The Sunshine State of Florida is home to one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the Western Hemisphere. At the southern tip of Florida, there are many endangered species in the Everglades.
But why are the Everglades so important?
The natural beauty of the Florida Everglades has made it one of the most visited national parks in the United States. Plants, animals, fish, and birds of all shapes and sizes make their home in the Everglades. Together, they form an intricate and delicate ecosystem unique in the Western hemisphere. Unfortunately, that ecosystem has come under threat.
Human activities such as pollution, urban sprawl, deforestation, and commercial exploitation threaten numerous species of flora and fauna. In addition, the increasing devastation caused by rising sea levels and climate change makes it easy to understand why and how the Everglades are under threat.
Endangered Birds in the Everglades
The Florida Everglades has a long association with birds. In the 1800s, when famed naturalist and painter John James Audubon visited the Everglades, he said the number of birds was so great they could block out the sun at times. Sadly, this is no longer the case, as environmental degradation and habitat loss have diminished the bird populations of the Everglades.
There are 360 species of birds found in the Florida Everglades. The Everglades native species of birds are some of the animals most impacted by environmental problems. As a result, there are now many endangered birds in the Everglades. One of the most well-known is the snail kite.
This bird has a distinctive curved bill that it uses to hunt for apple snails. However, the native apple snail population has been dramatically reduced due to the introduction of other invasive species of snails as well as habitat loss. Consequently, the dwindling food supply has led to a sharp decline in the number of snail kites in the Everglades.
Conservation efforts are currently being implemented to help protect snail kites. These efforts focus on restoring wetlands and controlling the invasive species disrupting the snail kites’ food supply.
Another notable member of the Everglades endangered bird list is the wood stork. The wood stork is the only stork species that is native to North America. The large wading bird is known for its incredibly long beak and bald head. This magnificent bird is also facing a food shortage problem. The fish that wood storks eat have been decimated by water shortages and pollution caused by agricultural runoff, resulting in a declining population of wood storks in the Florida Everglades.
Conservation efforts are underway to help the wood stork population in the Everglades. Reducing agricultural pollution, restoring habitats, and developing dedicated water management plans are the main areas of conservation working to stabilize and grow the wood stork population in the Everglades.
The Cape Sable seaside sparrow is another endangered species in the Everglades. It is a critically endangered bird species that currently faces extinction. The main threat facing the Cape Sable seaside sparrow is habitat destruction.
These small olive-gray and olive-brown birds make their nests in prairie grass. Their nests are cup-shaped and attached to vegetation just a few inches off the ground. This means the Cape Sable needs a habitat with low water levels for their offspring to survive. Tragically, rising sea levels and improper flood water management in Florida have severely affected the nesting grounds of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow.
To help preserve the cape sable’s habitat, conservation efforts have been employed to restore the prairies of the Everglades where these birds build their nests. Likewise, the state of Florida is looking for ways to divert flood waters away from the Everglades prairies.
Endangered Mammals and Reptiles in the Everglades
Birds are not the only endangered animals in the Florida Everglades. Many Other mammal and reptile species face threats to their survival. Undoubtedly, the most critically endangered animal in the Everglades is the Florida Panther.
The sleek-haired big cat with a long tail symbolizes the Everglades. Sadly, the estimated number of Florida panthers in the wild is less than 200. Urban expansion, habitat destruction, deforestation, and illegal poaching have reduced the magnificent feline’s population. In the past, Florida panthers roamed all over Florida, but they are now confined to the wetlands of the Everglades.
Thankfully, many organizations are dedicated to protecting the Florida panther. The Florida Wildlife Federation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and the Panther Ridge Conservation Center are actively engaged in this work.
Another famous animal from the Everglades on the endangered species list is the manatee. These marine mammals are often referred to as “sea cows,” but they are incredibly gentle and simply swim just below the surface of the warm coastal waters. West Indian Manatees are under direct threat due to habitat loss and are frequently involved in collisions with boats and other watercraft used by people.
The American alligator and American crocodile are the most endangered reptiles in the Everglades. Both animals face habitat loss, threats from water pollution, and human activities that include illegal hunting. While recent conservation efforts have helped to increase the number of both American alligators and American crocodiles in the Everglades, there is still much work to be done.
In addition to those two reptiles, various Everglades lizards and snakes are under threat. One such species is the Eastern Indigo snake. This snake is a “keystone species,” meaning that its role in the ecosystem is vital.
Eastern Indigo snakes help control the populations of other species and ensure overall balance in the food web and environment. The blue-black scales which give this snake its name are under threat from habitat destruction and are having to compete with invasive non-native species, like the Burmese python, for food sources.
Endangered Plants of the Everglades
People often focus primarily on endangered animals, but the Everglades’ endangered plants number more than 125 different species. There are a multitude of challenges facing the Everglades’ endangered plants. Habitat loss due to urban expansion, water shortages and floods resulting from poor flood management and water diversion, invasive species, air and water pollution, rising sea levels, and climate changes are all straining many plant species’ ability to survive.
Plants in the Everglades form the backbone of the ecosystem. They provide food, shelter, and resources that all living things in the wetlands depend on for survival. The loss of even just one species of plant can have a major impact on the overall balance of the environment.
Although the Everglades list of endangered plants is quite long, there are 5 native species which can be highlighted.
First, is the Florida Panther Orchid. This is a critically endangered plant that is under threat from habitat loss and deforestation. Its beautiful pink-purple and white flowers bloom in a star shape.
Second, there is the Ghost Orchid. This extremely rare flower is endangered due to habitat loss and illegal collection. The plant gets its name from its ethereal white petals that look like a floating spectre.
Next, there is the Corkscrew Swamp Pine which also faces challenges from deforestation and urban expansion, but also faces habitat loss from fire suppression and invasive species.
After that, there is the Giant Airplant. Poaching and habitat loss are threatening this species with extinction.
Finally, there is the Tamarack Cypress, a type of tree that grows its roots in the muddy soil of tidal swamps. Again, this plant is facing habitat degradation but is also being affected by changes in water levels and pollution.
Threats Facing Endangered Species in the Everglades
Much like many other ecosystems around the world, multiple threats are impacting endangered species in the Florida Everglades. The main threat is habitat loss and fragmentation. Human activities, such as urban development, water management projects, and agricultural pollution have greatly affected the Everglades. These are the primary factors that have pushed the number of endangered species in the Everglades to such high numbers.
Water pollution due to agricultural runoff and other factors is highly damaging. Pollutants in the water often lead to an explosion of algae growth. The algae then block sunlight from reaching the water and deplete oxygen levels, which causes a die-off of marine life, including the bacteria that form the basis of the highly interconnected food web of the Everglades.
Water mismanagement, distribution, and overuse are other human activities that take a toll on the Everglades. The ecosystem of the Florida Everglades requires a delicate water balance. Too much or too little water in the marshlands of southern Florida can have catastrophic consequences. Agriculture and urban demands for water have altered the necessary water balance in the Everglades by changing how much and where water flows in and out of the environment.
Human activity is also responsible for another critical threat facing the native flora and fauna of the Everglades. Invasive non-native species of animals and plants are competing for resources with the original inhabitants of the Everglades. The invasive species were introduced to the Florida Everglades indirectly by humans. One of the most infamous invasive species is the Burmese python.
These giant snakes ended up in the Everglades because people kept them as pets, but they then got too big and were tossed away. After that, Burmese pythons found a new home in the marshlands of the Everglades. Now, they are dramatically affecting the balance of the Everglades food chain and overall native animal populations.
While the Burmese python is the most well-known example, there are several other invasive species of animals and plants that are negatively impacting the delicate ecosystem of the Everglades. Efforts to eradicate invasive species are ongoing, but it is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor.
Conservation Efforts and How to Help
As of today, endangered animals in the Everglades total 39 native species. The number of endangered plants is more than 125. All told, the State of Florida lists 180 plants and animals as endangered, threatened, commercially exploited, and/or species of special concern. This has promoted many people and organizations to get serious about conservation efforts in the Florida Everglades.
One of the largest and most active projects in the effort to preserve the Florida Everglades is the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). This is a multi-agency initiative with billions in funding that works with the Everglades National Park and the US National Park Service to restore and protect the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades.
Other major organizations that are active in habitat restoration and environmental protection measures for the Everglades are the Everglades Foundations, Audubon Florida, and the National Parks Conservation Association. Anyone can donate to these groups to help conservation efforts in the Everglades. People can also volunteer their time and work with the CERP on various projects, from on-site cleanups to local fundraising and advocacy events.
Another way people can get involved in protecting the Everglades is through eco-tourism. When visiting Everglades National Park, choose a respected and verified eco-tourism company to help you plan and manage your visit. Eco-tourism is not only one of the easiest ways individuals can help protect the Everglades, but it is also one of the most enjoyable. Walking tours, birdwatching tours, canoe and kayak tours, and many other outdoor activities are available when visiting the Florida Everglades.
Conclusion
The Everglades face many threats to flora, fauna, and the environment. Many of these threats can be directly attributed to human activity. Thankfully, there is growing awareness and deep concern about ensuring the Everglades will be around for future generations to enjoy and explore. Numerous conservation groups have taken massive steps to ensure that all creatures, great and small, as well as every blade of grass in the Florida Everglades, are protected and respected.
It is not an easy task, but countless individuals’ dedication and charitable acts have already started to turn the tide for the better. You can also play a part in protecting one of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems.
Advocate for conservation efforts in your local, state, and federal legislatures. Volunteer for conservation projects in your area. All conservation efforts compound on each other and help to ensure that places like the Everglades receive the attention and funding they deserve. This can be as simple as planting native species of flora, engaging in trash and cleanup projects, or just visiting national Parks with the assistance of an eco-tourism organization.
After seeing a view of Earth from space, the late astronomer Carl Sagan said, “To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”