The Florida Everglades is a subtropical wetland that spans two million acres across South and Central Florida. It encompasses a mosaic of landscapes that include sawgrass marshes, freshwater ponds, prairies and forested highlands. The Everglades are connected by the seasonal overflow of Lake Okeechobee across the landscape into the Florida Bay leading to its dubbing as the “River of Grass”. [1, 2, 3] Landscape range illustrated below:

Due to the wide variety of habitats, the Everglades has a rich biodiversity with over 360 bird species alone! Unfortunately, human encroachment and pollution by urban development projects since the 1800s has led to most of the species in the Everglades being labelled as threatened, endangered or extinct. [1]

Everglade is not limited to animal diversity as it also supports a wide diversity of plant species. The unique mix of salt and freshwater give rise to a variety of wetland plant diversity from looming mangroves to a various rare and delicate orchids. [1, 2]

In terms of ecological services, the Florida Everglades provide a plethora of different service such as:

water filtration and irrigation [1]

flood buffer and regulation [4]

migration pathway

recreation resources (fishing, boating, swimming, etc.) [5]

ecosystem habitat

ETC.

Between the current destruction status and the range of unique environmental features, endangered biodiversity, and vital ecological services the Florida Everglades has been categorized as an endangered North American ecoregion. Recovery efforts by the cooperation of various levels of government, non-profit organizations and academic bodies are underway in an effort to rehabilitate and revitalize this crucial ecoregion.

-MOD Isabel

RB AND SPREAD AWARENESS!!!

Sources:

National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). The Everglades.

South Florida Water Management District. (n.d.). Everglades.

World Wildlife Foundation (n.d.). Flooded Grasslands and Savannas: Everglades.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). Why are wetlands important?

Want to know more about the endangered species inhabiting the Florida Everglades? Check out:

Everglade Species: https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/techecklist.htm Global Species: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=desc&page=2&sort=extinction_status

-MOD Isabel

How was the invasive species introduced to Florida’s Everglades?

The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is a native African lizard found along the Nile River in sub-saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Egypt [1]. Being an expensive product of the exotic wildlife trade to the United States, this lizard has been a species of interest for being the largest African lizard (can be as long as 18 feet), for exhibition purposes, and research methodology [1]. When it was introduced to the United states in 1990, these species were kept as pets or they were kept in captive breeding facilities. However, with the use of their sharp claws, excellent climbing skills and sharp teeth for tearing, they were able to escape the cages of their confinements and crawl out to make their way into the wild [1]. Owners of the facilities and even pet-owners  may also release these lizards into the wild to fend for themselves if they become difficult to handle by means of difficulty in feeding, regulating, managing and if they become sick and are not valuable enough for the exotic wildlife trading [1]. Natural disasters such as hurricanes that damage the captive bred facilities is another contribution to the overall damage of the facility and release of the species into the Everglades.

How are the Nile Monitor lizards able to thrive in the ecosystem?

As these lizards are native to the peak climatic conditions of sub-Saharan Africa, with similar subtropical climate present in Southern Florida, it has not been difficult for the Nile Monitors to disperse and thrive to its potential. Being semi-aquatic lizards, they have the capability of spending 15 minutes underwater before swimming back to surface for air [1]. The Everglades presence of marshes and water beds have made it easy for the lizards to find habitat in these conditions as well as on dry-temperate land of the grassy patches, on trees and burrowed under soil [1]. Weather surviving harsh winter conditions burrowed underground, fulfilling the needs of their semiaquatic needs by spending time on-land and in-water, the various trees and preys present to keep them in-tact, the Florida Everglades ecosystem has allowed them to establish and take full range on land while continuing to breed and populate, slowly taking over wetland.

What ecological threats do they pose?

The biggest threat that is posed to the Florida Everglades by these non-native reptilian lizards is that they are one of the top apex predators of the food chain with very few regulative predators keeping them intact (other than the Burmese pythons which are able to constrict these lizards during competition for a food source). Using their sneaky tactics, when prey (mostly laid eggs) are present, these lizards are able to make their way quickly to the food source, snatch the egg before it abruptly consumes its contents. Their typical diet consists of prey on-land and underwater, being newly-hatched alligators, eggs of burrowing owls, eggs of wood storks, eggs of turtles, and hugely threatens the brown pelican and the near threatened Diamondback terrapin turtle species as consumption of their eggs has declined their population size [2]. The issue has been consuming much of the native reptile and bird species of the Everglades, leading to the decline of their populations. This itself has edged species such as the Diamondback terrapin in a threatened place as their population size continues to decline as they prey these organisms to possible extinction. With consumption of the eggs of American Alligators, there has been a significant decline in the population of the native alligator species. Thus, before these keystone species go extinct, it is essential that these invasive species are removed from the ecosystem before the potential collapse of the ecosystem from the extinction of the regulatory organisms which keep the ecosystem intact. 

What are current solutions and regulations implemented to prevent further damage from this invasive species?

The following lists some of the regulations that have been put in place for preventing the further establishment of these invasive species which are similar to some of the other non-native reptiles found in the Florida Everglades (as of present, there have not been very much regulations put into place to control the spread of the invasive species):

1. Lacey Act- United States Fish and Wildlife Service [3]

- The Lacey act was amended by the congress to ensure that Individuals who have permission to legally own the Monitor Lizard are not allowed to participate in interstate or continental transport, selling, or trading. With permission from the state law, they are only to be used for exhibition services in sanctuaries, zoological services, education activities, medical or research purposes.

- Having a Nile monitor has been announced illegal in the United States (without special permit). 

- Failure to comply with the regulations will be deemed as a criminal penalty with facing a fine up to $20,000 and a prison sentence up to 5 years.

 2. Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) [3]

- Involvement of early detection of these invasive predators and capturing them before they disperse into the ecosystem, aggregate and populate. Earlier preventative measures (although as of present, it has been difficult to detect the lizards in its early intervention). 

3. Non-permit hunting [3]

-Should be a last resort

-Fish and Wildlife conservation encourages individuals to locate and hunt for the Nile Monitors when located (firearm is allowed)

-Permit or hunting license is not required.

What can I do?

1. If you or someone you know wants to get rid of the exotic pet, there is a website called “Exotic Amnesty days” to get rid of the python with no questions asked.

2. If you have spotted a Nile Monitor, record the location and report this sighting by dialling: 1-888-IVE-GOT-1.

3. Be able to tell apart Florida’s native snakes with the invasive snakes.

4. An app “IveGot1'' has been developed for quick and easy reporting. Available on Apple IOS Appstore and Android’s GooglePlay store. 

-MOD Oshini

Sources: 

Harvey R.G., et al. (2020). University of Florida. Python Factsheet. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/upload/ifaspythonfactsheetsecure.pdf

Florida Fish and Wildlife. (1999). Nile Monitor. Agency Regulatory Plan. Retrieved from  https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/reptiles/monitors/nile-monitor/ 

As there are numerous invasive species (reptilian, amphibian, fish, plant, and. mammal species) present in the Everglades, the link below covers a general list of the these alien non-native species as well as present solutions/programs (if you are interested)!

Click over here!

Due to human impacts, more than 50% of the Everglades have been converted for urban development and agricultural purposes [2]. A rise in Everglades conversion occurred shortly after World World II following a huge population boom in Florida. With the sudden population growth, many developers saw this as an opportunity to use the Everglades for agricultural and land development purposes. This was further supported by the belief that the Everglades was useless land and urbanization would not be harmful to this ecosystem [4]. They. were. wrong!! 

Now we know how urbanization affects the everglades with land developments but what about pollution?

1. Water Flow and Pollution: anthropogenic activities (i.e. urban developments) have disrupted the natural water flow in the Everglades resulting in a high vulnerability to water pollution (accumulates and concentrates). As we briefly mentioned before, the Everglades is an ecosystem that supports over 40 species of endangered and threatened plants and animals. 

The increase in human population amplifies the issue by increasing the amount of pollution being dumped into the Everglades and severely impacting its ecosystem.

2. Air Pollution: Industrialization within the surrounding urban settlements has lead to the decrease in air quality especially with the increase of ozone being found in the lower troposphere that we breathe! Tropospheric ozone is formed when sunlight causes NO2 released by vehicles to react with organic compounds in the air. The ozone and other greenhouse gases then interact with infrared energy that bounced off of the Earth leading to warmer temperatures associated to the ”greenhouse effect” and ultimately CLIMATE CHANGE!!. Another issue with tropospheric ozone is that it greatly affects ozone-sensitive plant species like the American Elder and Smooth Cordgrass [5].

3. Nutrient Pollution:

The Everglades is extremely oligotrophic, meaning, it is an environment that does not need high concentrations of nutrients to sustain a diverse environment. This also means that any increase in nutrients can completely throw off the balance within this environment. 

 Lake Okeechobee is critical in the Everglades hydrologic system and one of the major stressors that characterize it is the high loading of phosphorus due to the construction of urban developments and agriculture. A Levee, which is an artificial wall that prevents water from going to a specific spot was built in Lake Okeechobee. This levee prohibited the natural flow of water from the wet season and canals were used to divert the water to the south of the lake to reduce phosphorus levels by essentially drying out the land. They wanted to use this land to reduce phosphorus production, but they also wanted to use the majority of these lands for urban developments. This was a major problem because that drained area contained rich organic soil which was then eventually used by farms for agriculture and as stated above, land development. Due to the drainage of wetlands, the natural water flow has been decreased and there has been an increase in water pollution [1]. There is a profound linkage between pollution and agriculture, so many of the destructive impacts are similar and correlate to the effects of agriculture. Agriculture is another major issue in the Everglades. To find out more about agriculture, go to this post! 

This expanded area is now known as Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA). There are three different water conservation areas, but instead of using natural overland sheet flow, canals are used to carry the flow of the water. These canals have been implemented as a way to reduce high inputs of phosphorus, but they have negatively impacted the ecosystem [1]. The water depths and hydroperiods have been impacted and a lot of the native vegetation is no longer present. In addition to the overland water flow, fertilized cropland and agriculture-associated lands have led to an increase in water pollution. As a result, the Greater Everglades Ecosystem has been estimated to contain over 400,000 metric tons of phosphorus per year. The water that is being drained is essentially causing more damage than good, it is resulting in the pollution that is picked up by the runoff and into canals that are being discharged into the water conservation areas. We know that the Everglades is an oligotrophic-based environment and with an increase in these phosphorus levels, there has been an exponential growth of algae which is unfavorable because it can lead to hypoxia. Hypoxia is where there is low dissolved oxygen availability in the water, which can cause death to aquatic life and grow algal blooms that produce toxins to humans as well as aquatic animals. Not only are there severe impacts on pollution but due to the degradation of habitats from urbanization, many animals are being displaced from their natural habitats as well.

So how can we fix this problem? How do we save the Everglades? 

If you want to find out, keep a lookout for my next post and navigate through the links that have been referred to throughout this post!!

To find out more about the pollution revolved around the Everglades check out this link! 

-MOD Harsika

Sources:

Gregory B. Noe, Daniel L. Childers, & Ronald D. Jones. (2001). Phosphorus Biogeochemistry and the Impact of Phosphorus Enrichment: Why Is the Everglades So Unique? Ecosystems (New York), 4(7), 603–624. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-001-0032-1

Schade-Poole, K., & Möller, G. (2016). Impact and Mitigation of Nutrient Pollution and Overland Water Flow Change on the Florida Everglades, USA. Sustainability (Basel, Switzerland), 8(9), 940–. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090940

Save-The-Everglades. (2021, April 06). The Florida Everglades: Impact of Agriculture. Retrieved from https://save-the-everglades.tumblr.com/post/647744654111031296/the-florida-everglades-impact-of-agriculture

Young, H. (2019, December 13). Interesting facts ABOUT watershed and Marshland conservation in Florida. Retrieved from https://www.floridaraised.com/blog/2019/12/13/interesting-facts-about-watershed-and-marshland-conservation-in-florida

Fundraisers!

GatorBoys Alligator Rescue (Gofundme)

Non-profit organizations!

The Florida Everglades Foundation

Petitions!

Stop the Port Everglades Expansion (change.org)

Stop drilling for oil in the Everglades (change.org)

Ban Phosphorus and Nitrogen fertilizer in the State of Florida (change.org)

Contact the People in power!