On Tuesday, our University Colloquium class took a field trip to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary which is located near Naples, Florida. All I can say is wow. I have lived in Florida for over six years now and I had no idea that a place like that was nearby. It was incredible walking around on the boardwalks and learning all about the different types and of plants that grew and the animals that were found in the different habitats there. I really hope that I will be able to go back there soon and enjoy it with my family.
There were several different events that led up to the creation of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. In the 1930's, lumbermen began to log many of the Bald Cypress trees that grow in the area. It was after the war and people began to want to build more homes. Also, Snowy Egrets used to be hunted in the area because their feathers were used in women's hats. They were hunted to near extinction. These species are now protected as the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has been constructed.
The wetlands really serve us in protecting our water quality, maintaining biodiversity, and preserving watershed. Different chemicals and toxic materials can enter the wetlands due to runoff, meaning that when it rains, they can be washed into the water source. However, since wetlands are such a slow moving body of water, the chemicals and sediments can be trapped and accumulated in the bottom of the water body where the plants will keep in place. The wetlands also preserve the watershed because they collect much of the runoff water and then slowly release it into the watershed. Without the wetlands, flooding would increase dramatically. The wetlands maintain biodiversity as well by providing an environment where many different species of flora and fauna will flourish.
At Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, there are different forces that occur that impact the environment there. One of these is fire. Fire helps to clean out the underbrush that grows wildly. It allows for the removal of some invasive species and creates more areas for species to inhabit since they will be able to move throughout the territory easier. It also releases nutrients that are trapped in the dead plant material, putting them back into the soil for other plants to use and flourish with. Elevation is another thing that impacts the environment. The land slopes so that while some areas are dry like the uplands and pine flatlands, the wet prairie and cypress slew are very wet and the water gets deeper. However, humans want to live in drier areas and are continually building their homes in such places. The species in this habitat (bobcats, raccoons, deer, and coyotes) are being threatened because their home is disappearing.
Water is an important resource in this environment; however, there are several factors in Florida causing problems. Water would normally flow down throughout Florida, keeping the habitats wet and moist. But due to human construction of roads like Tamiami Trail and I75, a veritable dam of sorts was built across Florida, preventing the natural flow of water.
Pine Flatwoods: slash pines, sabal palm, palmetto. Some of the animals found here include woodpeckers, and black bears. Note that the burns that occur in this area help get the nutrients back into the soil and helps to clear out the underbrush.
Uplands: Bobcats, raccoons, bears, deer, coyotes. The uplands are becoming more threatened as we have don't have limited uplands in Florida, and those areas are where all of the houses are being built.Wet prairie: Cypress trees, deer, panthers, great egrets, and wood storks.
It is also interesting to note that as you go down the list of habitats, the land slopes downhill and so you will be in areas that have more water.
On the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary website, some of the other habitats listed include the Pond Cypress, the Bald Cypress Forest, the Central Marsh, and the Lettuce Lakes. There are several main species found in each habitat. River otters, red-shouldered hawks, and black bears are found in the Pond Cypress. Woodpeckers, alligators, and alligator flag are found in the Bald Cypress Forest. Raccoons, red maples, and anoles are found in the Central Marsh. Herons, including the little blue heron, and alligators are found in the Lettuce Lakes.
I think it was amazing to visit Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. I learned a lot and it was so peaceful to be able to walk around on the boardwalks and breathe in the clean fresh air, especially since I had just come from my Organic Chemistry II Lab class beforehand. The trees were tall and majestic, the water was calm and serene, and even though we got rained on while there, it almost made the experience more special. It felt like the Sanctuary was coming alive.
I learned most all of the information in this posting during my field trip to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The website for the Sanctuary is: http://corkscrew.audubon.org/ I learned about several of the habitats and species found there at this website as well.
I took all of the pictures in this post when we were at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
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