Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Paper

Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Paper

Joseph Stahlnecker

SCI 256

May 18, 2015

Professor Bradford Russell

Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Paper

The Everglades is a 2 million acre wetland ecosystem that reaches from central Florida, near Orlando at Lake Okeechobee, all the way south to Florida  Bay (Perry, 2004 P186). The purposes of this paper is to discuss the structure and function of its ecosystem and how humans have negatively influence the landscape.

Structure, Function and Species interaction

The Florida Everglades National Park is a natural region located southwestern  Florida, The Everglades starts on the Kissimmee River that begins under Lake Okeechobee, and The Everglades go southward over low gradient lands to the estuaries of Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay (Perry, 2004 P186).

 Everglades National Park is actually made up of multiple ecosystems much of it  Fresh water sloughs, and  Sawgrass marshes which is often used by alligators for nesting purposes, Periphyton which is made up of algae, with over 100 different microorganisms assist in creating it (Whitney, 2004, p.168). Insects and other amphibians are supported by Periphyton; which provides sources of food for birds, reptiles and fish. In addition Periphyton contributes in absorbing calcium deposits from the water which is used in creating marl where the sawgrass roots take place (George, 1972, p. 42).

Tropical hardwood hammock consists of plant species that is believed to be spread by seeds that are carried by birds traveling from the West Indies (Lodge, 1994 p. 55). Tropical hardwood hammock supports a diversity of invertebrates which would include beetles, ants, spiders, and tree snails. These are needed to sustain the everglades food chain that includes frogs, rodents, owls, raccoons, snakes and bobcats (Toops, 1998, p 57).

Water is the dominant resource with fresh water being drawn from Lake Okeechobee on its journey to Florida Bay, as it converges with the salt water that comes from the Gulf of Mexico. The mangrove forests cultivates in this habitat that offers a breeding area for multiple species of birds and fish.

Florida Bay is essential to the ecosystem because its sea grasses and fish  are lured because of the continuous release of fresh water (U.S. Geological Survey, 2004), with Average rainfall each year the Everglades receives is sixty two inches (U.S. Geological Survey, 2004)

Tropical storms and hurricanes will influence structure and landscape of the Everglades. These storms will alter the coastline through beach erosion while removing decaying vegetation broken tree branches as well as dispersing seeds that will encourage new growth. One instance is from Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which devastated the mangrove forests in half. However, regrowth happened rapidly, because the storm surge relocated sand which improved nesting areas for the sea turtle population (Toops, 1998, p 95).