Plants and Animals of the
Everglades habitat
Although a temperate-region plant by origin,
red bay grows readily in Florida's
moist woodlands.
Often found growing around 'gator holes, cocoplum produces abundant fruit and seeds that birds avidly feed on. The river otter lurking by the tree is waiting to dine on a fish or
perhaps a snail.
A species of magnolia, sweet bay thrives
in swamps and wetlands. The venomous
cottonmouth, which feeds on frogs, fish, and other animals, is itself prey for alligators.
The thick root systems of willows reinforce the banks of muddy 'gator holes, providing support for other plants. In the dry season, when food is scarce elsewhere, the "snake bird" or anhinga may visit. The large-eyed black-crowned
night heron usually feeds at night, on crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates.
Florida gar feast on plentiful mosquitofish, which in turn feed on the aquatic larvae of mosquitos and other insects. In many parts of the Everglades, fish would not survive the winter season if it were not for 'gator holes.
(Living mosquitofish can be seen
swimming in the pond.)
The pig frog gets its name from the
grunting sound it emits; although a large frog, its camouflage makes it hard to see.
Apple snails occupy an important position on the food chain because they are prey items for many other animals. The rare snail kite feeds on these snails exclusively, and is therefore threatened by destruction of their wetland habitat.
The Florida banded water snake is one of several water snakes frequently encountered in 'gator holes; they are fish-eaters and harmless
to humans.
The bright markings of the lubber grasshopper are actually a warning signal to potential
predators: this common summer resident
is foul-tasting!
The dahoon holly, with its distinctive leaves
and fruit, is a common species in wetland "tree islands" like the one depicted in this diorama.
The large purple gallinule is a winter resident;
it disappears from the Everglades when
the summer rains start.
Alligator flag, with its distinctive broad
leaves, is a sure sign that a 'gator hole
is near. A common resident of holes,
the green tree frog prefers to breed in
relatively deep water.
During the dry season, each watery haven maintained by its resident alligator is an oasis of life on a parched landscape. In this scene, the 'gator is pushing through a curtain of sawgrass, a hardy sedge able to withstand the wet and dry extremes of the Everglades. It is the "grass" of the "River of Grass."
The sun-loving butterfly orchid exposes its
attractive flower in late spring and early summer.
The boughs of water-loving pond apple trees offer sites for birds as well as epiphytes
such as this orchid.
While most herons are patient stalkers, the tricolored heron actively pursues its fish prey in shallow waters.
Wood storks, seen flying high over the sawgrass prairie, regularly visit 'gator holes during the dry season. These birds troll for fish and other prey
by touch. Their partly-opened bills snap shut
in a fraction of a second when they encounter
anything living.
Pushing through the sheltering leaves of
pickerelweed, a soft shell turtle is on the
hunt for crayfish and snails. Relatively speedy,
this turtle can usually avoid the attentions of
resident alligators.
Largemouth bass are an indispensable ingredient
in Florida's wetland ecosystems, acting as both predator and prey.
Apple snails lay their eggs on plant stems above the waterline. These hatch in less than a month.
To survive, the youngsters must enter the water immediately -- drought and lowered water
tables are bad news for apple snails.
A delightfully spotted southern leopard frog
hides next to some arrow arum.
Bromeliads -- specialized air plants (epiphytes) that anchor themselves onto tree branches
without harming them -- grow in profusion on
the corrugated bark of pond apples.
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