Ecology of South Florida (EVR 3013) LECTURE 22

WETLAND COMMUNITIES II
MARSHES, WET PRAIRIES AND LAKES

EVERGLADES

The slow hot wind is trying to explain
Just why the sun is like a stab of pain,
The shadow of a buzzard circling low
Outlines the rotting carcass of a doe,
And where a sulpher pool has puckered through
Quick hyacinths have flung a blur of blue.

Its endlessness an ache against the eyes
The sawgrass marches on to meet the skies,
The gaunt and twisted mangrove-root parades
The vastness men have called the Everglades,
And legs absurdly long supports the crane
that looks upon the whole with fine disdain.
Vivian Yeiser Laramore Rader (1931) [in Jones and O'Sullivan 1995]
HANDOUTS: 1. Species list for marshes and wet prairies

I. DEFINITIONS

A. Wetlands

Wetlands are transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water (Fish and Wildlife)

B. Marshes

Marshes are wetlands dominated by emergent, herbaceous plants. Trees and shrubs cover less than 33% of the community. Significant amounts of organic matter accumulate. U.S.F.W. - palustrine emergent wetland

C. Wet prairies

Some consider wet prairies to be a type of marsh. Hydroperiod is shorter, depth of flooding is less, little or no organic matter accumulates, fire frequency is greater, dominated by graminoids, fewer emergent aquatics, periphyton

D. Classification

II. PHYSICAL FEATURES

A. Distribution

1. Then and Now

Before development and drainage (100 years ago) 60% of Florida's surface was wetlands. Now they occupy 15-20 percent. Marshes make up about 1/3 of all wetlands in Florida.

2. Major marshes in southern Florida

The Everglades, Taylor slough, Loxahatchee slough. Fisheating Creek and the Big Cypress.

B. Physical Attributes

  1. Topography and elevation determine distribution of marshes
  2. Well-developed in southern Florida due to the flat topography and poor drainage. Coastal ridges act as natural barriers to drainage.
  3. Rainfall exceeds potential evapotranspiration, particularly along the coast. Less pronounced along the Gulf Coast.

C. Geology and Soils

1. Geology

Much of Florida is underlain by permeable limestone or sand.
Marshes occur where:
  1. surficial deposits are impermeable
  2. water table intersects the land surface, e.g., Everglades
  3. marsh is hydrologically connected to a river

2. Soils

Marsh soils are histosols, wet prairies occur on sands and marls

3. Periphyton

Calcareous green and blue-green algae that precipitate calcareous marl in freshwater habitats. Greens associated with peat. Blue-greens with marls. Primary producer and integral part of the food chain.
Ca2+ + 2HCO3--->CO2 + H20 + CaCO3

D. Hydrology

1. Marshes

Hydroperiod of 7 to 12 months per year with 50 cm of water

2. Wet prairies

Hydroperiod of 2 to 6 months per year with 25 cm of water

III. PLANTS

A. Physiognomy

largely herbs, few shrubs and fewer trees. No epiphytes. Vines rare.

B. Plant species list for marshes and wet prairies


1. Aquatic Herbs
Saw grass Cladium mariscus
Southern cattail Typha domingensis
Duck-potato Sagittaria lancifolia
Hydrilla Hydrilla verticillataEX
Pickerelweed Pontederia cordata
Spatterdock Nuphar lutea
Spike rush Eleocharis cellulosa
Tickseed Coreopsis leavenworthii    [state wildflower]
White water lily Nymphaea odorata
White-topped sedge Rhynchospora colorata

2. Shrubs

Brazilian pepper Schinus terebinthifoliusEX
Cocoplum Chyrsobalanus icaco
St. John's Wort Hypericum fasciculatum
Swamp primrose Ludwigia octovalvis
Wax myrtle Myrica cerifera

3. Trees

Bald cypress Taxodium distichum
Melaleuca Melaleuca quinquenerviaEX
Swamp willow Salix caroliniana
Sweet bay Magnolia virginiana

IV. ANIMALS

A. Frequency

Abundant, especially birds and fish in marshes

B. Animal lists for marshes and wet prairies


1. Birds

American coot Fulica americana
American swallow-tail kite Elanoides forficatus
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalusT
Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
Belted kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
Black vulture Coragyps atratus
Cattle egret Bubulcus ibisEX
Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Great blue heron Ardea herodius
Great egret Casmerodius albus
Green-backed heron Butorides striatus
Little blue heron Egretta caeruleaSSC
Northern harrier hawk Circus cyaneus
Red-shouldered hawk Buteo lineatus
Snail kite Rosrthamnus sociabilisT
Snowy egret Egretta thulaSSC
Tricolor heron Egretta tricolorSSC
Turkey vulture Cathartes aura
White ibis Eudocimus albusSSC
Wild turkey Melagris gallopavo
Wood stork Mycteria americanaT

2. Amphibians
Green tree frog Hyla cinera
Leopard frog Rana sphaerocephala

3. Mammals
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Gray fox Urocyon cineroargenteus
Marsh rabbit Sylvilagus palustris
Raccoon Procyon lotor
River otter Lutra canadensis
White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginanus
Wild hog Sus scrofaEX

4. Reptiles
American alligator Alligator mississipiensisSSC
Black racer Coluber constrictor
Brown anole Anolis sagreiEX
Carolina anole Anolis carolinensis
Florida cooter Pseudemys floridana
Florida softshell Apalone ferox
Pygmy rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius
Rough green snake Opheodrys aestivus
Water moccasin Agkistrodon piscivorus

5. Fish
Blue tilpia Tilapia niloticusEX
Chinese grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellaEX
Florida Gar Lepisoteus platyrhincus
Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides   [state fw fish]
Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis
Oscar Astronotus ocellatusEX
Spotted sunfish Lepomis punctatus
Walking catfish Clarias batrachusEX

6. Butterflies
Giant swallowtail Heraclites cresphontes
Gulf fritillary Agraulis vanillae
Monarch Danaus plexippus
Zebra Heliconius charitonius   [state butterfly]

7. Crustaceans
Crayfish Procambus alleni

8. Gastropods
Apple snail Pomacea paludosus

9. Insects
Freshwater Mosquito Psorophora confinnis
Honey bee Apis mellifera
Lubber Grasshopper Romalea microptera
For superscript by species name: C = commercially exploited, SSC = species of special concern, T = threatened. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission listings. EX = exotic.

V. BIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

A. Endemics

None

B. Exotics

Clarias batrachus walking catfish
Melaleuca quiquenervia Melaleuca
Schinus teribenthifolius Brazilian pepper
Tilapia niloticus blue tilapia

C. Diversity

1. Species Richness

marsh   119
wet prairie   172
seasonally wet pineland   361

2. Origin

Most species are of temperate origin

VI. ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES

A. Fire

Fire limits invasion of woody species. The color of Everglades peat is due to burning.

B. Productivity

gC/m2/ yr is much lower than in northern marshes
flag marsh   320
wet prairie   150
periphyton   380

C. Succession

Related communities include hardwood and willow swamps, cypress swamps, cypress savannas and pine flatwoods.

D. Nutrients

Most soils circumbasic to slightly neutral, sandy soils may be acidic. Nutrients derived from rainfall rather than from runoff or bedrock. Nutrient levels are typically low. Phosphorous is particularly limiting; and in Everglades peats minor nutrients such as boron and zinc.

E. Adaptations

1. Vegetative reproduction

Seldom sprout from seed

2. Internal air chambers

Facilitate oxygen transport

3. Fire tolerant

In saw grass, the terminal bud is below ground

VII. HUMAN EFFECTS

A. Pre-Colombian

1. aboriginal hunting

2. aboriginal burning ?

B. 18th and 19th century

1. cattle ranching

2. drainage beginning in late 1800's

C. 20th century

1. Flood control

e.g., the Kissimmee River

2. Reclamation

3. Changes in water quality

4. Increased hydroperiod

5. Decreased fire frequency

6. Exotic species

FRESHWATER LAKES

HANDOUTS:Species lists for Freshwater Lakes

I. DEFINITIONS

Unlike marshes and wet prairies, lakes are permanently inundated

II. PHYSICAL FEATURES

A. Distribution

There are more than 7800 lakes (> 0.4 ha) in Florida, most common along central ridge.

B. Physical Attributes

1. Size

Lake Okeechobee 1770 km2 5m deep
Lake George 190 km2
Lake Kissimmee  140 km2
Lake Apopka   125 km2
Lake Istokpoga 112 km2 

2. Drainage

Subsurface drainage more important than surficial runoff

3. Origin

a. Solution
Rainwater is naturally acidic
b. Okeechobee
Uplifted depression in the sea floor
c. Oxbow lakes
d. Man-made

4. Depth

Most are shallow, except Deep Lake

5. Clarity

Secchi Depth (10% transmission)

6. pH

Most Florida lakes have low alkalinity and are thus poorly buffered against acid

7. Nutrient status

C. Hydrology

No overland flow

III. PLANTS

A. Plankton

1. Phytoplankton

Eutrophic lakes are dominated by bg algae

2. zooplankton

B. Vascular plants

1. Emergent macrophytes

Depth of -.5 to 1.5 m, rhizomatous perennials

2. Floating leaf macrophytes

From 0.5 to 3m deep, reproductive organs are floating or aerial

3. Submersed macrophytes

Depth to 10 m

4. Freely-floating macrophytes

5. Aquatic shrubs

B. Plant species list for Lakes


1. Aquatic Herbs

Saw grass Cladium mariscus
Southern cattail Typha domingensis
Duck-potato Sagittaria lancifolia
Hydrilla Hydrilla verticillataEX
Pickerelweed Pontederia cordata
Spatterdock Nuphar lutea
Spike rush Eleocharis cellulosa
Leather fern Acrostichum danaeifoliumT
White water lily Nymphaea odorata
Water hyacinth Eicchornia crassipesEX

2. Shrubs

Swamp primrose Ludwigia octovalvis

3. Trees

Bald cypress Taxodium distichum
Swamp willow Salix caroliniana

IV. ANIMALS

A. Vertebrates

Fish, birds, and reptiles are common

B. Benthos

1. mollusks

2. crustaceans

3. insect larvae

C. Animal species list for lakes

1. Birds

American coot Fulica americana
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
White ibis Eudocimus albusSSC
Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalusT
Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
Great blue heron Ardea herodius
Great egret Casmerodius albus
Muscovy duck Cairina moschataEX
Green-backed heron Butorides striatus
Wood stork Mycteria americanaT
Little blue heron Egretta caeruleaSSC
Osprey Pandion haliaetusSSC
Snowy egret Egretta thulaSSC
Tricolor heron Egretta tricolorSSC
Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps
White ibis Eudocimus albusSSC

2. Amphibians
Green tree frog Hyla cinera
Leopard frog Rana sphaerocephala

3. Reptiles
American alligator Alligator mississipiensisSSC
Black racer Coluber constrictor
Florida cooter Pseudemys floridana
Florida softshell Apalone ferox
Water moccasin Agkistrodon piscivorus

4. Mammals
River otter Lutra canadensis

5. Fish
Blue tilpia Tilapia niloticusEX
Chinese grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellaEX
Florida Gar Lepisoteus platyrhincus
Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides   [state fw fish]
Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis
Oscar Astronotus ocellatusEX
Spotted sunfish Lepomis punctatus
Walking catfish Clarias batrachusEX

6. Crustaceans
Crayfish Procambus alleni

7. Gastropods
Apple snail Pomacea paludosus

8. Insects
Freshwater Mosquito Psorophora confinnis
For superscript by species name: C = commercially exploited, SSC = species of special concern, T = threatened. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission listings. EX = exotic.

V. BIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

A. Endemics

None, most species are widespread

B. Exotics

Eichhornia crassipes

First introduced into the U.S. at the cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans in 1884.

Hydrilla verticillata

Hydrilla was introduced by the aquarium trade in the early 60's. How is it dispersed?

Ctenopharyngodon idella

The grass carp was introduced to control exotic aquatics

C. Diversity

V. ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES

A. Productivity

Lake   gC/m2/ yr
Silver Springs 4490

B. Succession

Lake-->Marsh-->Swamp-->Hammock (?)

VI. HUMAN EFFECTS

A. Pre-Colombian

fishing

B. 18th and 19th century

1. over-fishing

2. drainage

3. development

C. 20th century

1. pollution

2. drainage

3. water diversion

4. changes in water quality

Back to start,  Back to lecture 20,  21,  On to lecture 23,  24,  25,   26,  27

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