Habitats of the Everglades

Tropical Hardwood Hammocks

highest habitat in Everglades
dry year round
trees protect hammocks from sun and wind making it moist and humid

Solution holes

hole in limestone caused by uprooting trees during storms and natural erosion

Pine Rockland

Limestone ground, no soil
Widest variety of vegetation
most endangered habitat
high and dry
Fire dependent

Sawgrass Prairie

(aka) River of Grass
wetland
sawgrass is a sedge
alligator hole
periphyton
maintained by fires

Cypress Dome

Forested wetland dominated by cypress trees.
low depressions that fill w/water
air plants - bromeliads, orchids, Spanish moss, epiphytes
*Bladderwort - carnivorous plant

Freshwater slough

deepest water habitat
usually water even during Nov - April
heartbeat of Everglades because of water year round
river otters, anhingas, turtles, egrets cormorant heron

Mangroves

close to sea
intertidal habitat - affected by tide
brackish water - combo of fresh/salt
Red, Black, White and Buttonwood
NOT fire dependent - can't resprout

Florida Bay

Makes up the southern coast of Florida. It
Located between Everglades and Florida Keys
Feeds into the Gulf of Mexico
Nearly all of this bay is included in Everglades National Park
Environmental concern due to pollution and diversion of fresh water that keeps the waters of the bay fresh.
Covered in soft mud
home to American crocodile
home to Seagrass habitat NOT same as seaweed