Hobbies And Interests
Food Chain Dynamics
The success of an ecosystem relies on the dynamics of the food chain; if there are too many predators in competition for prey, their numbers will dwindle. If there are not enough predators then the population of smaller, herbivorous mammals will explode, setting the ecosystem off balance. The Everglades are populated by the river otter, the bobcat, the brown water snake, the alligator, the gray fox and the black bear, amongst other indigenous carnivores. However, the influx of animals like stray dogs and cats, coatis and red foxes have increased competition for prey. This increased competition has led to animals, like the Florida panther, becoming endangered.
Lower Food Chain
The food chain of the Everglades is propped up by vast amounts of herbivorous mammals, which are preyed upon by the predators. The roundtail muskrat, the southern flying squirrel and the marsh rabbit are all indigenous to the Everglades but have been joined by invasive species, such as the Norway rat and the house mouse. Reptiles and amphibians, such as the ground skink and the Florida cricket frog, also make up the lower reaches of the food chain. However, these lower order animals also serve to keep the region's plant and insect population in check.
Saltwater Swamps
As the Everglades are a semiaquatic environment, the composition of the water greatly affects the workings of the ecosystem. In areas of water with a high salt content, species of plants that can tolerate this take advantage and thrive. Species like the red mangrove tree -- with their tangled, stilt-like roots -- dominate in this area, and shape the ecosystem by providing shade, shelter and habitats for other animals, allowing the ecosystem to function in an area it might not usually be able to exist in. In areas of lesser salt content, on the fringes of the freshwater swamps inland, for example, white mangroves thrive, creating a protective barrier between the often brutal sea and the habitats further inland.
Freshwater Areas
Further inland from the coast, the Everglades are predominately freshwater, allowing more varied flora and fauna to thrive. This freshwater is channeled around by large sloughs, or troughs, of water. In between these sloughs are "tree islands"; this dynamic between aquatic habitats and land-based habitats is what gives the Everglades its unique ecosystem. The Shark River Slough and the Taylor Slough carry freshwater from Lake Okeechobee, through the Everglades and into the Florida bay.