Authors

Geog 5 Lab 1G:

Nadia Zivkov
Riana Singh
Hana Murphy

References

(1) "CERP: The Plan in Depth - Part 8 Benefits of the Plan." CERP: The Plan in Depth. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

(2) Chick J., J.C. Trexler. 2004. Spatial scale and abundance patterns of large fish communities in freshwater marshes of the Florida Everglades. Wetlands 24(3): 652-664.

(3) "Everglades National Park Case Study." Everglades National Park Case Study. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

(4) “Everglades." - National Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

(5) “Everglades." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Nov. 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

(6) "Florida Coastal Everglades LTER - Everglades Environmental Issues & Restoration." Florida Coastal Everglades LTER - Everglades Environmental Issues & Restoration. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

(7) "Florida Everglades Documentary - Water's Journey: Everglades." Florida Everglades Documentary - Water's Journey: Everglades. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

(8) Joyce, Christopher. "Invasive Pythons Put Squeeze On Everglades' Animals." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

(9) "Maps – Everglades Foundation." Everglades Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

(10) "Photo Gallery: Aquatic Species." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

(11) "SOFIA - Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions and Relation to Water Quality Abstract." SOFIA - Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions and Relation to Water Quality - Abstract. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

(12) "Threats to the Ecosystem – Everglades Foundation." Everglades Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. 
<http://www.evergladesfoundation.org/the-everglades/threats-to-the-ecosystem/>

More on the Everglades:

(I) Spatial Scale:

     The spatial scale of the Florida Everglade marshes is regional and varies based on hydroperiod, water depth, floating mat volume, and vegetation density.  Processes that occur at the regional scale play important roles in regulating large fish in the Everglades because the most pronounced patterns in abundance and community structure occur at this scale. Specifically, hydroperiod and water management at the regional scale influence large fish communities of Everglades marshes (2).

Example of regional variation:

"Figure 4. (above) Variability of peat surface elevation (type II tool) at 1-meter and 100-meter measurement scale. Site F1 (A) and site U3 (B), WCA-2A, central Everglades, south Florida" (11)

This graph reveals how vegetation varies regionally across the everglades at different elevations. the first graph A (site 1) displays higher overall vegetation patterns especially towards higher elevations, yet these variations are more spread out, as opposed to site B. Site B (graph #2) also displays higher vegetation patterns at higher surfaces, yet in general the elevations are considerably shorter than graph #1, and the vegetation denseness does not vary as much.

(II)  Benefits Provided by the Everglades:
This ecosystem provides many advantages to the State of Florida and its surrounding areas. Its abundant wildlife and wetlands attract many outdoor enthusiasts who are attracted to the birds and other animals in this area. Many people from south Florida get their drinking water and the water used for agriculture from this ecosystem. The surrounding wetlands also help to improve the water quality by purifying the many pollutants in the water, absorbing nutrients, and reducing potential flooding. (4)

(III) Status of Protected Areas:

The Everglades National Park is a national park in the United Sate of Florida protects the southern 20 percent of the original Everglades ecosystem. The Everglades ecosystem is also a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance, and some areas are protected under the Cartagena treaty, which safeguards biological diversity (5).

The Everglades National Park was established in 1934 with the goal of protecting the quickly vanishing Everglade ecosystem from South Florida’s canal building projects. Unfortunately, the ecosystems in Everglades National Park have been negatively impacted by human activity. Everglades restoration plans are very hotly debated among the various stakeholders in South Florida and will likely continue to be a politically charged issue in the future (5).

Future Prospects & Restoration for the Everglades

        With the proper care and research that the Florida Everglades and government officials provide, the condition of this ecosystem will improve in the future. Many plans by volunteers and government official have been created to help this area filter out the harmful chemicals in the water. To protect this ecosystem in the future, the Central and Southern Florida Project legislation is now being modified to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, which hopes to protect the water sources of the Everglades. This plan for the future will cost approximately ten million for the projects, and the main goal is to capture the fresh water in this area that is not being properly used, and to distribute it areas that need this fresh water. The future of the Florida Everglades will not only make it its priority to revive this faulty ecosystem, but also to help provide better water to the local farmers to boost southern Florida’s economy.  Some of the major components on this plan to protect the future of this ecosystem are to create underground water storage, to reuse wasted water, to properly treat wetlands, and to preserve the water in this ecosystem. Also plans to continue to decrease the level of phosphorous in the Everglades has been enacted by The Everglades Forever Act, which has provided a hopefully future for this ecosystem, decreasing levels from 80ppb to 10ppb. Although this plan will take a while until it sees result, and will cost money and requires support of local residents, the Florida Everglades will be able to create a more productive economic benefits for not only Florida but also for the nation as a whole. (1)