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Freshwater Biomes

Freshwater Biomes. The Everglades of Florida. Wetlands. are areas of standing water with aquatic plants Marshes, swamps and bogs are all considered wetlands Wetlands have the highest species diversity of all ecosystems

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Freshwater Biomes

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  1. Freshwater Biomes The Everglades of Florida

  2. Wetlands • are areas of standing water with aquatic plants • Marshes, swamps and bogs are all considered wetlands • Wetlands have the highest species diversity of all ecosystems • The wetlands are home to many species such as amphibians, reptiles, birds and furbearers • Not all wetlands are freshwater ecosystems because there are ecosystems, like salt marshes. These saltwater ecosystems are also home of other species.

  3. The Florida EvergladesFlora • very diverse flora and fauna • 2000 different kinds of plants including the pinelands and the mangroves • The Everglades consist of several habitats: mangrove swamp, tropical hardwood hammocks, pinelands, tree islands, freshwater marshes and coastal estuary • this biome with its habitats allows a huge biodiversity and an unique ecosystem

  4. The Fauna • The Everglades are the only region in the world where alligators and the endangered crocodiles live in the same place • The National Park is the only place in the U.S.A. where wild flamingos live • 350 birds, 300 different fish, 40 species of mammals and 50 species of reptiles live there • the Florida panther is a rare species, brought near to extinction by the loss of habitat

  5. Environmental Problems • The wateroftheEvergladescomesfromthe Lake Okeechobee • In the 1940‘s thebuildingofcanalsanddrainingfortheagriculturestarted • Today about 50% ofthe original Evergladesare lost toagriculture, therestismostlyprotectedbythe National Park andotherparks • The wateroftheEvergladesisusedas a watersupplyfor Miami andothercitieswhichis a big environmental problembecausethewateris indispensable tolifefortheecosystem • This is, in factthemostthreateningproblembecauselowerwaterlevelsreducethepopulationofspecieslikefishandsnails, thatotherspeciesneedtofeed, anddisturbthewholefood web

  6. Environmental Problems continued • 36 threatened or protected species live in the Everglades National Park • Pollution through fertilizers and mercury are also a threat • Because of the increasing drought and lower water level there is also a higher chance for drought fires • The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) was first authorized in 1948 and intends to solve the listed environmental problems of the Everglades • It includes more than 60 points, will take more than 30 years to construct and will cost more than $7.8 billion dollars • This is the biggest environmental project in the U.S. history

  7. Food Web of the Florida Everglades

  8. Sources http://www.scientific-art.com/GIF%20files/Natural%20history/Everweb.jpg http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/wetlandsgallery.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everglades_National_Park http://forestencyclopedia.net/p/p269 http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214223/bhflorafauna.html

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