Of all the animals here in Florida, one of the more notable species is the manatee. Manatee Appreciation Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday in March to raise awareness of their role in the ecosystem and conservation efforts in place to help with the challenges these animals face. Manatees are mammals that live in many aquatic ecosystems. These animals rely on seagrass communities for their food. Since these communities are declining worldwide, the manatee populations have suffered due to a lack of natural resources. These seagrass communities not only help manatee populations, but other organisms including octopi, sea turtles, shrimp, crabs, and oysters utilize these areas for food, shelter, and even nurseries. Seagrass also helps to protect coastal areas from erosion which helps protect houses and coastal developments. Manatees help protect the health of this ecosystem by eating and maintaining the growth of the grass.
This decline in natural resources is not the only thing that has been negatively impacting the manatee population. Human impacts such as boating-related accidents and water pollution have harmed individual animals and the ecosystem where they live. Boaters often will not see these animals in shallow areas or disregard signage indicating the presence of these animals or mandatory speed limits. Conservation organizations are working hard to improve the ecosystems for manatees, clean up water pollution, and educate the public about manatees and the value they provide.
Things you can do to help manatees:
Obey all speed zone signs and look out for manatees when boating.
Dispose of your trash properly.
Support conservation organizations
Participate in coastal cleanup events.
Attend boating safety classes or take online courses.
International Day of Forests celebrates the importance of forests and the important roles they play for various organisms and ecosystems worldwide. This date was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. Forests provide habitat and food for many of the world’s organisms including birds, snakes, turtles, insects, and plants. Forests are also known for their ability to filter out CO2 from the atmosphere and produce oxygen. The Amazon Rainforest, which some have called the lungs of the Earth, produces around 20% of the Earth’s oxygen supply. Forests are valuable for the wellbeing of the world around us and the biodiversity of organisms on the planet. However, there has been in recent years concern with the alarming rate at which we are losing hectares of forests annually.
Forest Loss
The loss of forests around the world has been due to a variety of things including deforestation and an increase in forest fires. Around 10 million hectares of land are lost annually due to deforestation and around 70 million are being affected by fires annually. Deforestation worldwide is due to an increase in urban development, farming, and agricultural land to meet the demands of an exponentially growing population. Forest fires are common in these ecosystems, however in the past couple decades, an increased number of forests have been affecting these ecosystems greatly. A decrease in forest management (which includes fires) has led to larger and less controlled fires. Innovation has been done to develop early warning systems, empowering Indigenous voices worldwide through land mapping and climate finance access, and sustainable production of the good and services that come from forests (lumber, coffee, fruit, etc.).
Worldwide there are around 600 different species of rays. The ray species is comprised of many different types of organisms including stingrays, skates, manta rays, and sawfishes. These fish species are often found in more temperate parts of the ocean, brackish water, and even freshwater. Stingrays are known as benthic fish, or fish that tend to stay at or around the bottom of their habitats. They will spend a lot of their time partially buried in the sand for protection. Stingrays are known for their ability to use the serrated edges and sharp points on their spines (barbs) for hunting and protection. The underside of the spines of some stingray species can produce venom which is used to hunt prey and protect themselves. Around 70 different stingray species can also produce an electrical discharge through their barb which also helps with hunting and protection by stunning their prey or predator. These animals can be found feeding on organisms like crustaceans, small fish, snails, clams, shrimp, and other small creatures often on the bottom of bodies of water. Since rays are known for being long and flat, they swim in a more unique way. They will either ungulate their bodies like a wave or flap the sides of their bodies like wings. Different species of stingrays have varying home ranges and distribution patterns. Some species of stingrays can be found in oceans worldwide, whereas some have a much smaller home range. Here in Florida, we have around 15 species of rays that live in different bodies of water located within the state.
Species of stingrays found in Florida:
Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis sabina
Bluntnose Stingray, Dasyatis say
Roughtail Stingray, Dasyatis centroura
Southern Stingray, Dasyatis americana
Yellow Stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis
Humans and Stingray Interactions
Negative interactions between stingrays and humans are very limited, especially out in the wild. As stingrays are usually very peaceful and non-aggressive, they usually only occur when the stingray feels threatened. There are ways to reduce your chance of being harmed by these secretive animals. Stingray stings mainly occur when the animal is stepped on. To reduce your chance of a painful interaction, make sure to shuffle your feet when wading through the water to scare away any buried ray. When participating in recreational activities like snorkeling or diving, make sure to stay aware of your surroundings and do not initiate contact with a wild stingray or any wild animal. In any water activities, it is always important to have another person with you in case an emergency happens.
As to be expected around the start of spring, lots of animals are out and about looking for mates or nesting areas. But one animal that makes its presence known loudly in South Florida is the limpkin. As they are well camouflaged in wetland areas in South and Central America, and the southern part of North America (although there have been sightings of them as far up as Wisconsin and even into Canada), they are heard more than they are seen. These birds are known for being very loud with their characteristic screeches and wails made especially by the male. These sounds are made when they are courting another mate, establishing territory, feeding, or when a predator such as an alligator is spotted. They are often heard around dusk, dawn, and during the night. So, if you hear an unknown screech during the nighttime that wakes you up, it might just be a limpkin calling to others.
These birds tend to prefer hot, humid wetland areas, but can also be spotted in agricultural areas such as cane fields and canals or ditches. They are active during the day but can also be found foraging around in wetland areas at night. They stay around wetland areas because they forage primarily in shallow waters and tend to stay under covered areas. Here in Florida, they primarily eat apple snails with their beaks adapted to easily extract these snails out of their shells. They will also eat other types of snails and freshwater mussels. During times of drought or flooding, they will eat other organisms such as insects, frogs, crustaceans, and worms. Their long toes allow these birds to stand on floating plants to look for food underneath the plants.
The term “wildland fire” is a more general term for wildfires that are intentionally set as part of a prescribed burn. A prescribed or controlled burn is a fire purposely set to help manage and control certain areas of land. The term prescribed burn comes from the fact that land managers require a “prescription” to be fulfilled before a fire can be started. This includes the right conditions such as temperature, wind, weather, and the designation of a specific area. These requirements need to be met to ensure the effectiveness of the burn while making sure these man-made fires can be properly contained and managed while burning. The management of the land through prescribed fires supports the needs of the land and the organisms living there by removing invasive plants and ensuring room for the growth of smaller and younger plants that provide food for animals and a reduced understory.
While the term wildfire often comes with a negative connotation, wildfires in some ecosystems are necessary to maintain the health of the ecosystem. This may seem counterintuitive since wildfires cause destruction. Organisms in certain ecosystems will rely on fire to help them grow and develop and even continue their lifecycle. Without prescribed or natural burns, there could be a buildup of natural materials (dead or decaying organisms) which could prevent organisms in the soil from accessing these necessary nutrients or block plants and animals from accessing the soil underneath. Fires help to remove and even prevent build-up from occurring when they occur regularly in an ecosystem. The removal of undergrowth can also prevent out-of-control wildfires that can cause a major disaster.
Fire has always been a natural occurrence in the Everglades. These naturally occurring fires from lightning strikes also helped to shape the landscape here in South Florida. These wildfires helped to stimulate plant growth and flowering of the native landscape after a burn occurred. The native Americans and pioneers in these areas used fires for centuries and understood the benefits they had on the vegetation and wildlife. Today, a fire management plan is put in place for the Everglades National Park to help ensure the management and survival of this national park. This plan includes the use of prescribed fires to “help reduce the risk of wildfire impacts on cultural resources, park infrastructure, and the surrounding communities” while also “allow[ing] [Everglades National Park Division of Fire and Aviation staff] to manage smoke impacts outside the boundaries of the Park’s fire-dependent ecosystem” according to the National Park Service’s page on fire operations in Everglades National Park.
The red-cockaded woodpecker used to be very abundant in the southeastern United States. Their range used to extend north to New Jersey and inland towards Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee, however, due to habitat loss and fire suppression their range has declined. Today, their range runs north to parts of Virginia, all the way south to Florida, and out west towards Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. These woodpeckers are found in open pineland habitats (ideally mature pinelands) with an open understory. Populations of this bird have become scattered throughout their range due to habitat loss because of land clearing, logging, and conversion of forest into agricultural uses. This habitat loss has contributed to a decline in the population, where they are now deemed as near threatened on the IUCN red list. To help improve the populations of these woodpeckers, scientists and conservationists have come together to help count and manage the population through the translocation of individual birds or breeding pairs into more populated areas which provide mates and habitats that support breeding pairs and increase genetic diversity.
Prescribed Burns
Wildfires often have a negative connotation due to the impact they have, however, these are naturally occurring events. These fires occur from natural events such as lightning strikes, high winds and temperatures, and natural sparks which create friction and heat. Many ecosystems have come to rely on the role of these fires that help with the maintenance of the ecosystem overall. Decreased natural fires in a natural setting increase the likelihood of non-native and even invasive species in an area. Natural burns also help to maintain the life cycles of natural plants and animals in that ecosystem. Overgrowth of taller and mature trees prevents new growth underneath them from developing fully due to a lack of natural resources such as sunlight. Since these woodpeckers rely on open understories for hunting and foraging, the maintenance of the understory through frequent fires is important for their survival. These birds are insectivores (animals that eat insects), feeding mainly on ants, beetles, cockroaches, and spiders among other insects that dwell in the bark of trees. They will also supplement their diet with seeds and berries as well.
Keystone Species
The red-cockaded woodpecker is known as a keystone species due to the tree cavities and nests they build in live pine trees. Keystone species are defined as a species whose role is necessary for the ecosystem and cannot be replaced. If these species are removed, it will affect the entire ecosystem because many other organisms rely on their services. These woodpeckers are unique as they are some of the only species that will build nest cavities into live pine trees. These tree cavities that these woodpeckers build help provide shelter and protection from fire for around 30 other species including birds, lizards, squirrels, frogs, and snakes. With this species’ population declining and being deemed as near-threatened, scientists are becoming more concerned with increasing population sizes through proper management and protection of their habitats. This is being done by helping relocate breeding pairs to pre-determined locations that can fully support these pairs.
Keystone species are defined as species that other species depend on, and that if removed, would drastically change the ecosystem where they live. The species play such a fundamental role that they cannot be easily lost or replaced. This includes animals like beavers whose dams help protect and provide habitat for many other organisms and grey wolves who provide population control. Here in Florida, we have local examples that live across the state, including both animals and plants. Below are some of Florida’s major keystone species and how they help maintain the ecosystem around them.
American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis
The American alligator is a well-known species here in Florida, especially around the Everglades. This species has been around for millions of years and has been hunted by humans and used for various things like food and fashion. Overhunting of alligators in the mid-20th century led to a rapid population decline. This decline resulted in a massive shift in the environment with other species being impacted. Scientists and researchers started studying this shift and found that alligators provide a vital ecological service to the ecosystem- alligator holes. These holes are dug by alligators and used by many different species including turtles, birds, fish, and insects. These holes are filled up during the wet season by rainwater and then hold water to provide habitat and water for other species during the dry season. Upon recognition of this service’s importance to the ecosystem, conservation plans were put in place to help improve the declining population of alligators and led to the recovery of the alligator population from the brink of extinction.
Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus
The gopher tortoise is a tortoise species that spans the southeast US. This tortoise species is one of only 5 in North America and the only one found east of the Mississippi River. Like many other tortoise species, these animals are known for their burrows and will spend a lot of their time in them. These burrows are the reason these animals are keystone species. Their burrows are sheltered for themselves as well as over 350 other species. These include the eastern indigo snake and the burrowing owl among many others. This species, however, is regionally threatened due to its declining population. This is largely due to habitat loss and destruction due to urban development, but improper land management and increased car collisions play a role as well. Since the reclassification of these tortoises in 2007, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has put together a Gopher Tortoise management plan that is meant to “restore and maintain secure, viable populations of gopher tortoises throughout Florida so the species no longer warrants listing.”
Oaks, Quercus sp.
As mentioned above, keystone species includes both animals and plants. Native plants help to support different native species like insects and birds by providing shelter and food. While some may only be valuable to a limited number of species, tree species like oaks are valuable and essential for many different species. Animals like squirrels, woodpeckers, raccoons, hummingbirds, and white-tailed deer depend on oak trees. Oak species here in Florida are host to more than 350 caterpillar species. This includes different types of Duskywing (Horace’s Duskywing, Juvenal’s Duskywing) and Hairstreak caterpillars (red-banded hairstreak, white-banded hairstreak, oak hairstreak). Here in Florida, there are many different types of oaks including the Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia), the Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), the Chapman’s Oak (Quercus chapmanii), the Water Oak (Quercus nigra) and the Running Oak (Quercus pumila).
February 2nd marks World Wetlands Day, dedicated to recognizing the importance of wetland ecosystems worldwide. Wetland ecosystems have been declining worldwide mainly due to urban development and agricultural expansion. Wetlands are defined as an area of land saturated by water either permanently or seasonally. These ecosystems exist worldwide and play fundamental roles in the overall health of local environments. These areas, as you will see, support various organisms and perform a specific role needed to support them. There is a wide variety of wetlands across the globe that abide in different areas and habitats. Florida has saltwater and freshwater wetlands that span coastal and inland areas throughout the state.
Saltwater (Coastal) Wetlands
Coastal wetlands cover about 40 million acres and makeup 38 percent of the total wetland acreage within the boundaries of the United States. The northeast Gulf of Mexico shoreline alone contains about 60 percent of the coastal and freshwater marshes in the United States, including 400,000 to 500,000 acres of salt marsh in northern Florida alone. These saltwater wetland ecosystems like saltwater marshes and mangroves occur in coastal intertidal zones and can be found all along the coasts of Florida. These wetlands and the species that inhabit them have adapted to the saltwater covering them for extended periods of time and support organisms that tolerate salinity changes. Coastal wetlands support organisms that are adapted to live in these dynamic communities and provide protection and stability for coastal areas. They are also the nurseries of the ocean providing a protective haven for many important economic and ecological ocean species to reproduce and grow.
Freshwater Wetlands
Everglades National Park is a federally protected area in south Florida that provides habitat for many different species like the American alligator, manatee, and Florida panther. Everglades National Park, founded in 1947, was the first national park designated to protect an ecological system. Since then, the Everglades National Park and the Everglades have also been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance. The Everglades National Park contains several examples of saltwater and freshwater wetlands. The Everglades ecosystem includes wetland areas that span from the center of the state to the east, west and southward to Florida Bay. Conservation of these freshwater wetlands is critical to the survival of many species of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. In addition, the Everglades are an essential part of recharging the aquifers in Florida which provide drinking water for millions of people.
The Coontie Palm (contrary to the name) is a shrub-like plant known as a cycad that is popular in the southeast United States (Florida and Georgia) and other countries such as the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba. A cycad is an ancient seed plant (a plant that produces seeds) that is often stout and has a woody trunk with a crown that has hard, stiff, evergreen leaves. The Coontie is Florida’s only native cycad. The Coontie is very resilient, perfect for dry areas, cold tolerant, and is not particular when it comes to light as some other plants are which makes it perfect for here in south Florida. It is also tolerant of salt spray and drought and is resistant to most diseases and pests. Coontie populations in the wild declined drastically due to overharvesting which also affected the population of Atala butterflies. It is illegal in Florida to collect endangered Coontie from the wild. However, commercially propagated Coontie are available at native garden centers for purchase.
Plant Use
Historically this plant has been used as a food source by indigenous tribes in the Caribbean and in Florida, such as the Calusa, the Tequesta, and more recently the Seminoles. The plant itself is poisonous, so tribes learned how to properly prepare the root so it would not be toxic to humans. The roots would be ground down and then processed through water to turn it into flour that would be used to make bread and other types of food. Seminole Indians would also use the stems of this plant to make a strong cordage they would use to weave baskets. More recently, this plant has been used for more ornamental purposes in landscaping. This plant has also been used as a source of starch commercially. This practice is not widespread but is still in use today.
Symbiotic Relationships
While this cycad looks beautiful, it can be toxic when ingested or absorbed into the skin. All parts of the Coontie plant are toxic, especially the seeds. Organisms that rely on the Coontie have become adapted to the toxin and are not affected by it. The Atala butterfly has a mutually beneficial relationship with the Coontie. The larvae (caterpillars) of this butterfly feed on the leaves of the Coontie and not only survive ingesting the toxins, but the toxin also makes their own bodies toxic to many predators. This toxicity warning is displayed by their bright coloration in both larval and adult life stages. In return, the waste of the Atala butterfly helps fertilize the soil for the palm. Another example of these symbiotic relationships is the bacteria that live within the root of the Coontie. The bacteria absorb nitrogen out of the air and soil and transform it into a nutrient the plant can use.
The Apalachicola kingsnake is one of the 46 native snake species that reside here in Florida. Of these species, only 6 are venomous. Although the Apalachicola king snake is not venomous, when threatened, it often acts like a rattlesnake by flattening its head and shaking its tail. Instead of using venom to immobilizes it prey, this snake is a constrictor which uses its muscles to constrict or squeeze its prey to death before eating. They are not harmful to humans and will only attack when they feel threatened. Most adult Apalachicola kingsnakes are about 36-48 inches (90-122 cm) in total length. Their color varies between individuals, but these are different from other king snake species as they have a lighter color. These snakes have a broad diet that includes small mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, lizards and turtles and their eggs. They are called king snakes because they eat other snakes, including venomous ones they are immune to. These snakes are found in the eastern and central parts of the Florida panhandle primarily in the eastern Apalachicola lowlands south of Telogia Creek. In this range, they can be found in various ecosystems including the scrub, pinelands, hardwood hammocks, cypress strands, prairies, marshes, estuaries, and along the edges of streams and canals.
