone only a thin mantle of marl and peat provides soil for rooting plants4 ,some of the park's ecosystems 7see glossary7 are extremely complex4 ,for example1 a single jungle hammock of a dozen acres may contain1 along with giant live oaks and other plants from the ,temperate ,zone1 many kinds of tropical hardwood trees2 a profusion of vines1 mosses1 ferns1 orchids1 and air plants2 and a great variety of vertebrate and invertebrate animals1 from tree snails to the white-tailed deer4 ,pine ,rockland ,entering the park from the northeast1 you are on a road traversing the pineland-and-hammock 8ridge40 ,this elevated part of the ,south ,florida limestone bedrock1 which at the park entrance is about #f feet above sea level1 is the driest zone in the park4 ,pine trees1 which will grow only on ground that remains above water most of the year1 thrive on this rockland4 ,there is another condition essential to the survival of the pine forest in this region--fire4 ,we usually think of fire as the enemy of forest vegetation2 but that is not true here4 ,the pines that grow in this part of ,florida have a natural resistance to fire4 ,their thick1 corky bark insulates their trunks from the flames4 ,and strangely enough the fire actually seems to help with pine reproduction2 it destroys competing vegetation and exposes the mineral soil seedlings need4 ,if there has been a good cone crop1 you will find an abundant growth of pine seedlings after a fire in the pinelands4 ,what would happen if the pinelands were protected from fire8 ,examine a pine forest where there have been no recent fires4 ,you will note that there are many small hardwood 7broadleaved7 trees growing in the shade of the pines4 ,these hardwoods would eventually shade out the light-demanding pine seedlings1 and take over as the old pines died off4 ,but under normal conditions1 lightning-caused fires sweep at fairly frequent intervals through the pineland4 ,since the hardwoods have little resistance to fire1 they are pruned back4 ,before this century1 fires burned vast areas4 ,the only barriers were natural waterways--sloughs1 lakes and ponds1 and estuaries--which retained some water during the rainless season when the rest of the glades and pinelands dried up4 ,old-timers say that sometimes a fire would travel all the way from ,lake ,okeechobee to the coastal prairie of ,cape ,sable 7see page #b74 ,in the pine forest1 any area bypassed by these fires for a lengthy period developed into a junglelike island of hardwoods4 ,we call such stands 8hammocks10 whether they develop in the pine forest or in the open glades4 ,on the limestone ridge1 the hammocks support a community of plants and animals strikingly different from the surrounding pine forests4 ,illustration3 ,,pine ,,and ,,hammock ,,ridge 7elevation3 #c to #g feet above sea level7 ,,sawgrass ,,glades ,,pineland ,,hardwood ,,hammock ,,pineland #a ,,south ,,florida ,,slash ,,pine #b ,,saw-,,palmetto #c ,,coontie #d ,,saw-,,palmetto ,,after ,,fire ,with the opening up of south ,florida for farming and industry1 man's works--particularly roads and canals--soon crisscrossed the region1 forming barriers to the spread of the fires4 ,suppression of fire by farmers1 lumbermen1 and park managers also lessened their effect4 ,thus the hardwoods1 which previously had been held back by fire1 tended to replace the pines4 ,and although the park was established to preserve a patch of primitive subtropical ,america as it was in earlier centuries1 the landscape began to change4 ,continued protection of the park from fire would in time eliminate the pineland--a plant community that has little chance to survive elsewhere4 ,so1 in ,everglades ,national ,park1 ,smokey ,bear must take a back seat3 park rangers deliberately set fires to help nature maintain the natural scene4 ,thus1 as you drive down the road to ,flamingo1 do not be shocked to discover park rangers burning the vegetation4 ,the fires are controlled1 of course1 and the existing hammocks are not destroyed4 ,when you visit the park take a close look at the pinelands community4 ,notice1 as you walk on the manmade trail through the pine forest1 that the ground on either side of you is extremely rough4 ,the limestone bedrock is visible everywhere2 what soil there is has accumulated in the pits and potholes that riddle the bedrock4 ,the trees1 shrubs1 grasses1 and other plants are rooted in these pockets of soil4 ,the limestone looks rather hazardous to walk on--and it is4 ,you must be careful not to break through a thin shell of rock covering a cavity4 ,this pitted1 honeycombed condition is due to the fact that the limestone is easily dissolved by acids4 ,decaying pine needles1 palmetto leaves1 and other dead plant materials produce weak acids that continually eat away at the rock4 ,if a fire has passed through the pineland recently1 you may notice that while most of the low-growing plants have been killed1 some1 such as the saw-palmetto1 are sending up new green shoots4 ,the thick1 stubby stem of the palmetto lies in a pothole1 with its roots in the soil that has accumulated there2 even in the dry season the pocket in the limestone remains damp1 for water is never very far below the surface in this region4 ,when fire kills the top of the plant1 the stem and roots survive1 and the palmetto1 like the pine1 remains a part of the plant community4 ,a number of other plants of the south ,florida pinelands have adapted to the conditions of periodic burning4 ,coontie 7a cycad1 from the underground stems of which the ,indians made flour7 and moon vine 7a morningglory7 are among many you will see surviving pineland fires severe enough to result in the death or stunting of the hardwood seedlings and saplings4 ,sometimes we forget that fire--like water1 wind1 and sunlight--is a natural force that operates with the others to influence the evolution of plants as well as to shape the landscape4 ,the pineland1 like other plant communities1 has its own community of animals4 ,some of its residents1 such as the cotton mouse1 opossum1 and raccoon1 are found in other communities of the park1 too4 ,some of the pineland animals1 however--pine warbler1 reef gecko1 and five-lined skink1 for example--are particularly adapted to this environment4 ,these lovers of sunlight are dependent1 like the pine forest1 on the occasional natural or manmade fires that hold back the hardwood trees4 ,the pine rockland is quite different from the other plant-and-animal communities you will see as you drive through the park3 it is the only ecosystem you can explore on foot in any season4 ,other parts of the park are largely flooded during the wet season4 ,elevated boardwalks have been provided in some of these areas to enable you to penetrate them a short distance from the road4 ,as you will see1 fire plays an important role in some of the other ,everglades communities1 too4 ,tree-island ,glades 7elevation3 #a to #c feet above sea level7 ,illustration3 ,tree-island ,glade ,,bayhead ,,willow ,,head ,,sawgrass ,,pine ,,dwarf ,,cypress ,,forest ,,alligator ,,hole ,,cypress ,,head ,illustration3 ,,pig ,,frog one-third life size ,illustration3 ,,green ,,treefrog one-third life size ,illustration3 ,,squirrel ,,treefrog color variation ,beyond the pinelands the road1 having descended some #b feet from the park entrance1 brings you into the true everglades--the river of grass1 or1 as the ,seminoles call it1 ,pa-,hay-,okee 7grassy waters74 ,to the eye1 the glades look like a very flat1 grassy prairie broken by scattered clumps of trees4 ,during the dry season 7winter7 it is in fact a prairie--and sometimes burns fiercely4 ,the dominant everglades plant is sawgrass 7actually not a grass but a sedge74 ,the tree islands develop in both high and low spots of the glades terrain4 ,in this unbelievably flat country1 small differences in elevation--measured in inches rather than feet--cause major differences in the plantlife3 tropical hardwoods on the 8mesas10 and swamp trees in the potholes4 ,a spot in the glades where the limestone base is elevated just #b feet will be occupied by a small forest of tropical hardwoods and palms--a 8hammock0 much like those of the pinelands4 ,a low spot--just a few inches below the general level of the limestone base--will remain wet even in the relatively rainless winter when the sawgrass becomes tinder dry4 ,this sloughlike depression will support a stand of baldcypress1 called a 8cypress head40 ,other tree islands1 called bayheads and willow heads1 develop in many places where soil and peat accumulate4 ,step from the sawgrass glades into one of these hammocks or heads2 you will find yourself in another world4 ,you cannot know the park until you have investigated these plant-and-animal communities so distinct from the surrounding marsh yet so much a part of it4 ,as you drive through the park1 look for the trails provided to give you easy access into the interior of the tree islands4 ,also characteristic of the glades are the sloughs--channels where the glades water1 generally a thin1 seemingly motionless sheet1 is deeper and has a noticeable current4 ,the sloughs support a rich plantlife and attract a variety of animals1 particularly during the dry season when the water level drops below the shallow glades bottom4 ,animals that live in the glades when they are under water must migrate or estivate 7see glossary7 if they are to survive the rainless months4 ,many migrate to the sloughs1 the best known of which is ,taylor ,slough1 where the elevated ,anhinga ,trail enables you to walk over the water and observe the wildlife4 ,fire is an important factor in the ecology of the tree-island glades1 just as it is in the pineland4 ,here1 too1 artificial barriers such as canals and roads have hindered the spread of natural fires4 ,there is some evidence that tree islands were scattered more thinly over the sawgrass prairie a half-century ago1 when a single fire might wipe out scores of them and destroy much of the bed of peat that provided a foothold for them4 ,a bird's-eye view of the glades region today shows many tree islands that have been established in recent decades4 ,but park rangers are now utilizing controlled fires in the glades as well as in the pineland4 ,this tends to prevent new tree islands from taking hold1 and thus helps maintain the natural everglades landscape4 ,driving over the glades toward ,florida ,bay1 you come to a sign reading 8,rock ,reef ,pass--,elevation #c ,feet40 ,the road then traverses the so-called dwarf cypress forest4 ,the forest is an open area of scattered1 stunted baldcypress growing where marl 7which1 unlike peat1 does not burn7 has accumulated in small potholes dissolved in the limestone4 ,these marl potholes provide a foothold for the dwarf cypresses in an area that is spotted with cypress heads containing much larger trees4 ,many of the dwarf cypresses are more than #ajj years old1 while tall cypresses in the heads may be less than #ej years old4 ,these anomalies can be attributed to varying soil depths and water levels and to the effects of fire4 ,before you reach the limit of the fresh-water marsh you will come to a side road leading to ,mahogany ,hammock4 7,a good foot trail makes it easy to explore this hardwood jungle island47 ,just beyond1 you will notice the first red mangroves4 ,small and scattered in this zone1 they are a signal that you are approaching a strikingly different plant-and-animal community1 the mangrove swamp4 ,mangrove ,swamp 7elevation3 sea level to #a foot above sea level7 ,illustration3 ,,prairie ,,sedges ,,bay ,,jamaica ,,dogwood ,,gumbo-,,limbo ,,mahogany ,,prairie ,,sedges ,,buttonwood ,,white-,,mangrove ,,osprey ,,nest ,,black-,,mangrove ,,red-,,mangrove 7very dense growth7 ,,estuary ,illustration3 ,,bonefish ,comes in with the tide to feed on crabs and mollusks in shallow water ,illustration3 ,,florida ,,horn ,,shell ,lives in shallow water and feeds upon algae and other aquatic plants ,illustration3 ',,coon ,,oyster ,a small 7#a7 oyster that lives attached to the roots of mangroves ,the southward-creeping waters of the glades eventually meet and mingle with the salty waters of the tidal estuaries4 ,in this transition zone and along the gulf and ,florida ,bay coasts a group of trees that are tolerant of salty conditions1 called 8mangroves10 form a vast1 watery wilderness4 ,impenetrable except by boat1 it occupies hundreds of square miles1 embracing both the shifting zone of brackish water and the saltier coastal waters4 ,several kinds of trees are loosely called 8mangroves40 ,the water-tolerant red mangrove grows well out into the mudflats and is easily recognized by its arching stiltlike roots4 ,black-mangrove typically grows at levels covered by high tide but exposed at low tide1 and it is characterized by the root projections called pneumatophores that stick up out of the mud like so many stalks of asparagus growing in the shade of the tree4 ,white-mangrove has no peculiar root structure and grows1 generally1 farther from the water1 behind the other trees4 ,sometimes all three are found in mixed stands4 ,this mangrove wilderness1 laced by thousands of miles of estuarine channels 7called 8rivers0 and 8creeks07 and broken by numerous bays and sounds1 is extremely productive biologically4 ,the brackish zone is particularly valuable as a nursery ground for shrimp4 ,the larvae and young of these marine crustaceans and of other marine animals remain in this relatively protected environment until they are large enough to venture into the open waters beyond the mangroves4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,mangrove ,,swamp ,,and ,,the ,,coastal ,,prairie ,the shrimp represent a multi-million-dollar industry1 and the sports-fishing business of the area is said to exceed that by far4 ,both would suffer if any damage occurred to this ecosystem4 ,the greatest danger is the alteration in the flow of fresh waters from the glades and cypress swamps that occurs when new canals are built and land is drained for cultivation or development4 ,the flow carries with it into the estuaries organic materials from the rich glades ecosystem2 these supplement the vast quantities of organic matter derived from the decay of red mangrove leaves4 ,thus1 a reduction in the amount of nutrient-laden fresh water flowing into the mangrove region will affect the welfare of the ecosystem1 and indirectly the livelihood or recreation of many persons4 ,the productive zone of brackish water varies in breadth according to the flow of fresh water4 ,in the wet summer it moves seaward as the flow of fresh water from the glades pushes the tides back4 ,in the drier winter the bay and gulf waters move inland and the brackish zone is quite narrow4 ,the drainage and canal-building operations in south ,florida can be extremely disruptive here1 since too little1 or too much1 fresh water flowing into the estuaries can interfere with their productivity4 ,natural disasters such as hurricanes can also bring about great changes in the mangrove ecosystem4 ,yet biologists do not necessarily view the destruction of mangroves by hurricanes as catastrophic4 ,the hurricanes have been occurring as long as the mangroves have grown here and are part of the complex of natural forces making the region what it is4 ,fire does not seem to be a problem in the mangrove wilderness4 ,the trees themselves are not especially fire-resistant1 but it is not uncommon to see a glades fire burn to the edge of the mangroves and stop when it runs out of fine fuel4 ,the mangrove wilderness is a mecca for many park visitors4 ,sportsmen take their motorboats into the bays and rivers to challenge the fighting tarpon4 ,bird lovers seek the roosts and rookeries of herons and wood storks4 ,canoeists1 the only ones able to explore the secret depths1 are drawn by the spell of labyrinthine channels under arching mangrove branches4 ,here1 in a wilderness still thwarting man's efforts at destruction1 one experiences a feeling of utter isolation from the machine world4 ,but the relentlessly rising sea of the past #aj1jjj years has belittled drought1 fire1 hurricane1 and frost as it slowly inundated this land #c inches each hundred years4 ,in compensation1 the mangrove forest adds peat and rises with the sea4 ,the sawgrass marshes retreat1 and the mangrove ecosystem prevails essentially unchanged4 ,illustration3 ,,apple ,,murex ,a carnivorous mollusk that feeds on oysters4 ,florida ,bay and the ,coastal ,prairie ,when you reach ,flamingo1 a former fishing village and now a center for visitor services and accommodations1 you will be on the shore of ,florida ,bay4 ,here is an environment rich in variety of animal life1 where porpoises play1 the ,american crocodile makes its last stand1 and the great white heron1 once feared doomed to extinction1 holds its own4 ,the abundance of game fish in the bay has given it a reputation as one of the best sport-fishing grounds on the east coast4 ,the bay's approximately #ajj keys 7low-lying islets7 were built up by mangroves and provide foothold for other plants hardy enough to withstand the salty environment and the sometimes violent winds4 ,the keys are also a breeding ground for water birds1 ospreys1 and bald eagles4 ,florida ,bay1 larger than some of our ,states1 is so shallow that at low tide some of it is out of water2 its greatest depth is about #i feet4 ,the shallows and mudflats attract great numbers of wading birds1 which feed upon the abundant life sheltered in the seaweeds--a plant-and-animal community nourished by nutrients carried in the waters flowing from the glades and mangroves4 ,to the west beyond ,flamingo is ,cape ,sable4 ,this near-island includes the finest of the park's beaches and much of the coastal prairie ecosystem4 ,a fringe of coconut palms along the beach could be the remnants of early attempts at a plantation on the cape that did not survive the hurricanes2 or it could be the result of the sprouting of coconuts carried by currents from ,caribbean plantations and washed up on the cape4 ,for a time1 casuarina trees 7called 8,australian pines071 which became established on ,cape ,sable after ,hurricane ,donna1 seemed to threaten the ecology of the beach4 ,but these invaders were mostly removed in #aiga1 and now appear to be under control4 ,examine the 8sand0 of this beach4 ,you will discover that it is not quartz grains--but mostly minute shell fragments4 ,entire shells of the warm-water molluscs that live offshore also wash up on the beach4 ,there are also artifacts that speak of ,indian activity in this area in past centuries1 curled centers of conch shells from which the pre-,columbian ,indians fashioned tools1 and numerous pieces of pottery 7potsherds74 ,both shells and potsherds tempt the collector4 ,shelling--that is1 the collecting of dead shells1 for noncommercial purposes--is permitted4 ,but ,federal law prohibits the removal of even a fragment of pottery--for these are invaluable ,indian relics1 essential to continuing scientific investigation of the human history of the region4 ,illustration3 ,,florida ,,bay ,,and ,,the ,,coastal ,,prairie 7elevation3 sea level to #b feet above sea level7 ,,florida ,,bay #a ,,red-,,mangrove #b ,,black-,,mangrove #c ,,white-,,mangrove #d ,,buttonwood #e ,,cabbage ,,palmetto #f ,,hurricane-,,killed ,,black-,,mangroves #g ,,fig #h ,,poisonwood ,,crocodile ,,great ,,white ,,heron ,,reddis ,,egret ,,coconut ,,palm ,,succulents ,,grasses ,,sedges ,,waterway ,,marl ,,prairie ,back from the narrow beach is a drier zone of grasses and other low-growing vegetation4 ,some of the plants of this zone1 such as the railroad vine1 are so salt-tolerant that in places they grow almost to the water's edge4 7,no plant that is extremely sensitive to salty soil could survive on ,cape ,sable47 ,beyond the grassy zone is a zone of hardwoods 7buttonwood1 gumbo-limbo1 ,jamaica dogwood71 cactuses1 yucca1 and other plants forming a transition from beach to coastal prairie4 ,birds provide much of the visual excitement of the beach community1 just as they do in other parts of the park4 ,sandpipers1 pelicans1 gulls1 egrets1 ospreys1 and bald eagles use it and the bordering waters for feeding1 nesting1 and resting4 ,mammals1 notably raccoons1 stalk the beach in search of food4 ,and the big loggerhead turtle depends on it for nesting4 ,in late spring and early summer the female loggerhead hauls herself up on the beach and digs a hole above hightide mark4 ,there she deposits about #ajj ping-pong balls--which should hatch out into baby loggerheads4 ,unfortunately for this marine reptile1 however1 most of them meet another fate4 ,hardly has the female turtle covered the eggs with sand and started back toward the water1 than they are dug up and devoured by raccoons and other predators4 ,these conditions created such high mortality of the turtles that the ,national ,park ,service has adopted special protective measures--removing some of the raccoons and erecting wire barriers around turtle nests4 ,these measures have been effective1 but continued surveillance is required if the loggerhead is not to disappear from ,florida4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,flamingo ,,area ,an abundance of raccoons and other predators is not the only threat to survival of the loggerhead turtle4 ,a major factor in its decline is the serious depletion of its nesting habitat4 ,park visitors are prohibited from interfering with these reptiles4 ,cape ,sable beach is today virtually the only wild beach in ,south ,florida1 thanks to its inclusion in ,everglades ,national ,park4 ,at present1 visitors can reach it only by boat4 ,but it would be foolhardy to take it for granted that the beach will remain unspoiled4 ,its potential as an attraction is such that someone not ecologically aware might believe that access for motorists would be an improvement4 ,roads1 however1 would bring increased pressure on the ecosystem by large numbers of visitors1 and demands for further development1 for lodging1 meals1 and other services seem always to go with automobiles4 ,with continued protection from such encroachments1 ,cape ,sable ,beach will remain a unique wilderness resource and will not become just another recreational facility4 ,merging with the beach is the coastal prairie1 an ecosystem supporting red and black mangroves1 grasses1 and other plants tolerant of the very salty environment4 ,hardwood hammocks have developed here on ,indian shell mounds1 but the trees are stunted by the saline soils4 ,though there is no lack of water on the cape1 much of the region appears arid because hurricane-lashed tides have deposited soils of marl and debris so salt-laden that only sparse vegetation develops4 ,big ,cypress ,swamp ,to the west of the great fresh-water marsh called the everglades1 lying almost entirely outside the park1 is an ecosystem vitally linked to the park4 ,big ,cypress ,swamp is a vast1 shallow basin that includes practically all of ,collier ,county4 ,it is commonly called 8,the ,big ,cypress0--not because of the size of its trees1 but because of its extent4 ,most of the baldcypresses 7which are not true cypresses7 are small trees1 growing in open to dense stands throughout the area4 ,the swamp is watered by about #ej inches of annual rainfall1 the runoff from which flows as a sheet and in sloughs south and west to meet the coastal strip of mangroves and low sand dunes4 ,big ,cypress is speckled with low limestone outcrops1 cut with shallow sloughs #a to #b feet deep1 and dotted with ponds and wet prairies4 ,as in the everglades1 fire and water maintain the character of the plantlife in this swampy realm of sunlight and shadow4 ,also as in the everglades1 a difference of a few inches in elevation creates different communities4 ,tropical hardwood hammocks grow on rocky outcrops4 ,in the depressions arise bayheads and clumps of pond apple1 pop ash1 and willow4 ,the larger baldcypress trees grow in shallow sloughs1 which are usually surrounded by prairies of sawgrass and maiden cane growing on slightly higher land4 ,although the several different plant communities resemble those in the glades1 they support slightly different plants1 because of the sandy soil 7there being more quartz in the limestone under ,big ,cypress than in the park74 ,these baldcypresses1 many measuring #c to #f feet in diameter1 were heavily lumbered from #aicj to #aiej4 ,today1 few giant trees survive1 but a sizable stand exists on the ,norris ,tract--so named for its conservation-minded donor--which forms the nucleus of ,corkscrew ,swamp ,sanctuary4 ,here1 protected by the ,national ,audubon ,society1 are baldcypresses #acj feet tall2 some have a girth of #be feet6 ,a boardwalk more than one-half mile long enables you to enjoy the beauty of this wild preserve without getting your feet wet4 ,illustration3 ,,cypress ,,strand ,,wet ,,prairie ,,tropical ,,hardwood ,,hammock ,,wet ,,prairie #a ,,south ,,florida ,,slash ,,pine #b ,,baldcypress #c ,,pop ,,ash #d ,,royal ,,palm ,,air ,,plant ,large stands of baldcypress1 called 8strands10 support small communities such as ponds1 prairies1 and tropical hammocks4 ,one such hammock is famous for the finest stand of royal palms remaining in south ,florida4 ,the largest cypress strand--the ,fakahatchee--extends some #bc miles north and south a few miles east of ,naples4 ,big ,cypress ,swamp is the home of wild turkey1 bobcat1 deer1 and an occasional ,florida panther4 ,the fish-eating otter plays in its waterways4 ,most of the birds found in the everglades also are found in the trees and waterways of ,big ,cypress1 because the swamp has an abundance of food4 ,the area is so rich in wildlife and edible plants that the ,seminole ,indians formerly lived entirely off its products4 ,illustration3 ,,bobcat ,,white-,,tailed ,,deer ,,otter ,the eastern edge of the big swamp and its importance to ,everglades ,national ,park came to worldwide attention in #aifi when it was selected as the site for the proposed ,miami ,international ,jetport4 ,according to plans1 this was to be the biggest airport in the world1 covering #ci square miles and handling #fe million passengers a year4 ,millions of persons were expected to make their home in and around the jetport4 ,such a threat to the national park1 into which the waters of ,big ,cypress partly drain1 provoked protest letters from all over the world4 ,most writers objected on the grounds that ,everglades belongs to all and that a jetport here would seal the doom of the park4 ,congress acted in #aigd by establishing ,big ,cypress ,national ,preserve to help protect the water supply to ,everglades ,national ,park4 ,,plant-,,and-,,animal ,,communities ,to know ,everglades1 you must become acquainted with some of its diverse communities4 ,the physical conditions determining the existence of a particular community may seem subtle--just a few inches difference in elevation1 or an accumulation of peat in a depression in the limestone bedrock1 for example4 ,but often1 the change in your surroundings as you step from one community to another is startling--for it is abrupt and complete4 ,in ,everglades1 the dividing line between two habitats may separate an almost entirely different association of plants and animals4 ,use the trails that have been laid out to help you see the communities4 ,they make access easy for you2 the rest is up to you4 ,be observant3 notice the stemlike root of a saw-palmetto in a damp pothole of the pineland2 look closely at the periphyton that plays such an important role in the glades food chain4 ,note the difference in feeding methods of wading birds2 each species has its own niche in the habitat4 ,most of all1 get into the habit of thinking of each animal1 each plant1 as a member of the closely woven web of life that makes up an integrated community4 ,tropical ,hardwood ,hammock ,generally1 in south ,florida1 hardwood hammocks develop only in areas protected from fire1 flood1 and saline waters4 ,the land must be high enough 7#a to #c feet above surrounding levels7 to stand above the water that covers the glades much of the year4 ,the roots of the trees must be out of the water and must have adequate aeration4 ,in the park1 these conditions prevail on the limestone 8ridge0 7elevation of which ranges from #c to #g feet above sea level7 and some spots in the glades region4 ,on the limestone ridge1 in areas bypassed by fires for a long period1 hammocks have developed4 ,pines grow in the surrounding areas1 where repeated fires have held back the hardwoods4 ,the moats that tend to form around glades hammocks1 as acids from decaying plant materials dissolve the limestone1 hold water even during the dry season2 the moats thus act as barriers protecting the hammock vegetation from glades fires4 ,when the white man took over southern ,florida1 these hammocks were luxuriant jungle islands dominated by towering tropical hardwoods and palms4 ,stumps and logs on the floors of some of the remaining hammocks1 attesting to the enormous size of some of the earlier trees1 are sad reminders of the former grandeur of the hammocks4 ,while most of south ,florida's hammocks have been destroyed1 you can still see some fine ones protected in the park4 ,at ,royal ,palm ,hammock1 near park headquarters1 ,gumbo ,limbo ,trail winds through a dim1 dense forest with welcome coolness on a hot day4 ,stepping into a jungle hammock from either the sunbathed glades or the open pine forest is a sudden1 dramatic change4 ,the contrast when you enter ,gumbo ,limbo ,trail immediately after walking the ,anhinga ,trail is striking4 ,while the watery world of ,anhinga is dominated by a noisy profusion of wildlife1 the environment of ,gumbo ,limbo will seem to be a mere tangle of vegetation4 ,but the jungle hammock1 too1 has its community of animals--even though you may notice none but mosquitoes4 ,many of its denizens are nocturnal in their habits1 but if you remain alert you will observe birds1 invertebrates1 and perhaps a lizard4 ,illustration3 ,,tree ,,snails ,there are #eb color forms of ,liguus fasciatus found in south ,florida4 ,illustration3 ,liguus fasciatus pseudopictus ,illustration3 ,liguus fasciatus pictus ,illustration3 ,liguus fasciatus ornatus ,the trees that envelop you as you walk on ,gumbo ,limbo ,trail are mostly tropical species2 of the dominant trees1 only the live oak 7which grows as far north as ,virginia7 can be considered non-tropical4 ,under oaks and tropical bustics1 poisonwood1 mastics1 and gumbo-limbos grow small trees such as tetrazygia1 rough-leaf velvetseed1 and wild coffee1 a multitude of mosses and ferns1 and only a few species of shade-tolerant flowering plants4 ,orchids and air plants burst like sun stars from limbs1 trunks1 and fallen logs4 ,twining among them all1 the woody vines called lianas enhance the jungle atmosphere4 ,adding a final touch are the royal palms that here and there tower over the hardwood canopy--occasionally reaching #abe feet4 ,illustration3 ,,tropical ,,hardwood ,,hammock ,,pineland ,,south ,,florida ,,slash ,,pine ,,bustic ,,gumbo-,,limbo ,,solution ,,hole ,,pond ,,apple ,,air ,,plants 7,,orchids1 ,,bromeliads7 ,,royal ,,palm ,,live ,,oak ,,mastic ,,vines ,,pineland ,,saw-,,palmetto ,the limestone rock that underlies the entire park is porous and soluble2 consequently the floor of the hammock is pitted with solution holes dissolved by the acid from decaying vegetation4 ,soil and peat accumulating in the water-filled bottom of one of these holes supports a plant community of its own3 perhaps a pond apple1 surrounded by ferns and mosses 7including some varieties that seem to be limited to this pothole environment74 ,a dead1 decaying log on the ground may support another miniature plant community--a carpet of mosses1 ferns1 and other small plants that thrive in such moist situations4 ,strangest of the hammock plants is the strangler fig1 which first gets a foothold in the rough bark of a live oak1 cabbage palm1 or other tree4 ,it then sends roots down to the ground1 entwining about the host tree as it grows1 and eventually killing it4 ,on the ,gumbo ,limbo ,trail you will see a strangler fig that grew in this manner and was enmeshed by another strangler fig--which now is threatened by a third fig that already has gained a foothold in its branches4 ,best known of the glades hammocks is ,mahogany ,hammock4 ,a boardwalk trail in this lush1 junglelike tree island leads past the giant mahogany tree for which the hammock was named--now1 because of ,hurricane ,donna1 a dismembered giant4 ,this fine tree island was explored only after the park was established4 ,an array of large and small vertebrate animals1 mostly representative of the ,temperate ,zone1 populates these tropical hardwood jungles3 raccoons and opossums1 many varieties of birds1 snakes and lizards1 tree frogs1 even bobcats and the rare ,florida panther1 or cougar4 ,not surprisingly1 invertebrates--including insects and snails--abound in this luxuriant plant community4 ,the tropical influence is evident in the presence of invertebrates such as tree snails of the genus ,liguus1 known outside of ,florida only in ,hispaniola and ,cuba4 ,cypress ,head ,standing out conspicuously on the glades landscape are tall1 domelike tree islands of baldcypress4 ,unlike hammocks1 which occupy elevations1 cypress heads1 or domes1 occupy depressions in the limestone bedrock--areas that remain as ponds or wet places during seasons when the glades dry up4 ,water-loving cypresses need only a thin accumulation of peat and soil to begin their growth in these depressions or in smaller solution holes in the limestone4 ,illustration3 ,cypress head ,,baldcypress ,,alligator ,,hole 7often in middle of cypress head7 ,,sawgrass ,illustration3 ,,turkey ,,vulture ,though most conifers retain their needles all year1 baldcypresses shed their foliage in winter4 ,the fallen needles decay1 forming acids that dissolve the limestone further2 thus these trees tend to enlarge their own ponds4 ,since the pond is deeper in the middle1 and the accumulation of peat is greater there1 the taller trees grow in the center of the head1 with the smaller ones toward the edge4 ,hence the characteristic dome-shaped profile4 ,usually when fire sweeps the glades1 the baldcypresses1 occupying low1 wet spots1 are not injured4 ,but with extended drought1 the water disappears and the peat may burn for months1 killing all the baldcypresses4 ,the cypress heads sometimes serve as alligator holes1 where the big reptiles and other aquatic animals are able to survive dry periods4 ,as you drive along the park road1 stop and examine these tree islands through your binoculars2 they are favored haunts of many of the park's larger wading birds4 ,look for herons1 egrets1 wood storks1 and white ibis1 which visit these swampy habitats to feed on the abundant aquatic life4 ,bald eagles find the tops of the tallest cypresses advantageous perches from which to scan the marsh4 ,and at night certain of the cypress heads are 8buzzard roosts0--resting areas for gatherings of hundreds of turkey vultures4 ,bayhead ,illustration3 ,bayhead ,,alligator ,,flag ,,cocoplum ,,swamp ,,holly ,,cabbage ,,palmetto ,,redbay ,,sweetbay ,,sawgrass ,,willow ,,orchids ,,and ,,bromeliads ,many of the tree islands in the fresh-water glades are of the type called bayhead4 ,growing in depressions in the limestone or from beds of peat built up on the bedrock1 these plant communities contain a variety of trees1 including swamp holly1 redbay1 sweetbay1 wax myrtle1 and cocoplum4 ,some of them1 on the fringes of the brackish zone1 are marked by clumps of graceful paurotis palms growing at their edges4 ,like the hardwood hammocks in the pinelands1 bayheads are prevented from taking over the entire glades ecosystem by the dry-season fires that sweep the region at irregular intervals4 ,the fires do not always affect the bayheads4 ,a moat1 formed by the dissolving action of acids from decaying plant materials on the limestone1 may surround the tree island1 providing some protection from fire4 ,wildlife concentrates in these moats during the dry season4 ,birds congregate here to harvest the fish1 snails1 and other aquatic life--and occasionally themselves fall prey to lurking alligators4 ,willow ,head ,willows pioneer new territories and create an environment that enables other plants to gain a foothold4 ,their windblown seeds usually root in sunny land opened by fire and agriculture4 ,since these trees require a great quantity of water1 the solution holes in the glades are favorable sites4 ,seedlings grow1 leaves fall1 and stems and twigs die and drop--contributing to the formation of peat4 ,when this builds up close to or above the surface of the water1 it provides a habitat for other trees such as sweet bay and cocoplum2 with enough of these the willow head changes character and becomes a bayhead4 ,years ago1 when alligators were plentiful1 they weeded the willow-bordered solution holes1 keeping them open4 ,consequently1 the willow heads were typically donut-shaped4 ,today1 however1 alligators are scarce and many of the willow heads have no 'gators4 ,the solution holes fill with muck and peat2 relatively tall willows rise out of the deep1 peat-filled centers1 with increasingly smaller ones toward the less fertile edges1 and the willow heads take on the characteristic dome-shaped profile but not nearly the height of the cypress domes4 ,they have a clumpy1 brushy appearance1 seeming to grow right out of the marsh without trunks4 ,illustration3 ,,pomacea ,,snail--,the sole food of the everglade kite ,illustration3 ,,everglade ,,kite ,illustration3 ,willow heads with alligator holes typically have a doughnut shape--the gator hole representing the hole in the doughnut4 ,,spatterdock ,,coastal ,,plain ,,willow ,,cattail ,,dry ,,season ,,water ,,level ,willow heads that do have alligator holes have a seasonal concentration of aquatic animals and the birds and mammals that prey upon them4 ,they rarely support orchids or bromeliads1 for the bark of the southern willow is too smooth to provide anchorage for the seedlings of these plants4 ,during drought periods willow heads1 like bayheads1 are vulnerable to the fires that sometimes burn over the glades4 ,web of ,life in the ,marsh ,around the stems and other underwater parts of the glades plants are cylindrical masses of yellowish-green periphyton4 ,so incredibly abundant are these masses of living material that in late summer the water appears as though clogged with mossy-looking sausages and floating pancakes4 ,largely algae1 but containing perhaps #ajj different organisms1 the periphyton supports a complex web of glades life4 ,it is the beginning of many food chains in the fresh-water marsh4 ,the larvae of mosquitoes and other invertebrates1 larval frogs 7tadpoles7 and salamanders1 and other small1 free-swimming creatures feed upon the tiny plants and minute animals living in the masses of periphyton4 ,these periphyton feeders are in turn fed upon by small fish1 frogs1 and other vertebrates1 which are food for big fish1 birds1 mammals1 and reptiles2 most of these larger creatures are preyed upon by the alligator4 ,the periphyton is perhaps most important for its role in maintaining the physical environment of the marsh4 ,the water flowing over the limestone of the glades is hard with calcium4 ,the algae remove this calcium and convert it to marl 7see glossary71 which precipitates to the bottom4 ,sawgrass is rooted in this marl2 accumulated dead sawgrass forms peat2 other marsh plants1 including willows and the trees of the bayheads1 spring up from the peat4 ,acid from the peat and from decaying plant matter of the tree islands dissolves some of the marl and underlying bedrock--and the cycle is complete4 ,every plant1 every animal1 every physical element is involved in this web of life--as soil builder1 predator1 plant-eater1 scavenger1 agent of decay1 or converter of energy and raw materials into food4 ,damage to or removal of any of these components--pollution of the water1 lowering of the water table1 elimination of a predator1 or any interference in the energy cycle--could destroy the glades as we know them4 ,illustration3 ,,beginning ,,of ,,food ,,chain ,,algae ,,and ,,one-,,celled ,,animals ,,invertebrate ,,larvae ,,periphyton ,,mass ,,sawgrass ,,sawgrass ,,dies ,,and ,,makes ,,peat ,every other plant-and-animal community in the park--hammock1 mangrove swamp1 pineland1 etc4--is an association of large and small organisms sharing a physical environment4 ,it is impossible to understand either the park as a whole or the life of a single creature without being aware of these interrelationships4 ,alligator ,hole in the ,glades ,out in the sunny glades the broad leaves of the alligator flag mark the location of an alligator hole4 ,this is the most incredible ecosystem of all the worlds within the world of the park2 for in a sense the alligator is the keeper of the everglades4 ,with feet and snout these reptiles clear out the vegetation and muck from the larger holes in the limestone4 ,in the dry season1 when the floor of the glades checks in the sun1 these holes are oases4 ,then large numbers of fish1 turtles1 snails1 and other fresh-water animals take refuge in the holes1 moving right in with the alligators4 ,enough of these water-dependent creatures thus survive the drought to repopulate the glades when the rains return4 ,birds and mammals join the migration of the everglades animal kingdom to the alligator holes1 feed upon the concentrated life in them--and in turn occasionally become food for their alligator hosts4 ,illustration3 ,,alligator ,,flag ,lily pads float on the surface4 ,around the edges arrowleaf1 cattails1 and other emergent plants grow4 ,behind them on higher muckland1 much of which is created by the alligators as they pile up plant debris1 stand ferns1 wildflowers1 and swamp trees4 ,algae thrive in the water4 ,the rooted water plants might become so dense as to hinder the movement and growth of the fish1 were it not for the weeding activities of the alligators4 ,with the old reptiles keeping the pool open1 the fish thrive1 and alligator and guests live well4 ,plants piled beside the hole by the alligator decay and form soil with mud and marl4 ,ferns1 wildflowers1 and tree seedlings take root1 and eventually the alligator hole may be the center of a tree island4 ,so1 it's easy to see how important the alligator is to the ecology of the park4 ,unfortunately for this reptile1 many people in the past believed only in the value of its hide4 ,hunting for alligators became profitable in the mid-#ahhj's and continued until the #aifj's4 ,in #aifa ,florida prohibited all hunting of alligators1 but poaching continued to take its toll4 ,finally1 the ,federal ,endangered ,species ,act of #aifi protected the alligator by eliminating all hunting and trafficking in hides4 ,as a result of complete protection1 the alligator has increased greatly in number4 ,they are no longer an endangered species in ,florida1 and they can easily be found in gator holes and sloughs4 ,today alligators are eagerly sought by visitors to ,everglades ,national ,park who are anxious to see and photograph this unique creature4 ,once again1 the alligator is the keeper of the everglades4 ,illustration3 ,,actual ,,size ,,at ,,hatching 7#h to #aj7 ,illustration3 ,alligator ,,food ,,fish 7gar1 bass1 etc47 ,,birds ,,turtles 7soft-shelled and others7 ,,mammals ,,raccoon ,,snapping ,,turtle ,,green ,,heron ,illustration3 #dj ,,to #fj ,,eggs ,,laid ,,in ,,nest ,,of ,,humus ,,in ,,may ,,or ,,june ,illustration3 ,,mother ,,tends ,,young #a ,,to #b ,,years #a ,,year ,,old3 ,,about #b ,,long ,illustration3 ,,alligator ,,hole ,,in ,,the ,,glades ,,snowy ,,egret ,,white ,,ibis ,,wood ,,stork ,,mosquito 7#ae species7 ,,snail ,,eggs ,,pig ,,frog ,,alligator ,,nest ,,dry ,,season ,,water ,,level ,,gambusia ,,killifish ,,sunfish ,,largemouthed ,,bass ,,florida ,,spotted ,,gar ,,florida ,,soft-,,shelled ,,turtle #a ,,spike ,,rush #b ,,pink ,,gerardia #c ,,spider ,,lily #d ,,cattail #e ,,pickerel ,,weed #f ,,arrowhead #g ,,water ,,lily #h ,,spatterdock #i ,,bladderwort #aj ,,alligator ,,flag #aa ,,morningglory ,,discovering ,,everglades ,,plants ,,and ,,animals ,everglades ,national ,park1 with its array of plant communities--ranging from the pines and palmettos rooted in the pitted limestone bedrock of the park's dry uplands1 through the periphyton-based marsh community and the brackish mangrove swamp1 to the highly saline waters of ,florida ,bay--is an amateur botanist's paradise4 ,many of the park's plants are found nowhere else in the ,united ,states4 ,only here at the southern tip of the ,florida peninsula do tropical trees and orchids mingle with oaks and pines4 ,this book is not intended to be a manual for identification of the ,everglades plants4 ,you will need to arm yourself with appropriate field guides to ferns1 orchids1 aquatic plants1 trees1 or whatever your special interest may be4 ,the reading list in the appendix suggests a few4 ,while the park is a mecca for students of plantlife1 you must keep one thing in mind3 your collecting will be limited to photographs 7and1 if you're an artist1 drawings74 ,no specimens may be removed or disturbed4 ,fortunately1 with today's versatile cameras and high-quality color films you can take home a complete and accurate record of your plant discoveries4 ,much of our present knowledge of ,everglades plantlife has been garnered by amateurs4 ,much more needs to be accumulated before an environmental management program for the park can be perfected1 and serious students of botany are invited to make their data available to the park staff4 ,as for wild animals1 one hardly needs to look for them in this park6 ,most visitors come here1 at least partly1 for that reason4 ,and even those not seeking wildlife should be alert to avoid stepping on or running down the slower or less wary creatures4 ,but animal watching is a great pastime1 and it pays to learn to do it right4 ,a few suggestions may help you make the most of your experience in ,everglades4 ,illustration3 ,,birds ,,and ,,reptiles ,big ,cypress ,swamp ,mangrove ,swamp ,pine ,rockland ,coastal ,prairie ,everglades ,,birds ,,and ,,reptiles ,heron ,rookeries ,brown ,pelican ,rookeries ,spoonbill ,rookeries ,wood ,stork ,rookeries ,sea ,turtle ,nesting ,recent ,crocodile ,nesting ,a notebook in which to record your observations will help you discover that this park is not just a landscape of grass1 water1 and trees where a lot of animals happen to live--but a complex1 subtropical world of plant-and-animal communities1 each distinct and yet dependent upon the others4 ,to gain real understanding of this world you will need certain skills and some good habits4 ,ability to identify what you see--with the help of good field guides 7see reading list7 and quite a bit of practice--will make things easier and much more enjoyable4 ,knowing where to look for the animals helps2 this book and the field guides are useful for this4 ,you'll find that some species are seen only in certain parts of the park1 while others roam far and wide4 ,don't look for the crocodile in the fresh-water glades--nor for the round-tailed muskrat in the mangroves4 ,on the other hand1 don't be surprised to see the raccoon or its tracks in almost any part of the park4 ,keep in mind that all species in the national parks are protected by law4 ,most wild animals are harmless as long as they are not molested4 ,if you encounter an animal you aren't sure about1 simply keep out of its way2 don't try to harm it or drive it off4 ,always remember that each animal is part of the ,everglades community2 you cannot disturb it without affecting everything else4 ,air ,plants ,long before you have learned to distinguish the major plant communities1 you will be aware of the air plants--or epiphytes--that grow so profusely in ,everglades4 ,epiphytes are non-parasitic plants that grow on other plants1 getting their nourishment from the air4 ,best known is ,spanish moss1 which festoons the trees of the coastal ,south from ,virginia to ,texas2 this plant is used by the swallow-tailed kite in constructing its beautiful nest4 ,despite its name1 ,spanish moss is actually a member of the pineapple family--the bromeliads4 ,bromeliads are the most conspicuous of the park's air plants4 ,the epiphytic orchids1 though less common1 are celebrated for their beauty2 their fame1 unfortunately1 has led to their widespread destruction4 ,there are also epiphytic ferns1 trees1 and vines2 and one cactus1 the mistletoe cactus1 has taken to the air4 ,air plants are highly specialized for making a living under crowded conditions2 there are more than #b1jjj species of plants competing for sun and water in southern ,florida4 ,the epiphytes have adapted to the problem of space by growing on other plants4 ,their roots1 although they absorb some water and minerals1 are primarily anchors4 ,living in an atmosphere that fluctuates between drought and humidity1 they have evolved several water-conserving tricks4 ,some have a reduced number of leaves2 others have tough skins that resist loss of water through transpiration2 still others have thick stems1 called pseudobulbs1 that store moisture4 ,the bromeliads are particularly ingenious3 many have leaves shaped in such a way that they hold rainwater in vaselike reservoirs at their bases4 ,mosquitoes and tree frogs breed in these tiny reservoirs1 and in dry periods many arboreal animals seek the dew that collects here4 ,most of the orchids and bromeliads grow in the dimly lit tropical hardwood hammocks and cypress sloughs4 ,a few species1 however1 having adapted to the sunlight1 live on dwarf mangroves and the scattered buttonwoods1 pond apples1 willows1 and cocoplums of the glades4 ,the butterfly and cowhorn orchids are sun lovers1 as are the twisted1 banded1 and stiff-leaved bromeliads4 ,all have adapted to the sun with dew-condensing mechanisms or vases at the bottom of the clustered leaves4 ,illustration3 ,,common ,,bromeliads ,illustration3 ,,stiff-,,leaved ,,wildpine ,illustration3 ,,needle-,,leaved ,,air ,,plant ,illustration3 ,,small ,,catopsis ,illustration3 ,,reflexed ,,wildpine ,illustration3 ,,twisted ,,air ,,plant ,illustration3 ,,soft-,,leaved ,,wildpine ,illustration3 ,,spanish ,,moss ,illustration3 ,,banded ,,wildpine ,illustration3 ,,ball-,,moss ,one tree1 the strangler fig1 starts as an epiphytic seedling on the branches of other trees4 ,eventually1 however1 it drops long aerial roots directly to the ground or entwines them about the trunk of the host tree--which in time dies1 leaving a large fig tree in its place4 ,of all ,everglades plants1 the epiphytic orchids are most fascinating to man--a fact which largely explains their decline4 ,of some #ej1jjj species around the world 7the orchids being one of the largest of plant families71 the park has only a few4 ,fire1 loss of habitat due to agriculture and construction1 and poaching by both commercial and amateur collectors have brought about the extermination of some and have made others exceedingly rare4 ,some are rare because of special life requirements4 ,for example1 a few must live in association with a certain fungus that coats their roots and provides specific nutrients4 ,the largest orchid in the park is the cowhorn1 some specimens of which weigh as much as #ge pounds4 ,unfortunately1 this orchid has been a popular item for orchid growers and collectors and is becoming rare in ,florida4 ,poachers have practically eliminated it from the park4 ,in the late #aifjs ,boy ,scout friends of ,everglades salvaged many orchids from hammocks about to be bulldozed for the jetport4 ,by laboriously tying them to trees in the park1 they assured the survival of the plants4 ,the night-blooming epidendrum is perhaps the most beautiful of the park's orchids4 ,it is widespread and fairly common in ,everglades1 occurring in all ecosystems4 ,flowering throughout the year1 it bears its white1 spiderlike blossoms1 #b inches across1 one at a time4 ,it is especially fragrant at night--hence its name4 ,illustration3 ,,showy ,,orchids ,,of ,,the ,,hammocks ,,and ,,tree ,,islands ,illustration3 ,,brown ,,epidendrum ,illustration3 ,,dollar ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,night ,,blooming ,,epidendrum ,illustration3 ,,spread-,,eagle ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,butterfly ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,florida ,,oncidium ,illustration3 ,,mule-,,ear ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,oblong-,,leaved ,,vanilla ,illustration3 ,,ghost ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,spider ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,clamshell ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,worm-,,vine ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,cowhorn ,,orchid ,illustration3 ,,trinidad ,,macradenia ,epiphytic orchids have the smallest seeds of any flowering plants4 ,dustlike1 they travel far and wide on the air2 it is believed that over eons all species of ,florida orchids arrived on the wind from ,south ,america and the ,west ,indies4 ,the giant wildpine is a spectacular bromeliad that grows on the sturdy limbs of buttonwoods1 spreading to #dh inches and developing a flower stalk #f feet long4 ,of the approximately #bj species of epiphytic ferns in the park1 the most common is the curious resurrection fern4 ,sometimes called the poor man's barometer1 it has leaves that in dry weather curl under and turn brown but with the coming of rain quickly unfold and turn bright green1 making instant gardens of the logs1 limbs1 and branches on which they grow4 ,watch for the air plants 7as well as the trees and other wildflowers7 that have been labeled along the trails and boardwalks4 ,you will be able to examine some of them closely--but leave them unharmed for future visitors6 ,mammals ,in the drowned habitats of ,everglades it is not surprising to find water-bound mammals such as the porpoise2 or fish-eating amphibious mammals such as the otter2 or even land mammals1 such as the raccoon1 that characteristically feed upon aquatic life4 ,but to see mammals that one ordinarily does not associate with water behaving as though they were born to it is another matter4 ,the white-tailed deer is an example4 ,it is so much a part of this watery environment that you will most likely observe it far out in the glades1 feeding upon aquatic plants or bounding over the marsh4 ,very probably the deer you see was born on one of the tree islands1 and has never been out of sight of the sawgrass river4 ,many other mammals of ,everglades are adapted to a semi-aquatic existence4 ,the park's only representative of the hare-and-rabbit clan is the marsh rabbit2 smaller than its close relative1 the familiar cottontail of fields and woodlands1 it is as comfortable in this wet world as if it had webbed feet4 ,so don't be startled if you see a rabbit swimming here6 ,the park's rodents include the marsh rice rat and round-tailed muskrat1 also at home in a watery environment4 ,the playful otter1 though it may travel long distances overland1 is a famous water-lover4 ,lucky is the visitor who sees a family of these large relatives of the weasel6 ,the otter's smaller cousin1 the everglades mink1 is also a denizen of the marsh and a predator in the food web2 but you are not likely to see this wary animal4 ,raccoons and opossums1 adaptable creatures that they are1 live in all the park's environments--except in the air and under water4 ,their diets are as wide-ranging as their habitat4 ,the raccoon1 though it has a taste for aquatic animals such as fish1 frogs1 and crayfish1 also consumes small land vertebrates and various plant foods4 ,the opossum eats virtually anything in the animal kingdom that it can find and subdue1 as well as a wide variety of plant materials4 ,,some ,,important ,,everglades ,,mammals ,,species ,,pine ,,hardwood ,,glades ,,mangrove ,,fresh- ,,florida ,,coastal ,,remarks ,,rockland ,,hammock ,,swamp ,,water ,,bay and ,,prairie ,,swamps ,,keys ,opossum ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,short-tailed ,x ,shrew ,least ,shrew ,x ,marsh ,rabbit ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,fox ,squirrel ,x 8 ,rice ,rat ,x ,x ,cotton ,mouse ,x ,x ,x ,x ,hispid ,cotton ,x ,rat ,florida ,water ,x ,x ,rat ,raccoon ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,abundant ,black ,bear 8 8 8 8 8 8 ,very rare ,mink ,x ,x ,river ,otter ,x ,x ,gray ,fox #a,x ,bobcat ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,florida panther ,x ,x ,x ,x ,rare ,white-tailed ,x ,x ,x ,x ,x ,deer ,bottle-nosed ,x ,dolphin ,manatee #b,x ,x #a;,in pinelands4 #b;,estuaries4 ,south ,florida is the last known refuge in the world for a sub-species of cougar known as the ,florida panther4 ,this large1 beautiful cat is on the endangered species list4 ,today many groups and individuals are working to keep this predator a part of the environment4 ,their efforts have resulted in methods to assist panther recovery3 lower speed limits and highway culverts and bridges1 to mention only two4 ,with continued assistance1 the panther may remain a part of the ,everglades for years to come4 ,because it is much more numerous and much less secretive in its habits1 the bobcat is more likely to be encountered by park visitors than is the cougar4 ,keep your eyes alert for this wild feline--particularly in the ,flamingo area--and you may have a chance to observe it closely and at some length 7even by daylight674 ,such boldness and such unconcern for humans are not typical of this species1 but seem to be peculiarities of the bobcats living in the park4 ,although bobcats are not known as water lovers1 they are found in all the ,everglades environments4 ,their apparent liking for life in the park may be due to an abundance of food and to freedom from persecution by man and his dogs4 ,bobcats in ,everglades1 if their food habits elsewhere are any guide1 probably live on rodents1 marsh rabbits1 and birds1 with possibly an occasional fawn4 ,in ,florida ,bay and the estuaries1 look for the porpoise1 or bottlenosed dolphin1 a small member of the whale order that has endeared itself to ,americans through its antics at marine aquariums and on television4 ,watch for it when you are on a boat trip in the park's marine environment4 ,much less commonly seen1 and much less familiar1 is the timid and very rare manatee4 ,it's probably the 8most0 animal of the park--the largest 7sometimes over #ae feet long and weighing nearly #a ton71 the shyest1 the strangest1 and the homeliest2 and it is probably also the most delicate1 for a drop in water temperatures may kill it4 ,the estuaries of ,everglades ,national ,park are almost the northern limits of its normal range4 ,but manatees are often found well north of the park on both coasts in cold weather1 when they swim up rivers to seek the constant-temperature water discharged by electric power plants4 ,despite its size1 the manatee is a harmless creature1 being a grazer--a sort of underwater cow that is exceptionally vulnerable to motorboats because of its gentle nature and languid movement4 ,illustration3 ,,manatee ,birds ,illustration3 ,,long-,,legged ,,wading ,,birds ,,of ,,the ,,glades1 ,,fresh-,,water ,,swamps1 ,,mangrove ,,swamps1 ,,and ,,florida ,,bay4 ,illustration3 ,,black-,,crowned ,,night ,,heron ,illustration3 ,,louisiana ,,heron ,,green ,,heron ,,yellow-,,crowned ,,night ,,heron ,from the pelican--whose mouth can hold more than its belly can--to the tiny hummingbird1 the birds of ,everglades ,national ,park add beauty1 amusement1 excitement1 and drama to the daily scene4 ,much more conspicuous than the park's other animals1 they can be enjoyed with no special effort4 ,but a pair of binoculars and a field guide will make bird watching a more rewarding pastime for you4 ,many of the park's birds are large and colorful1 and so tolerant of man's presence that you can observe them closely without the aid of binoculars4 ,the ,anhinga ,trail and other sites on or near the main park road provide ready access to activity by herons and egrets1 cormorants1 gallinules1 and other species that feed upon the fish1 frogs1 and lesser life of the waters4 ,the anhinga1 after whom the park's most popular trail is named1 is a favorite with visitors4 ,it is also called water-turkey1 probably because of its large size and long1 white-tipped tail feathers4 ,a third name1 snake bird1 derives from the anhinga's habit of swimming almost totally submerged with its long1 snaky neck above the surface4 ,the anhinga is a skilled fisherman1 seeking out its quarry by swimming underwater4 ,it spears a fish with its beak1 surfaces1 tosses the fish into the air1 catches it1 and gulps it down head first4 ,during this activity1 the anhinga has gotten soaked to the skin1 for1 unlike ducks and many other water birds1 it is not well supplied with oil to keep its plumage dry4 ,so1 following a plunge1 the anhinga struggles to the branch of a shrub or tree1 and1 spreading its wings1 hangs its feathers out to dry4 ,the snail kite1 one of ,america's rarest birds1 flies low over the fresh-water marshes1 its head pointed downward1 searching for its sole food--the ,pomacea snail4 ,a sharply hooked beak enables it to remove the snail from its shell4 ,more striking in appearance is its cousin1 the swallow-tailed kite1 aerial acrobat of the hawk family--a migrant that nests in the park in spring and spends the winter in ,south ,america4 ,on long1 pointed wings this handsome bird eats in the air while holding itself in one place on the wind4 ,in the mangroves1 it hunts in an unusual way3 skimming over the trees1 it snatches lizards and other small animals from the topmost branches4 ,red-shouldered hawks1 often seen perching on the treetops beside the park road1 feed upon snakes and other small animals4 ,the fish-eating osprey is another conspicuous resident of the park1 and its bulky nests will be seen when you take a boat trip into ,florida ,bay or the mangrove wilderness4 ,the bald eagle1 which1 sadly1 is no longer common in ,north ,america and may soon be exterminated because of pesticide pollution of its fishing waters1 is still holding out in the ,everglades region1 where #ej or so breeding pairs seem to be reproducing successfully4 ,illustration3 ,,little ,,blue ,,heron immature adult ,illustration3 ,,great ,,blue ,,heron ,illustration3 ,,reddish ,,egret ,,white ,,phase ,illustration3 ,,wood ,,stork ,,glossy ,,ibis ,,white ,,ibis ,illustration3 ,,american 7,,common7 ,,egret ,,snowy ,,egret ,illustration3 ,,limpkin ,,american ,,bittern ,,roseate ,,spoonbill ,the long-legged wading birds of the heron family are so numerous and so much alike in appearance that you will need your bird guide for sure identification4 ,the waders are interesting to watch1 because of the variety of feeding methods4 ,particularly amusing are the antics of the reddish egret as it hunts small animals in the shallows of ,florida ,bay at low tide4 ,it is much unlike other herons in its manner of hunting3 it lurches through the shallows1 dashing to left and right as if drunk1 in pursuit of its prey4 ,this clownish survivor of the old plume-hunting days exists in ,florida in very limited numbers4 ,since about #cjj species of birds have been recorded in the park1 this sampling barely suggests the pleasures awaiting you if you plan to spend some time playing the ,everglades bird-watching game4 ,reptiles and ,amphibians ,everglades' most famous citizen--the alligator--is looked for by all visitors to the park1 who may1 however1 be unaware that many other kinds of reptiles and a dozen species of amphibians dwell here4 ,the ,american crocodile1 less common than the alligator and restricted to the ,florida ,bay region1 is a shy and secretive animal seen by few visitors4 ,similar in size and appearance to the alligator1 it is distinguished by a narrower snout and a lighter color4 ,its habitat overlaps that of the alligator1 which prefers fresh or brackish water4 ,the turtles of the park include terrestrial1 fresh-water1 and marine species4 ,box turtles are often seen along the roads4 ,the softshell and snapping turtles live in the fresh-water areas and are often eaten by alligators4 ,loggerhead turtles nest on ,cape ,sable beaches1 otherwise they rarely come ashore4 ,their eggs are often discovered and devoured by the abundant raccoons4 ,but man has been largely responsible for the loggerhead's increasing rarity4 ,although the park has about two dozen species of snakes1 you may not encounter any of them4 ,most are harmless--several species of snakes frequent the waterways1 and it is a mistake to assume that any water snake you see is a moccasin4 ,two worth watching for are the everglades rat snake and the indigo snake1 both handsome and entirely harmless to man4 ,the former is a constrictor1 feeding mostly on rodents4 ,the indigo is one of our longest snakes--sometimes reaching more than #ajj inches--and now in danger of extinction4 ,ordinary caution and alertness when walking on trails is advisable2 but keep in mind that the snakes are not aggressive1 and that as part of the web of life in the park they are given protection just as are birds and mammals4 ,of those close relatives of snakes1 the lizards1 the ,florida anole is most commonly seen4 ,this is the little reptile sold at circuses as a 8chameleon02 it is quite unlike the true chameleon of the ,old ,world4 ,the so-called 8glass snake0--which got its name from its defensive maneuver of dropping off its tail 7which is longer than the rest of its body7 and from its snakelike appearance--is actually a legless lizard4 ,the lizards1 like the smaller snakes1 are primarily insectivorous4 ,the park's amphibians1 too1 are quite inconspicuous4 ,the voices of frogs and toads during the breeding season1 however1 are part of the ,everglades atmosphere4 ,you will enjoy the nocturnal serenade at egg-laying time--and it is quite possible to learn to identify species by their songs1 which are as distinctive as those of birds4 ,the green treefrog1 with its bell-like1 repeated 8queenk-queenk-queenk0 call1 is abundant1 and can be seen and heard easily during the breeding season1 particularly at ,royal ,palm ,hammock and on the ,anhinga ,trail4 ,the cold-blooded vertebrates1 including fish1 amphibians1 and reptiles1 play a significant role in the balance of life in the park1 feeding upon each other and upon lesser animals and in turn being food for larger predators such as herons1 hawks1 raccoons1 and otters4 ,fishes 8,fishing ,reserved for the ,birds10 says the sign at the beginning of the ,anhinga ,trail4 ,actually1 the catching of fish in the fresh waters of the park is an important activity not only for herons1 anhingas1 grebes1 and ospreys1 but also for raccoons1 mink1 turtles1 alligators 444 and bigger fish4 ,not surprisingly in the drowned habitats of ,everglades1 even the smallest fish are important in the web of life4 ,one tiny species1 the gambusia1 is of special interest to us4 ,this #b-;inch fish is credited with helping keep down the numbers of mosquitoes by feeding upon their aquatic larvae4 ,this accounts for its other name--mosquito fish--and for its popularity with humans4 ,but its services to us are not the measure of the gambusia's importance1 for it is a link in many food chains in the park's brackish and fresh-water habitats4 ,beginning with algae1 we can trace one such chain through mosquito larvae1 sunfish1 and bass1 to end with the alligator4 ,we can only guess at the extent of the ecological effects of the loss of a single species such as the little gambusia4 ,the larger fish of ,everglades are the most sought after4 ,sport fishermen want to know where to find and how to recognize the many varieties of game fish1 especially largemouth bass and such famed salt-water and brackish zone species as tarpon1 snook1 mangrove snapper1 and barracuda4 ,because of its cycles of flood and drought1 and the shifting brackish zones1 however1 the distribution and the numbers of fish fluctuate greatly in the glades and mangrove regions4 ,at times of drought1 the fish concentrations are particularly evident4 ,in mid- or late winter1 sloughs that are no longer deep enough to flow1 pools1 and other standing bodies of water will have a myriad of gambusia1 killifish1 and minnows4 ,larger fish seek the sanctuary of the headwaters of the ,harney1 ,shark1 and ,broad ,rivers4 ,at such times concentrations of bass may be so great that the angler may catch his daily limit in a few hours4 7,there are no legal limits for the herons and 'gators67 ,as water levels continue to fall1 salt water intrudes farther inland2 such species as snook and tarpon move up the now brackish rivers1 and may be seen in the same waters as bluegills and largemouth bass4 ,in some years water levels drop so severely that concentrations of fish are too great for the habitat to support4 ,as the surface water shrinks1 the fish use up the available free oxygen and begin to die4 ,the largest expire first2 the smaller fish seem less vulnerable to depleted oxygen supply4 ,even though many tons of fish may perish in such a die-off1 a few small specimens of each variety survive to restock the glades when the rains return4 ,with no cold season when fish must remain dormant1 and with a year-round food supply1 bass and sunfish grow rapidly and reach breeding size before the next drought4 ,these fish kills are associated with drought conditions that occur in the ordinary course of events1 and thus are natural phenomena not to be considered ecological disasters4 ,but man's violent upsetting of the drainage patterns of south ,florida1 through airport1 canal1 and highway construction and other developments1 can bring about such drastic shortages 7or even surpluses7 of water that irreparable damage could be done to the ecology of ,everglades aquatic communities4 ,while fish watching may not be the exciting sport that bird watching is1 you are the loser if you ignore this part of the life of ,everglades4 ,fish are so abundant in the park that no one has to haul them in on a line to discover them4 ,you can hardly miss spotting the larger fresh-water forms if you take the trouble to look down into the sloughs1 ponds1 and alligator holes4 ,identifying the species of fish1 however1 is more difficult4 ,the voracious-looking ,florida spotted gar is an exception4 ,this important predator on smaller fishes1 which is in turn a major item in the diet of the alligator1 is quite easily recognized4 ,experienced anglers will spot the largemouthed bass and the bluegill sunfish4 ,you'll see these and others as you walk on the ,anhinga ,trail boardwalk4 ,as you watch alligators and other native ,everglades predators1 you may get an inkling of how important in the web of life are the prolific fish populations of the sloughs1 marshes1 swamps1 and offshore waters of the park4 ,animals without ,backbones ,insects are the most noticeable of the park's invertebrates4 7,at times you may find your can of repellent as important as your shoes67 ,in all the fresh-water and brackish environments1 insects and their larvae are important links in the food chains--at the beginning as primary consumers of algae and other plant material1 and farther along as predators1 mostly on other insects4 ,some insects are parasites on the park's warmblooded animals 7including you74 ,the invertebrates most sought by visitors are molluscs--or rather1 their shells4 ,you may find a few on the beach at ,cape ,sable1 but don't expect to find the park a productive shelling area4 ,stick to marine shells--dead ones4 ,you cannot collect the fresh-water molluscs4 ,also protected are the tree snails of jungle hammocks4 ,famed for their beauty1 these snails of the genus ,liguus1 which grow to as much as #b inches in diameter1 feed upon the lichens growing on certain hammock trees4 ,look for them--but leave them undisturbed1 for they are a part of the community1 protected just as are the park's royal palms and its alligators4 ,illustration3 ,,indians ,,in ,,south ,,florida ,,big ,,cypress ,,indian ,,reservation ,,florida ,,state ,,seminole ,,indian ,,reservation ,,dania ,,indian ,,reservation ,,scattered ,,mounds ,,throughout ,,shark ,,valley ,,russell ,,key ,,turner ,,river ,,lopez ,,river ,,houston ,,river ,,mormon ,,key ,,gopher ,,key ,,johnson ,,mound ,,farm ,,creek ,,mound ,,everglades ,,national ,,park ,,monroe ,,lake ,,east ,,cape ,,mounds ,,gulf ,,of ,,mexico ,,florida ,,bay ,,atlantic ,,ocean ,indian ,mounds ,indian ,villages ,big ,cypress ,swamp ,mangrove ,swamp ,pine ,rockland ,coastal ,prairie ,everglades ,,indians ,,of ,,the ,,everglades ,your first awareness of the south ,florida ,indians will probably come during a trip along the ,tamiami ,trail 7,u4,s4 #da1 the cross-,state highway just north of the park74 ,you will notice clusters of ,indian homes close to the road4 ,some are built on stilts1 are thatched with palm fronds1 and are open-sided so that no walls hamper the flow of cooling breezes4 ,many of the glades ,indians prefer to live as their ancestors did some #aej years ago when they were newcomers to the everglades4 ,others have adopted the white man's dwellings 7as well as his occupations74 ,the ,indians of south ,florida--,miccosukees1 sometimes called 8,trail ,indians02 and ,muskogees1 the 8,cow ,creek ,seminoles0--are separate tribes1 not sharing a common language4 ,today no ,indians live inside the park boundaries4 ,the ,indians arrived in ,spanish ,florida after the ,american ,revolution4 ,many ,creeks of ,georgia and ,alabama1 crowded by the aggressive white man1 fled south to the peninsula4 ,they first settled in north ,florida2 when ,florida became a ,state in #ahde they had to retreat farther south4 ,driven into the interior during the ,seminole ,war of #ahce1 they eventually settled in the everglades1 where deer1 fish1 and fruit were available4 ,though their territory is now much more limited1 they still retain much of their independent spirit1 and have never signed a peace treaty with the ,u4,s4 ,government4 ,many earn their living operating air boats1 as proprietors and employees of roadside businesses1 and in a variety of jobs on farms and in cities4 ,the women create distinctive handicraft items1 which find a ready market with tourists4 ,no one is certain when the first ,indians--the ,calusas and ,tequestas--appeared in south ,florida2 it may have been more than #b1jjj years ago4 ,even more than today's glades ,indians1 these coastal ,indians lived with the rhythm of river and tides1 rain and drought4 ,hunting1 fishing1 and gathering of shellfish were their means of existence4 ,we have learned this much of their life from artifacts unearthed from the many ,indian mounds or washed up along the beaches4 ,they lived on huge shell mounds1 made pottery1 used sharks' teeth to make saws1 and fashioned other tools from conch shells4 ,they even built impoundments for fish--a few remains of these can be seen today4 ,they were ingenious hunters4 7,ponce de ,len and his ,spanish explorer-marauders were said to have been turned back from the everglades by the deadly arrows these ,indians fashioned from rushes47 ,illustration3 ,following the arrival of the ,spanish1 these early ,indians disappeared from the scene4 ,they were apparently wiped out1 destroyed by the white man's diseases as much as by his aggression2 but some may have escaped to ,cuba4 ,perhaps a handful of them were still in the everglades when the ,creeks came down from the north in #ahce1 and were absorbed into the new tribe4 ,their known history ends here4 ,proud1 independent1 and ingenious in wresting a living from the land and the water1 the ,indians knew how to live with nature4 ,unlike the white man1 they fitted into the plant-and-animal communities4 ,today these communities have been severely disrupted4 ,in the few decades that the white man has been 8developing0 the region1 he has broken every chain of life described in this book4 ,alligator populations have been much reduced in south ,florida2 their chief prey1 the garfish1 has in some places become so numerous as to constitute a nuisance 7most of all to the fresh-water anglers1 some of whom had a hand in the killing of alligators74 ,the pattern of waterflow over the glades1 through the cypress swamps1 and into the mangrove wilderness has been altered by highways and canals4 ,much of the habitat has been wiped out by construction of homes and factories and by farming operations4 ,an increasingly alarming development is the pollution of glades waters by agricultural chemicals4 ,only through complete understanding of this fragile1 unique subtropical world can man reverse the destructive trend4 ,only through carefully applied protective and management practices can we make progress toward restoring to the ,everglades some of its lost splendor4 ,appendix ,illustration3 ,tropical thicket ,glossary ,,algae3 7pronounced 8,,al-jee07 ,a group of plants 7singular3 ,,alga1 pronounced 8,,al-ga071 one-celled or many-celled1 having chlorophyll1 without roots1 and living in damp places or in water4 ,,brackish ,,water3 ,mixed fresh and salt water4 ,many species of plants and animals of marine and fresh-water habitats are adapted to life in estuaries and coastal swamps and marshes1 where the water varies greatly in degree of salinity4 ,some animal species can be found in all three habitats4 ,,bromeliad3 ,a plant of the pineapple family4 ,many bromeliads are air plants1 growing 7not parasitically7 on the trunks and branches of other plants1 or even1 as in the case of 8,spanish moss10 on telephone wires4 ,,community3 ,the living part of the ecosystem2 an assemblage of plants and animals living in a particular area or physical habitat4 ,it can be as small as a decaying log1 with its variety of mosses1 insect larvae1 burrowing beetles1 ants1 etc42 or as large as a forest of hundreds of square miles4 ,,deciduous ,,trees3 ,trees that shed their leaves annually4 ,most hardwood trees are deciduous2 some conifers1 such as larches and baldcypresses1 are deciduous4 ,,ecology3 ,the study of the relationship of living things to one another and to their physical environment4 ,,endangered3 ,a species of plant or animal that1 throughout all or a significant portion of its range1 is in danger of extinction4 ,,environment3 ,all the external conditions1 such as soil1 water1 air1 and organisms1 surrounding a living thing4 ,,estivation3 ,a prolonged dormant or sleeplike state that enables an animal to survive the summer in a hot climate4 ,as in hibernation1 breathing and heartbeat slow down1 and the animal neither eats nor drinks4 ,,estuary3 ,the portion of a river or coastal wetland affected by the rise and fall of the tide1 containing a graded mixture of fresh and salt water4 ,,everglade3 ,a tract of marshy land covered in places with tall grasses4 7,in this book1 8the everglades0 refers to the river of grass2 8,everglades0 refers to the park1 which contains other habitats besides everglades47 ,,exotic3 ,a foreign plant or animal that has been introduced1 intentionally or unintentionally1 into a new area4 ,,food ,,chain3 ,a series of plants and animals linked by their food relationships1 beginning with a green plant and ending with a predator4 ,,habitat3 ,the place where an organism lives2 the immediate surroundings1 living and unliving1 of an organism4 ,the habitat of the pine warbler is the pinelands2 the habitat of an internal parasite of this bird is the body of the warbler4 ,,hammock3 ,a dense growth of broad-leaved trees on a slightly elevated area1 not wet enough to be a swamp4 ,in the park1 hammocks are surrounded either by pineland or by marshland 7glades74 ,,hardwood ,,trees3 ,trees with broad leaves 7as opposed to conebearing trees1 which have needles or scales74 ,most hardwood trees are deciduous1 though many in south ,florida retain their leaves throughout the year4 ,,key3 ,a reef or low-lying island4 ,in south ,florida1 the term 8key0 is often also applied to hammocks or pinelands1 which occupy areas where the limestone is raised above the surrounding wetlands4 ,,limestone3 ,a sedimentary rock derived from the shells and skeletons of animals deposited in seas1 and consisting mostly of calcium carbonate4 ,soluble in water having a slight degree of acidity1 it is often characterized by caverns and1 in the everglades1 by a very pitted surface4 ,the rock underlying most of the park is the ,miami ,olite 7pronounced ,,oh-uh-lite71 formed during a recent glacial period4 ,olitic limestone is composed of tiny round concretions1 only indirectly derived from marine shells4 ,,mangrove3 ,any of a group of tropical or subtropical trees1 growing in estuaries and other low-lying coastal areas1 usually producing aerial roots or prop roots and often forming dense growths over a large area4 ,in south ,florida there are four species1 belonging to three different families4 ,,marsh3 ,a wetland1 salt or fresh1 where few if any trees and shrubs grow1 characterized by grasses and sedges2 in fresh-water marshes1 cattails are common4 ,,marl3 ,in this book1 used in the sense of a deposit of mixed limestone and smaller amounts of clay2 south ,florida marls are sometimes called lime muds4 ,,peat3 ,partly decayed1 moisture-absorbing plant matter accumulated in bogs1 swamps1 etc4 ,,predator3 ,an animal that lives by capturing other animals for food4 ,,slough3 ,a channel of slow-moving water in coastal marshland4 ,the ,shark ,river ,slough and ,taylor ,slough are the main channels where the glades water flows in the park4 ,generally remaining as reservoirs of water when the glades dry in the rainless season1 they are important to survival of aquatic animals4 ,,swamp3 ,wetland characterized by shrubs or trees such as maples1 gums1 baldcypresses1 and1 in south ,florida coast areas1 mangroves4 ,fresh-water swamps are usually not covered by water the year around4 ,,threatened3 ,a species still present in its range but that1 without significant changes in conditions1 is capable of becoming endangered4 ,,tree ,,island3 ,an island of trees1 shrubs1 and herbaceous plants growing on an elevation1 in a depression1 or at the same level as the surrounding glades4 ,includes hammocks1 willow heads1 cypress heads1 and bayheads4 ,for ,reading and ,reference ,ashton1 ,ray ,jr41 and ,patricia ,sawyer ,ashton4 ,handbook of ,reptiles and ,amphibians of ,florida4 ,vol4 #a1 ,the ,snakes2 ,vol4 #b1 ,lizards1 ,turtles and ,crocodilians2 ,vol4 #c1 ,the ,amphibians4 ,miami3 ,windward ,publishing1 ,inc41 #aiha-hh4 ,bell1 ,c4 ,ritchie1 and ,bryan ,j4 ,taylor4 ,florida ,wildflowers and ,roadside ,plants4 ,chapel ,hill3 ,laurel ,hill ,press1 #aihb4 ,cox1 ,w4 ,eugene4 ,in ,pictures--,everglades3 ,the ,continuing ,story4 ,las ,vegas3 ,k4 ,c4 ,publications1 #aihi4 ,craighead1 ,frank ,c4 ,the ,role of the ,alligator in ,shaping ,plant ,communities and ,maintaining ,wildlife in the ,southern ,everglades4 ,maitland3 ,florida ,audubon ,society1 #aifi4 de ,golia1 ,jack4 ,everglades3 ,the ,story ,behind the ,scenery4 ,las ,vegas3 ,k4,c4 ,publications1 #aiha4 ,douglas1 ,marjory ,stoneman4 ,everglades3 ,river of ,grass4 ,st4 ,simons ,island1 ,georgia3 ,mockingbird ,books1 #aigd4 ,downs1 ,dorothy4 ,miccosukee ,arts and ,crafts4 ,miami3 ,miccosukee ,tribe of ,indians of ,florida1 #aihb4 ,hoffmeister1 ,john ,edward4 ,land ,from ,sea3 ,the ,geologic ,story of ,south ,florida4 ,coral ,gables3 ,university of ,miami ,press1 #aifh4 ,lane1 ,james ,a4 ,a ,birder's ,guide to ,florida4 ,denver3 ,l,p ,press1 #aihi4 ,peterson1 ,roger ,tory4 ,a ,field ,guide to the ,birds ,east of the ,rockies4 ,boston3 ,houghton ,mifflin ,company1 #aihj4 ,robertson1 ,william ,b4 ,everglades3 ,the ,park ,story4 ,homestead1 ,florida3 ,florida ,national ,parks and ,monuments ,association1 ,inc41 #aihi4 ,romashko1 ,sandra4 ,the ,shell ,book4 ,miami3 ,windward ,publishing1 ,inc41 #aihd4 ,stevenson1 ,george ,b4 ,trees of the ,everglades ,national ,park and the ,florida ,keys4 ,miami3 ,banyan ,books1 ,inc41 #aihd4 ,tebeau1 ,charlton ,e4 ,man in the ,everglades4 ,coral ,gables3 ,university of ,miami ,press1 #aifh4 ,toops1 ,connie ,m4 ,the ,alligator3 ,monarch of the ,marsh4 ,homestead1 ,florida3 ,florida ,national ,parks and ,monuments ,association1 ,inc41 #aihh4 ,toops1 ,connie4 ,everglades4 ,stillwater1 ,minnesota3 ,voyageur ,press1 #aihi4 ,truesdell1 ,william ,g4 ,a ,guide to the ,wilderness ,waterway of the ,everglades ,national ,park4 ,coral ,gables3 ,university of ,miami ,press1 #aihe4 ,u4,s4 ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 ,rare and ,endangered ,fish and ,wildlife of the ,united ,states4 ,washington3 ,u4,s4 ,government ,printing ,office1 #aifd4 ,williams1 ,winston4 ,florida's ,fabulous ,waterbirds3 ,their ,stories4 ,tampa3 ,worldwide ,printing1 #aihd4 ,zim1 ,herbert ,s4 ,everglades ,national ,park and the ,nearby ,florida ,keys4 ,new ,york3 ,golden ,press1 #aihe4 ,rare and ,endangered ,animals ,here is a partial list of the rare and endangered species and subspecies found in ,everglades ,national ,park and ,fort ,jefferson ,national ,monument4 ,mammals ,florida ,panther 7,cougar7 ,west ,indian ,manatee 7,sea ,cow7 ,birds ,snail ,kite ,southern ,bald ,eagle ,arctic ,peregrine ,falcon ,cape ,sable ,sparrow ,wood ,stork ,red-cockaded ,woodpecker ,reptiles and ,amphibians ,green ,turtle ,eastern ,indigo ,snake ,hawksbill ,turtle ,loggerhead ,turtle ,american ,crocodile ,checklist of ,mammals ,more than #dj species of mammals are found in ,everglades ,national ,park4 ,many of them are species commonly associated with drier habitats that have adapted to the semi-aquatic environment that comprises most of the park4 ,it is not uncommon to see whitetail deer wading through the sawgrass prairie or a bobcat foraging for food in a mangrove swamp4 ,this list is made up of species found within the boundary of the park or in the immediate area4 ,species considered exotic to ,everglades ,national ,park are marked with an asterisk 79974 ,opossum ,didelphis marsupialis ,short-tailed shrew ,blarina brevicauda ,least shrew ,cryptotis parva ,eastern mole ,scalopus aquaticus ,seminole bat ,lasiurus seminolus ,florida yellow bat ,lasiurus intermedius ,evening bat ,nycticeius hymeralis ,brazilian free-tailed bat ,tadarida brasiliensis ,florida mastiff bat ,eumops glaucinus ,nine-banded armadillo ,dasypus novemcinctus99 ,marsh rabbit ,sylvilagus palustris ,eastern cottontail ,sylvilagus floridanus ,gray squirrel ,sciurus carolinensis ,fox squirrel ,sciurus niger ,southern flying squirrel ,glaucomys volans ,rice rat ,oryzomys palustris ,cotton mouse ,peromyscus gossypinus ,cotton rat ,sigmodon hispisus ,roundtail muskrat ,neofiber alleni ,roof rat ,rattus rattus99 ,norway rat ,rattus norvegicus ,house mouse ,mus musculus99 ,atlantic bottlenosed dolphin ,tursiops truncatus ,short-finned1 or ,pilot1 whale ,globicephala marcorhyncha ,gray fox ,urocyon cineroargenteus ,red fox ,vulpes vulpes99 ,domestic dog ,canis familiaris99 ,black bear ,ursus americanus ,raccoon ,procyon lotor ,coati ,nasua narica99 ,everglades mink ,mustela vison ,long-tailed weasel ,mustela frenata ,eastern spotted skunk ,spirogale putorius ,striped skunk ,mephitis mephitis ,river otter ,lutra canadensis ,florida panther ,felis concolor coryi ,bobcat ,lynx rufus ,domestic cat ,felis domesticus99 ,west ,indian ,manatee ,trichechus manatus ,domestic pig ,sus scrofa99 ,whitetail deer ,odocoileus virginia ,checklist of ,birds ,this is a complete list of the birds known in the park--#cdg species as of ,june #a1 #aihe--;along with a key indicating the abundance and seasonal occurrence of each species4 ,as noted in this list many birds are known in the park from only a few sightings4 ,a few are exotic birds that have escaped captivity4 ,species considered exotic to ,everglades ,park are marked with an asterisk 79974 ,users can contribute to updating future lists by carefully recording details of their observations of less common species and reporting that information to park personnel4 ,for purposes of this listing the seasons are as follows3 ,spring3 ,march #a to ,may #ca ,summer3 ,june #a to ,july #ca ,fall3 ,august #a to ,november #ae ,winter3 ,november #af to ,february #bh ,key to ,checklist ,c ,common ,u ,uncommon ,r ,rare ,f ,fewer than #aj sightings ,b ,breeds in park 8 ,uncertain if species breeds in park ,name of ,bird ,breeds in park ,spring ,summer ,fall ,winter ,red-throated ,loon ,f ,common ,loon ,r ,r ,r ,pied-billed ,grebe ,b ,c ,u ,c ,c ,horned ,grebe ,c ,c ,c ,red-necked ,grebe ,f ,sooty ,shearwater ,f ,wilson's ,storm ,petrel ,f ,brown ,booby ,f ,northern ,gannet ,f ,f ,f ,american ,white ,pelican ,c ,r ,c ,c ,brown ,pelican ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,great ,cormorant ,f ,double-crested ,cormorant ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,anhinga ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,magnificent ,frigatebird ,u ,u ,u ,u ,american ,bittern 8 ,u ,r ,u ,c ,least ,bittern ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,great ,blue ,heron ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,great ,blue ,heron 7,white phase7 ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,great ,egret ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,snowy ,egret ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,little ,blue ,heron ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,tricolored ,heron ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,reddish ,egret ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,cattle ,egret ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,green-backed ,heron ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,black-crowned ,night ,heron ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,yellow-crowned ,night ,heron ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,white ,ibis ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,scarlet ,ibis 7probably ,r ,r ,r ,r escapes7 ,glossy ,ibis ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,white-faced ,ibis ,f ,roseate ,spoonbill ,b ,c ,u ,c ,c ,wood ,stork ,b ,u ,r ,u ,u ,great ,flamingo 7probably ,r ,r ,r ,r escapes7 ,fulvous ,whistling ,duck ,u ,u ,u ,u ,snow ,goose ,f ,snow ,goose 7,blue ,phase7 ,f ,brant ,r ,canada ,goose ,f ,wood ,duck ,r ,green-winged ,teal ,u ,r ,u ,american ,black ,duck ,f ,mottled ,duck ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,mallard ,r ,white-checked ,pintail ,f ,f ,northern ,pintail ,c ,r ,c ,blue-winged ,teal ,c ,r ,c ,c ,cinnamon ,teal ,f ,northern ,shoveler ,c ,r ,c ,c ,gadwall ,r ,r ,eurasian ,wigeon ,f ,american ,wigeon ,c ,c ,c ,canvasback ,r ,r ,redhead ,r ,r ,ring-necked ,duck ,c ,c ,c ,greater ,scaup ,f ,lesser ,scaup ,c ,c ,c ,oldsquaw ,f ,black ,scoter ,f ,surf ,scoter ,f ,common ,goldeneye ,f ,bufflehead ,r ,hooded ,merganser ,u ,r ,u ,red-breasted ,merganser ,c ,r ,c ,c ,ruddy ,duck ,u ,u ,c ,masked ,duck ,f ,black ,vulture ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,turkey ,vulture ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,osprey ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,american ,swallow-tailed ,kite ,b ,c ,c ,r ,black-shouldered ,kite ,f ,f ,snail ,kite ,b ,r ,r ,r ,r ,mississippi ,kite ,f ,f ,bald ,eagle ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,northern ,harrier ,u ,u ,c ,sharp-shinned ,hawk ,u ,u ,u ,cooper's ,hawk ,r ,r ,r ,red-shouldered ,hawk ,b ,u ,r ,u ,u ,broad-winged ,hawk ,u ,u ,u ,short-tailed ,hawk ,b ,u ,r ,u ,u ,swainson's ,hawk ,r ,r ,u ,red-tailed ,hawk ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,rough-legged ,hawk ,f ,golden ,eagle ,f ,crested ,caracara ,f ,american ,kestrel ,c ,c ,c ,merlin ,u ,u ,u ,peregrine ,falcon ,u ,u ,u ,wild ,turkey ,b ,r ,r ,r ,r ,northern ,bobwhite ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,yellow ,rail ,f ,black ,rail ,r ,clapper ,rail ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,king ,rail ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,virginia ,rail ,r ,r ,r ,sora ,rail ,c ,c ,c ,purple ,gallinule ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,common ,moorhen ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,american ,coot ,b ,c ,r ,c ,c ,caribbean ,coot ,f ,f ,f ,limpkin ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,sandhill ,crane ,b ,r ,r ,r ,r ,black-bellied ,plover ,c ,r ,c ,c ,lesser ,golden ,plover ,r ,r ,r ,snowy ,plover ,f ,f ,wilson's ,plover ,b ,c ,c ,c ,u ,semipalmated ,plover ,c ,u ,c ,c ,piping ,plover ,u ,u ,u ,killdeer ,b ,c ,u ,c ,c ,american ,oystercatcher ,r ,black-necked ,stilt ,b ,u ,r ,u ,r ,american ,avocet ,c ,u ,c ,c ,greater ,yellowlegs ,c ,u ,c ,c ,lesser ,yellowlegs ,c ,u ,c ,c ,solitary ,sandpiper ,u ,u ,r ,willet 8 ,c ,u ,c ,c ,spotted ,sandpiper ,c ,c ,c ,upland ,sandpiper ,f ,f ,whimbrel ,u ,r ,u ,u ,long-billed ,curlew ,r ,r ,r ,hudsonian ,godwit ,f ,f ,marbled ,godwit ,c ,r ,c ,c ,ruddy ,turnstone ,c ,u ,c ,c ,red ,knot ,u ,r ,u ,u ,sanderling ,u ,u ,u ,semipalmated ,sandpiper ,u ,u ,r ,western ,sandpiper ,c ,r ,c ,c ,least ,sandpiper ,c ,u ,c ,c ,white-rumped ,sandpiper ,r ,r ,baird's ,sandpiper ,r ,pectoral ,sandpiper ,c ,c ,r ,sharp-tailed ,sandpiper ,f ,dunlin ,c ,c ,c ,curlew ,sandpiper ,f ,stilt ,sandpiper ,u ,u ,r ,buff-breasted ,sandpiper ,f ,ruff ,f ,short-billed ,dowitcher ,c ,u ,c ,c ,long-billed ,dowitcher ,u ,u ,u ,r ,common ,snipe ,u ,u ,u ,american ,woodcock ,r ,r ,wilson's ,phalarope ,f ,red-necked ,phalarope ,f ,parasitic ,jaeger ,f ,laughing ,gull ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,franklin's ,gull ,f ,bonaparte's ,gull ,u ,u ,ring-billed ,gull ,c ,u ,c ,c ,herring ,gull ,c ,u ,c ,c ,lesser ,black-backed ,gull ,f ,great ,black-backed ,gull ,f ,gull-billed ,tern ,u ,u ,u ,u ,caspian ,tern ,c ,r ,c ,c ,royal ,tern ,c ,u ,c ,c ,sandwich ,tern ,u ,u ,u ,u ,roseate ,tern ,r ,common ,tern ,u ,u ,u ,forster's ,tern ,c ,u ,c ,c ,least ,tern ,b ,c ,c ,u ,bridled ,tern ,f ,sooty ,tern ,f ,f ,black ,tern ,u ,u ,u ,r ,brown ,noddy ,f ,f ,black ,skimmer ,c ,c ,c ,c ,rock ,dove99 ,f ,f ,f ,f ,white-crowned ,pigeon ,b ,c ,c ,c ,u ,white-winged ,dove ,f ,f ,f ,f ,zenaida ,dove ,f ,mourning ,dove ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,common ,ground ,dove ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,key ,west ,quail ,dove ,f ,f ,budgerigar 7escapes7 ,f ,f ,rose-ringed ,parakeet 7escapes7 ,f ,monk ,parakeet 7escapes7 ,f ,canary-winged ,parakeet ,f 7escapes7 ,yellow-billed ,cuckoo ,b ,c ,c ,c ,r ,mangrove ,cuckoo ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,smooth-billed ,ani ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,groove-billed ,ani ,f ,f ,f ,common ,barn ,owl ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,eastern ,screech ,owl ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,great ,horned ,owl ,b ,r ,r ,r ,r ,burrowing ,owl ,r ,barred ,owl ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,long-eared ,owl ,f ,short-eared ,owl ,r ,r ,r ,lesser ,nighthawk ,f ,f ,common ,nighthawk ,b ,c ,c ,c ,r ,chuck-will's-widow ,b ,c ,c ,c ,r ,whip-poor-will ,u ,u ,c ,chimney ,swift ,r ,ruby-throated ,hummingbird ,c ,r ,c ,c ,belted ,kingfisher ,c ,r ,c ,c ,red-headed ,woodpecker ,f ,red-bellied ,woodpecker ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,yellow-bellied ,sapsucker ,u ,u ,c ,downy ,woodpecker ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,hairy ,woodpecker ,b ,r ,r ,r ,r ,red-cockaded ,woodpecker ,extirpated ,northern ,flicker ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,pileated ,woodpecker ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,ivory-billed ,woodpecker ,extirpated ,olive-sided ,flycatcher ,f ,eastern ,wood ,pewee ,u ,u ,r ,acadian ,flycatcher ,r ,willow ,flycatcher ,r ,least ,flycatcher ,u ,u ,u ,r ,eastern ,phoebe ,c ,c ,c ,say's ,phoebe ,f ,vermilion ,flycatcher ,f ,f ,great ,crested ,flycatcher ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,brown-crested ,flycatcher ,r ,r ,tropical ,kingbird ,f ,f ,western ,kingbird ,u ,u ,u ,eastern ,kingbird ,b ,c ,c ,c ,r ,gray ,kingbird ,b ,c ,c ,c ,scissor-tailed ,flycatcher ,r ,r ,r ,purple ,martin ,c ,c ,c ,tree ,swallow ,c ,c ,c ,northern ,rough-winged ,swallow ,u ,u ,r ,bank ,swallow ,u ,u ,cliff ,swallow ,r ,u ,barn ,swallow ,b ,u ,r ,c ,r ,blue ,jay ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,american ,crow ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,fish ,crow ,f ,tufted ,titmouse ,r ,r ,white-breasted ,nuthatch ,f ,brown-headed ,nuthatch ,extirpated ,brown ,creeper ,f ,carolina ,wren ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,house ,wren ,c ,c ,c ,winter ,wren ,f ,sedge ,wren ,u ,u ,u ,marsh ,wren ,u ,u ,u ,ruby-crowned ,kinglet ,u ,u ,u ,blue-gray ,gnatcatcher ,c ,c ,c ,eastern ,bluebird ,extirpated ,veery ,u ,u ,gray-cheeked ,thrush ,u ,u ,swainson's ,thrush ,u ,u ,f ,hermit ,thrush ,u ,u ,r ,wood ,thrush ,r ,r ,f ,american ,robin ,r-,c ,gray ,catbird ,c ,c ,c ,northern ,mockingbird ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,brown ,thrasher ,u ,u ,u ,water ,pipit ,r ,r ,cedar ,waxwing ,r-,c ,r-,c ,r-,c ,loggerhead ,shrike ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,european ,starling99 ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,hill ,myna 7probably escapes7 ,f ,thick-billed ,vireo ,f ,white-eyed ,vireo ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,bell's ,vireo ,f ,f ,solitary ,vireo ,u ,u ,u ,yellow-throated ,vireo ,u ,u ,u ,warbling ,vireo ,f ,f ,philadelphia ,vireo ,r ,r ,red-eyed ,vireo ,c ,c ,f ,black-whispered ,vireo ,b ,c ,c ,c ,blue-winged ,warbler ,r ,r ,f ,golden-winged ,warbler ,r ,r ,tennessee ,warbler ,u ,u ,r ,orange-crowned ,warbler ,u ,u ,u ,nashville ,warbler ,f ,r ,f ,northern ,parula ,c ,r ,c ,c ,yellow ,warbler ,b ,c ,c ,c ,u ,chestnut-sided ,warbler ,r ,r ,magnolia ,warbler ,u ,u ,r ,cape ,may ,warbler ,u-,c ,u-,c ,r ,black-throated ,blue ,warbler ,c ,c ,u-,r ,yellow-rumped ,warbler ,r-,c ,r-,c ,c ,black-throated ,gray ,warbler ,f ,black-throated ,green ,warbler ,u ,u ,u ,blackburnian ,warbler ,u ,u ,f ,yellow-throated ,warbler ,c ,u ,c ,c ,pine ,warbler ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,kirtland's ,warbler ,f ,prairie ,warbler ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,palm ,warbler ,c ,c ,c ,bay-breasted ,warbler ,f ,f ,blackpoll ,warbler ,c ,r ,cerulean ,warbler ,r ,black-and-white ,warbler ,c ,c ,c ,american ,redstart ,c ,u ,c ,u ,prothonotary ,warbler ,u ,u ,f ,worm-eating ,warbler ,u ,u ,r ,swainson's ,warbler ,r ,r ,ovenbird ,c ,c ,c ,northern ,waterthrush ,c ,c ,c ,louisiana ,waterthrush ,c ,u ,c ,r ,kentucky ,warbler ,r ,r ,f ,connecticut ,warbler ,r ,mourning ,warbler ,f ,common ,yellowthroat ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,hooded ,warbler ,u ,u ,f ,wilson's ,warbler ,r ,r ,f ,yellow-breasted ,chat ,u ,u ,u ,bananaquit ,f ,stripe-headed ,tanager ,f ,summer ,tanager ,r ,r ,f ,scarlet ,tanager ,f ,f ,f ,western ,tanager ,f ,f ,f ,northern ,cardinal ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,rose-breasted ,grosbeak ,u ,u ,r ,blue ,grosbeak ,u ,u ,f ,indigo ,bunting ,c ,c ,r ,painted ,bunting ,c ,c ,u-,r ,dickcissel ,f ,f ,f ,rufous-sided ,towhee ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,black-faced ,grassquit ,f ,f ,bachman's ,sparrow ,f ,f ,f ,chipping ,sparrow ,r ,r ,r ,clay-colored ,sparrow ,r ,r ,r ,field ,sparrow ,u ,u ,u ,vesper ,sparrow ,f ,f ,f ,lark ,sparrow ,f ,f ,lark ,bunting ,f ,f ,savannah ,sparrow ,c ,c ,c ,grasshopper ,sparrow ,u ,u ,u ,le ,conte's ,sparrow ,f ,sharp-tailed ,sparrow ,r ,r ,u ,seaside ,sparrow ,r ,cape ,sable ,seaside ,sparrow ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,song ,sparrow ,f ,lincoln's ,sparrow ,r-,u ,swamp ,sparrow ,c ,c ,c ,white-throated ,sparrow ,f ,f ,white-crowned ,sparrow ,r ,f ,dark-eyed ,junco ,f ,f ,bobolink ,c ,c ,f ,red-winged ,blackbird ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,eastern ,meadowlark ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,yellow-headed ,blackbird ,r ,r ,r ,rusty ,blackbird ,f ,brewer's ,blackbird ,r ,boat-tailed ,grackle ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,common ,grackle ,b ,c ,c ,c ,c ,bronzed ,cowbird ,f ,brown-headed ,cowbird ,u ,u ,r ,orchard ,oriole ,u ,u ,spot-breasted ,oriole ,f ,northern ,oriole 7,baltimore ,c ,c ,r race7 ,northern ,oriole 7,bullock's ,r ,r ,r race7 ,pine ,siskin ,f ,american ,goldfinch ,c ,c ,c ,house ,sparrow99 ,b ,u ,u ,u ,u ,checklists of ,reptiles and ,amphibians ,more than #ej species of reptiles1 including #bf species of snakes and #af species of turtles1 have been found in ,everglades ,national ,park4 ,the reptiles include1 of course1 the alligator1 which is the symbol of the ,everglades4 ,less conspicuous than the reptiles are the #ah species of amphibians that live here4 ,many are nocturnal4 ,these lists represent species found within the park or nearby4 ,species considered exotic to ,everglades ,national ,park are marked with an asterisk 79974 ,reptiles ,american crocodile ,crocodylus acutus ,american alligator ,alligator mississippiensis ,florida snapping turtle ,chelydra serpentina ,striped mud turtle ,kinosternum bauri ,stinkpot ,sternotherus odoratus ,florida box turtle ,terrapene carolina ,diamondback terrapin ,malaclemys terrapin ,peninsula cooter ,chrysemys floridanis ,florida redbelly turtle ,chrysemys nelsoni ,florida chicken turtle ,deirochelys reticularia ,gopher tortoise ,gopherus polyphemus ,atlantic green turtle ,chelonia mydas ,atlantic hawksbill ,eretmochelys imbricata ,atlantic loggerhead ,caretta caretta ,atlantic ridley ,lepidochelys kempi ,florida softshell ,trionyx ferox ,indopacific gecko ,hemidactylus garnoti99 ,florida reef gecko ,shpaerodactylus notatus ,green anole ,anolis carolinensis ,brown anole ,anolis sagrai99 ,knight anole ,anolis equestris99 ,common iguana ,iguana iguana99 ,ground skink ,scincella lateralis ,eastern glass lizard ,ophisaurus ventralis ,island glass lizard ,ophisaurus compressus ,florida green water snake ,nerodia cyclopion ,brown water snake ,nerodia taxispilota ,florida water snake ,nerodia fasciata pictiventris ,mangrove salt marsh snake ,nerodia fasciata compressicauda ,south ,florida swamp snake ,seminatrix pygaea ,florida brown snake ,stoeria dekayi ,eastern garter snake ,thamnophis sirtalis ,peninsula ribbon snake ,thamnophis sauritus ,striped crayfish snake ,regina alleni ,eastern hognose snake ,heterodon platyrhinos ,southern ringneck snake ,diadopis punctatus ,eastern mud snake ,farancia abacura ,everglades racer ,coluber constrictor ,eastern coachwhip ,masticophis flagellum ,rough green snake ,opheodrys aestivus ,eastern indigo ,drymarchon corais ,corn snake ,elaphe guttata ,everglades rat snake ,elaphe obsoleta ,yellow rat snake ,elaphe obsoleta quadrivitatta ,florida kingsnake ,lampropeltis getulus ,scarlet kingsnake ,lampropeltis triangulum ,florida scarlet snake ,cemophora coccinea ,eastern coral snake ,micrurus fulvius ,florida cottonmouth ,agkistrodon piscivorus ,dusky pygmy rattlesnake ,sistrurus miliarius ,eastern diamondback ,crotalus adamanteus ,amphibians ,two-toed amphiuma ,amphiuma means ,greater siren ,siren lacertina ,everglades dwarf siren ,pseudobranchus striatus belli ,peninsula newt ,notophthalmus viridescens ,eastern spadefoot toad ,scaphiophus holbrooki ,greenhouse frog ,eleuthrodactylus planirostris99 ,southern toad ,bufo terrestris ,oak toad ,bufo quercicus ,florida cricket frog ,acris gryllus ,green treefrog ,hyla cinerea ,squirrel treefrog ,hyla squirella ,cuban treefrog ,osteopilus septentrionalis99 ,little grass frog ,limneaodus ocularis ,florida chorus frog ,pseudacris nigrita ,eastern narrow-mouth toad ,gastrophyne carolinesis ,pig frog ,rana grylio ,southern leopard frog ,rana spenocephala ,checklist of ,trees and ,tree-like ,plants ,a tree is defined here as a woody plant at least #ab feet high with a single trunk #b inches or more in diameter at breast height4 ,a tree-like plant is one with the general shape and size of a tree1 but one which is not woody or otherwise fails to meet the definition4 ,the arrangement of families is generally the same as that of ,small's ,manual of ,southeastern ,flora 7#aicc7 and ,long and ,lakela's ,a ,flora of ,tropical ,florida 7#aiga74 ,genera and species are listed alphabetically in each family4 ,nomenclature follows ,avery and ,loope1 ,plants of ,everglades ,national ,park3 ,a ,preliminary ,checklist of ,vascular ,plants 7#aihc74 ,in the checklist1 the introduced species are followed by a symbol1 key below1 that describes the plants' success in the ,everglades4 ,native plants list only their name4 ,we ,well established4 ,an exotic plant that has become widely naturalized1 with a large population4 ,sl ,slightly naturalized4 ,an exotic plant that has a small foothold1 often found near a mature tree that acts as a seed source4 ,pr ,persistent4 ,an exotic plant that goes on living for a long time after it is planted1 and that may appear to be native or naturalized4 ,sm ,small1 rarely tree-sized4 ,a plant that may sometimes become a tree1 but that often does not meet the definition4 ,cu ,cultivated only4 ,known only as a cultivated species1 but which is retained on this list because either ,small or ,long and ,lakela treat it as native or naturalized4 ,,pine ,,family3 ,,pinaceae ,south ,florida ,slash ,pine ,pinus elliottii var4 densa ,,bald ,,cypress ,,family3 ,,taxodiaceae ,pond cypress ,taxodium ascendens ,bald cypress ,taxodium distichum ,,palm ,,family3 ,,arecaceae ,paurotis palm ,acoelorraphe wrightii ,silver palm ,coccothrinax argentata ,coconut ,cocos nucifera ,sl ,royal palm ,roystonea elata ,cabbage palm ,sabal palmetto ,saw palmetto ,serenoa repens ,thatch palm ,thrinax radiata ,,century ,,plant ,,family3 ,,agavaceae ,false sisal ,agave decipiens ,sisal ,agave sisalana ,we ,spanish dagger ,yucca aloifolia ,,banana ,,family3 ,,musaceae ,banana ,musaceae musa paradisiaca ,,beefwood ,,family3 ,,casuarinaceae ,australian-pine ,casuarina equisetifolia ,we ,suckering ,australian-pine ,casuarina glauca ,pr ,,willow ,,family3 ,,saliacaceae ,willow ,salix caroliniana ,,bayberry ,,family3 ,,myricaceae ,wax-myrtle ,myrica cerifera ,,oak ,,family3 ,,fagaceae ,laurel oak ,quercus laurifolia ,live oak ,quercus virginiana ,,elm ,,family3 ,,ulmaceae ,hackberry ,celtis laevigata ,west ,indian trema ,trema lamarckianum ,florida trema ,trema micranthum ,,mulberry ,,family3 ,,moraceae ,strangler fig ,ficus aurea ,shortleaf fig ,ficus citrifolia ,red mulberry ,morus rubra ,,ximenia ,,family3 ,,olacaceae ,graytwig ,schoepfia chrysophylloides ,tallowwood ,ximenia americana ,,buckwheat ,,family3 ,,polygonaceae ,pigeon plum ,coccoloba diversifolia ,sea grape ,coccoloba uvifera ,,four-,o-,,clock ,,family3 ,,nyctaginaceae ,blolly ,guapira discolor ,push-and-hold-back ,pisonia aculeata ,,magnolia ,,family3 ,,magnoliaceae ,sweet bay ,magnolia virginiana ,,custard-,,apple ,,family3 ,,annonaceae ,pond apple ,annona glabra ,,laurel ,,family3 ,,lauraceae ,lancewood ,nectandra coriacea ,red-bay ,persea borbonia ,avocado ,persea americana var4 americana ,,caper ,,family3 ,,capparaceae ,jamaica caper ,capparis cynophallophora ,limber caper ,capparis flexuosa ,sm ,,rose ,,family3 ,,rosaceae ,west ,indian cherry ,prunus myrtifolia ,,coco-,,plum ,,family3 ,,chrysobalanaceae ,coco-plum ,chrysobalanus icaco ,,pea ,,family3 ,,fabaceae ,sweet acacia ,acacia farnesiana ,acacia pinetorum ,sm ,shy leaf ,aeschynomene americana var4 americana ,aeschynomene pratensis var4 pratensis ,women's tongue ,albizia lebbeck ,sl ,orchid tree ,bauhinia purpurea ,sl ,cassia aspera ,bahama senna ,cassia ,chapmanii ,cassia deeringiana ,golden shower ,cassia fistula ,pr ,cassia ligustrina ,sickle-pod ,cassia obtusifolia ,dalbergia brownei ,royal ponciana ,delonix regia ,coral-bean ,erythrina herbacea ,jumbie bean ,leucaena leucocephala ,sl ,wild tamarind ,lysiloma latisiliquum ,jamaica dogwood ,piscidia piscipula ,black-bead ,pithecellobium guadalupense ,cat's claw ,pithecellobium unguis-cati ,necklace pod ,sophora tomentosa ,,rue ,,family3 ,,rutaceae ,citrus spp4 ,pr ,wild lime ,zanthoxylum fagara ,,ailanthus ,,family3 ,,simaroubaceae ,alvaradoa amorphoides ,paradise-tree ,simarouba glauca ,,bay ,,cedar ,,family3 ,,surianaceae ,bay cedar ,suriana maritima ,sm ,,bursera ,,family3 ,,burseraceae ,gumbo-limbo ,bursera simaruba ,,mahogany ,,family3 ,,meliaceae ,mahogany ,swietenia mahagoni ,,malpighia ,,family3 ,,malpighiaceae ,locust-berry ,brysonima lucida ,,spurge ,,family3 ,,euphorbiaceae ,crabwood ,ateramnus lucidus ,bischofia javanica ,sl ,milk ,bark ,drypetes diversifolia ,guiana-plum ,drypetes lateriflora ,manchineel ,hippomane mancinella ,,cashew ,,family3 ,,anacardiaceae ,poisonwood ,metopium toxiferum ,southern sumac ,rhus copallina var4 leucantha ,brazilian-pepper ,schinus terebinthifolius ,we ,hogplum ,spondias purpurea ,,holly ,,family3 ,,aquifoliaceae ,dahoon ,ilex cassine ,tawnyberry holly ,ilex krugiana ,,bittersweet ,,family3 ,,celastraceae ,ground holly ,crossopetalum ilicifolium ,sm ,rhacoma ,crossopetalum rhacoma ,sm ,guttapercha mayten ,maytenus phyllanthoides ,,maple ,,family3 ,,aceraceae ,red maple ,acer rubum ,,soapberry ,,family3 ,,sapindaceae ,varnish-leaf ,dodonaea viscose var4 linearis ,inkwood ,exothea paniculata ,white ironwood ,hypelate trifoliata ,spanish lime ,melicoccus bijugatus ,pr ,soapberry ,sapindus saponaria ,,buckthorn ,,family3 ,,rhamnaceae ,coffee colubrina ,colubrina arborescens ,colubrina asiatica ,cuban colubrina ,colubrina cubensis ,sm ,black ironwood ,krugiodendron ferreum ,,elaeocarpus ,,family3 ,,elaeocarpaceae ,strawberry-tree ,muntinoia calabura ,pr ,,mallow ,,family3 ,,malvaceae ,wild cotton ,gossypium hirsutum ,hibiscus rosa-sinensis ,pr ,turk's cap ,malvaviscus arboreus var4 mexicanus ,cork tree ,thespesia populnea ,,canella ,,family3 ,,canellaceae ,wild-cinnamon ,cannela winterana ,,papaya ,,family3 ,,caricaceae ,papaya ,carica papaya ,,cactus ,,family3 ,,cactaceae ,prickly apple ,cereus gracilus var4 simpsonii ,dildo ,cereus pentagonus ,,mangrove ,,family3 ,,rhizophoraceae ,red mangrove ,rhizophora mangle ,,combretum ,,family3 ,,combretaceae ,black olive ,bucida buceras ,pr ,buttonwood ,conocarpus erectus ,white mangrove ,laguncularia racemosa ,indian almond ,terminalia catappa ,pr ,,myrtle ,,family3 ,,myrtaceae ,bottlebrush ,callistemon viminalis ,pr ,spicewood ,calyptranthes pallens var4 pallens ,myrtle-of-the-river ,calyptranthes zuzygium ,white stopper ,eugenia axillaris ,spanish stopper ,eugenia foetida ,cajeput ,melaleuca quinquenervia ,sl ,simpson stopper ,myrcianthes fragans var4 simpsonii ,guava ,psidium guajava ,we ,long-stalked stopper ,psidium longipes var4 longipes ,sm ,,meadow-,,beauty ,,family3 ,,melastomataceae ,spanish leather ,tetrazygia bicolor ,,joe-,,wood ,,family3 ,,theophrastaceae ,joe-wood ,jacquinia keyensis ,,myrsine ,,family3 ,,myrsinaceae ,marlberry ,ardisia escallonioides ,shoebutton ardisia ,ardisia solanacea ,we ,myrsine ,myrsine floridana ,,sapodilla ,,family3 ,,sapotaceae ,saffron-plum ,bumelia celastrina ,bumelia reclinata var4 reclinata ,sm ,willow bustic ,bumelia salicifolia ,satin leaf ,chrysophyllum oliviforme ,wild dilly ,manilkara bahamensis ,mastic ,mastichodendron foetidissimum ,,ebony ,,family3 ,,ebenaceae ,persimmon ,diospyros virginiana ,,olive ,,family3 ,,oleaceae ,wild-olive ,forestiera segregata var4 pinetorum ,sm ,florida-privet ,forestiera segregata var4 segregata ,sm ,pop ash ,fraxinus caroliniana ,,dogbane ,,family3 ,,apocynaceae ,thevetia peruviana ,pr ,pearl-berry ,vallesia antillana ,,borage ,,family3 ,,boraginaceae ,smooth strongbark ,bourreria cassinifolia ,strongbark ,bourreria ovata ,geiger-tree ,cordia sebestena ,,black ,,mangrove ,,family3 ,,avicenniaceae ,black ,mangrove ,avicennia germinans ,,verbena ,,family3 ,,verbenaceae ,fiddlewood ,citharexylum fructicosum ,java ,glory-bowers ,cleradendrum speciosissimum ,,potato ,,family3 ,,solanaceae ,potato tree ,solanum erianthum ,,madder ,,family3 ,,rubiaceae ,seven-year-apple ,casasia clusiifolia ,buttonbush ,cephalanthus occidentalis ,black torch ,erithalis fruticosa ,sm ,velvet seed ,guettarda elliptica ,rough velvet-seed ,guettarda scabra ,firebush ,hamelia patens ,indigo-berry ,randia aculeata ,sm ,,honeysuckle ,,family3 ,,caprifoliaceae ,southern elderberry ,sambucus canadensis ,,aster ,,family3 ,,asteraceae ,groundsel-tree ,baccharis glomeruliflora ,sm ,groundsel-tree ,baccharis halimifolia ,sm ,handbook #adc ,the ,national ,park ,service expresses its appreciation to all those persons who made the preparation and production of this handbook possible4 ,special thanks are extended to ,frank ,craighead1 ,sr41 ,pat ,miller1 ,bill ,robertson1 and ,saul ,schiffman1 who read the manuscript and provided much useful information4 ,the checklists were compiled over many years by various members of the ,everglades ,national ,park staff4 ,the ,service also gratefully acknowledges the financial support given this handbook project by the ,everglades ,natural ,history ,association1 a nonprofit group that assists interpretive efforts at the park4 ,the cover photograph is by ,glenn van ,nimwegen4 ,national ,park ,service ,u4,s4 ,department of the ,interior ,as the ,nation's principal conservation agency1 the ,department of the ,interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources4 ,this includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources1 protecting our fish and wildlife1 preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places1 and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation4 ,the ,department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interest of all our people4 ,the ,department also has a major responsibility for ,american ,indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under ,u4,s4 administration4 ,transcriber's ,notes --,retained publication information from the printed edition3 this e,book is public-domain in the country of publication4 --,relocated all image captions to be immediately under the corresponding images1 removing redundant references like 0preceding page04 --,silently corrected a few palpable typos4 --,added 8,glossary0 to the ,table of ,contents --,in the text versions only1 text in italics is delimited by underscores4