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Pond in the Big Cypress National Preserve

The geography and ecology of the Everglades are areas of study of the vast interconnected ecosystems known as the Everglades that once occupied about a third of the southern Florida peninsula. Although sawgrass and sloughs are the enduring geographical icons of the Everglades, other ecosystems are as vital, and the borders marking them are subtle or nonexistent. Pinelands and tropical hardwood hammocks are common; the trees, rooted in soil inches above the peat, marl, or water, support a variety of wildlife. The oldest and tallest trees are cypresses, with roots specially adapted to grow underwater for months at a time. Freshwater from Lake Okeechobee meets saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico, nurturing mangrove forests which harbor many species of birds, fish, and invertebrates. The marine environment of Florida Bay is also considered part of the Everglades. Minor fluctuations in water levels have far-reaching consequences for many species, and the system cycles and pulses with each change. (Full article...)