Everglades Ecology Midterm Review

red shoulder hawk

They are Falconiformes and are commonly found in

swamp regions of the Everglades or on riparian

habitats. They nest in tall trees near water.

They are diurnal and highly territorial. They are

monogamous and return to the same nest, every year.

Their diet consists of small mammals, amphibians,

reptiles, and sometimes small birds. They are

opportunistic hunters.

The Red-shouldered Hawk is not currently

endangered, and is listed as “Least Concernˮ. Due to

protected wetland habitats, their population is on the

rise. They are frequently observed.

osprey

They are Falconiformes and are commonly

found in marsh zones or areas of open water in

the Everglades.

They are diurnal and highly vocal. They are

monogamous. They have reversible outer toes

for extreme grip on prey.

They are obligate piscivores, meaning they eat

solely fish and are the top predator in many

aquatic ecosystems.

The Osprey is not currently endangered and is

listed as “Least Concernˮ. Their population has

rebounded since banning DDT. They are

frequently spotted.

Large raptor with white head/tail

➢ Dark body, yellow beak/talons, 6-8 ft wingspan

Formerly endangered; now recovered but still very protected under

federal law

Diet

● Fish, waterfowl, small mammals, carrion

Trophic Significance

● Apex predator and scavenger

● Regulates fish/waterbird populations

● Reduces disease by removing carrion

● Indicator of water quality

(this is a female, males are all brown)

Everglades Snail Kite

Trophic Significance/Status (rare to see)

● Controls snail populations

● Highly sensitive to hydrology

● Key indicator of water management

○ Marsh keystone species

● Federally endangered

○ Water mismanagement, invasive species,

habitat loss

Habitat

● Freshwater marshes, water conservation,

everglades

● Often seen hovering over wetlands

Adaptations

● Hooked bill for snail extraction, long

buoyant wings, strong talons, sexual

dimorphism

Barred Owl

They are Strigiformes commonly found within the

upper most, inland areas of wetlands and forests.

They are mostly solitary, nocturnal animals that

are efficient hunters with extremely loud calls.

They are also monogamous. Adaptations include

big eyes, and silent flying.

Their diet consists of small mammals, birds, fish

and even amphibians. They are opportunistic

feeders.

The Barred owl is not currently endangered or in

decline, as their endangerment status is listed as

“Least Concern.ˮ

American Kestrel

These birds are found inland areas of forested, grassy, or

wetland environments.

They are solitary, monogamous, ambush predators that

will perch or fly low before striking down their prey.

They have three basic calls depending on if they are in

distress, mating or feeding.

Although these birds are efficient hunters, they have

black dots called ocelli on their neck, often thought to

be false eyespots from other birds of prey.

Their diet is typically large insects, small birds and

lizards, and even mammals like bats or squirrels.

The American Kestrel is not endangered, as it is listed

by the IUCN as “Least Concernˮ.

everglades dragonfly

everglades Florida bluet damselfly

skeeters are bigger

zebra longwing

whirligig beetle

eastern lubber grasshopper

florida carpenter ant

africanized honey bee

golden silk orb weaver

florida black scorpion

Passerines

aka perching birds

-Passerines is the overarching taxonomic term (passerines and perching birds are interchangeable terms)

-Songbirds are found in this group

-All songbirds are perching birds but not all perching birds are songbirds

-Within the order Passeriformes, there are two suborders, Oscines (true song-birds) and Suboscines

cape sable seaside sparrow

endangered

-Build nests 6 inches off the ground

-Destruction from floods and predation by snakes and rats are common

-Ground nesting species that favors prairie communities

bachman’s sparrow

Found in open grassy areas now that historically favored forest habitat has become less frequent

Forages primarily on the ground

Nests are usually built on or near the ground

Diet includes insects, seeds, and spiders

common yellowthroat

Nests in open marshes

Targets of brood parisitism by Cowbirds

Common despite population decline due to draining of marsh habitat

Diet consists of mostly insects

prairie warbler

Common/ Least concern

Habitat: Brushy slashings and the pine-lands

In Florida they breed in mangrove swamps

Diet: Insects

Forages for insects in brush and on branches/twigs

Males have distinct breeding territories that they return to year after year

Females lay an average of 4 eggs

boat tailed grackle

Common/Least Concern

Found in marshes, mudflats, and near the coast, but is usually found inland in Florida

Forages for food near water either by catching prey, stealing it from larger birds, or eating unguarded eggs

Nests are large and built near water

fish crow

Can be found in swamps, woodlands, river valleys, tidewaters

Forages on beaches, marshes, and estuaries

Diet consists of anything they can find (invertebrates, berries, bird eggs, etc.)

Very smart

redwing blackbird

Forages while walking on the ground

Found in groups outside of the breeding season

Breeding is common in freshwater marshes

Diet consists of insects and seeds

indigo bunting

Habitat can be found along the eastern coast of the US. Their winter breeding grounds include the Florida Everglades

Diet consists of seeds and insects

Males defend a territory during mating season and can have more than one mate living in the territory

great crested flycatcher

Common in the Everglades year round

Diet is primarily insects but can also include berries

Forages by launching off its perch to catch insects.

Males defend a nesting territory and will fight with other males to maintian control of their territory

Nests are usually found in holes in a tree

acadian flycatcher

Will migrate north in springtime

Spend wintertime in warmer climates, where they nest in woodlands

Catches insects while flying and spiders and caterpillars from trees while hovering

Nests are built at an average of 13 feet off the ground

cane toad

invasive

cuban tree frog

invasive

greenhouse frog

invasive

green treefrog

native

squirrel treefrog

native

american toad

native

two-toed amphiuma

native

greater siren

birds of prey

Possess curved beaks, sharp talons, good eyesight and are

carnivorous (small birds, snakes, rodents, ect.)

● Regurgitate pellets of undigested material

○ Containing bone, fur, etc.

● Made up of 2 groups

Falconiformes (Accipitriformes) and

Strigiformes (owls)

● Commonly referred to as “raptors”

○ reference both birds or prey as a group or solely

Falconiformes

○ Consist of eagles, falcons, hawks, old world vultures

● Altricial development pattern

● Many Monomorphic in color

○ Many dimorphic in size, or plumage depending on

species

○ Females are larger than males

eastern mosquitofish

Most common freshwater fish in Florida, typically found in shallow ponds, marshes & swamps. They eat small aquatic invertebrates and are 1-2.5 inches long.

bluefin killifish

These are found in vegetated ponds, lakes & ditches, because the vegetation provides habitat and cover. Males often has a red-orange tail and colorful fins and are 1-2 inches long

least killifish

These live in heavily vegetated ponds, swamps & ditches and are often found among dense aquatic vegetation. They can occasionally tolerate brackish water, and they are 0.8-1.4 inches long.

sailfish Molly

These live in ponds, marshes, swamps & streams and can survive in both fresh and brackish water. They mainly eat algae and plant material and are 1.5-3 inches long.

taillight shiner

Size: ~2–2.5 in (5–6 cm)

Status: Native

Diet: Small insects, crustaceans, algae

Key info: Named for the distinctive dark spot at the base of its tail.

everglades pygmy sunfish

Size: ~1 in (2.3–3.4 cm)

Status: Native

Diet: Tiny worms, crustaceans, and other small invertebrates

Key info: One of the smallest freshwater fish in the region. Lives among dense aquatic vegetation.

swamp darter

Size: ~1–2.3 in (up to ~5.9 cm)

Status: Native

Diet: Small aquatic insects, especially midge larvae, plus tiny crustaceans such as water fleas

Key info: A small, camouflaged bottom-dweller that stays around vegetation, woody debris, pools, and backwaters.

florida flagfish

Size: ~2–2.5 in (up to ~6.5 cm)

Status: Native

Diet: Algae and other plant material, plus small aquatic organisms

Key info: Usually found around dense vegetation in sloughs, ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams.

spotted tilapia

invasive

african jewelfish

invasive

mayan cichlid

invasive

Water Fowl

● About 20 species of waterfowl

spend the winter in Florida

● Shape and color pattern are key

● Is it a duck, goose, swan, not-duck

(loon, coot, gull, etc.) ?

○ Whistling or dabbling duck?

● Neck length and head size is a

defining factor of which type of

waterfowl you are identifying

Wading Birds

Most of these birds have long legs,

necks, bills, and even toes

● Is it an egret, heron, stork, ibis, or

spoonbill

● Color and bill shape are notable

in different wading birds

black-bellied whistling ducks

fulvous whistling duck

mottled ducks

wood duck

blue-winged teal

ring necked duck

ruddy duck

many everglades ducks are _________ ducks, which means they feed in shallow water by tipping forward.

dabbling

great blue heron

white ibis

wood stork

federally endangered

snowy egret

great egret

little blue heron

tri colored egret

anhinga

type? venemous or no?

garter snake

no

type? venomous of no?

black racer

no

type? venomous of no?

green water snake

no

type? venomous of no?

brown water snake

no

type? venomous of no?

banded/florida water snake

no

type? venomous of no?

invasive

Burmese python

no

What are signs that a snake is NON-venemous

dark vertical lines on mouth

round pupils

no pit between eyes and nostril

overall derpy looking

type? venomous of no?

water moccasin (cotton mouth)

venemous

type? venomous of no? (this snake is very small)

dusky pygmy rattlesnake

venemous

type? venomous of no?

eastern diamond back rattlesnake

venemous

type? venomous of no?

coral snake (rare)

-if yellow touches red then stop (like a stoplight)

how do you know a snake is venomous

• pit between eye and nostril

• supraocular scale

• no lines on mouth

• more mean looking

brown anole

invasive

green anole

five lined skink

american alligator

american crocodile

spectacled caiman

invasive

tree island

island-like appearance of a patch of forest in an Everglades marsh. Also, a key habitat for nesting keystone species like turtles, birds,

and alligators.

marl

Light-colored, calcium-carbonate-rich soil

Formed largely from periphyton

Common in shorter-hydroperiod wetlands

Found where bedrock is close to the surface

peat

Dark, organic-rich soil

Formed from accumulated dead plant material

Develops in areas with longer hydroperiods

Common in deeper marshes and sloughs

what’s the difference between everglades peat and loxahatchee peat

Everglades Peat:

Mostly composed of

sawgrass remains

Also called sawgrass peat

Dark brown to black

Widespread in the northern

and central Everglades

Dark color is partly

associated with charcoal

from frequent fires

Loxahatchee Peat

Found in deeper marshes

Common in the northeastern

Everglades and Shark River

Slough

More reddish-brown

Contains remains of slough

vegetation, especially water

lilies

periphyton

Community of algae, bacteria, microbes growing together on submerged surfaces in aquatic ecosystems. Changes in Phosphorous, Water Depth, Hydroperiods or Salinity can change the amount of Periphyton

present.

o When Phosphorous Increases :

1) Periphyton changes - Species adapted to extremely low levels can decline while other

algal species become dominant.

2) The food web can change – Animals that depend on the original periphyton community

may experience changes in food or habitat in extreme cases.

3) The marsh can physically change – long term changes in vegetation can influence

organic matter.

Swamps

Wetlands dominated by trees (or woody shrubs)

marshes

dominated by grass or grasslike non-woody plants

bog

acidic soil and water; characterized by buildup of peat and decaying materials. Low available nutrients Usually, rain fed

fen

more alkaline; usually groundwater fed

hammock

higher and drier land

everglades peat

dark brown to black because of fires, mostly made of sawgrass

loxahatchee peat

Found in deeper marshes, Lighter and reddish because of fewer fires, slough vegetation like lilies and rushes and submerged stuff like bladderwort

muck

when the peat gets all mixed by people or alligators

when did the everglades obtain its current form

3200 years ago

who was the author of the everglades: river of grass, and a major public face of everglades conservation

Marjory stoneman douglas

Who was the first person who attempted to drain the everglades but failed

Hamilton Disston

Who founded the city of Miami by convincing Henry Flagler to expand his railroad to south florida

Julia Tuttle