Periphyton: The Most Common Lifeform in the Everglades

February 27, 2015 by
Periphyton

A patch of periphyton in the water.

The most prevalent form of life in the Everglades today is not the most well known nor is it the most talked about. In fact, this lifeform is so common in the Everglades now that, although it is everywhere, it is hardly even noticed at all. This mysterious lifeform is called periphyton, and it’s a mixture of algae, cyanobacteria, heterotrophic microbes, and detritus.

Periphyton can be found in aquatic ecosystems throughout the world, attaching itself to submerged surfaces and providing a valuable source of food to much of the wildlife in the area. Periphyton is truly an invaluable part of any ecosystem where it can be found, as many invertebrates and fish depend on its availability for their survival.

Periphyton have also proven to be excellent natural water filters, as they are able to absorb contaminants in the water column and limit their movement. In addition to dissolved pollutants in the water, periphyton are also able to remove solid waste as well, though the filtration effects of periphyton is still being studied.

Because of the periphyton’s unique characteristics, its presence can also be an indicator of the water quality in a given area. Because of periphyton’s high tolerance for and quick response to change, and because so many different species are found naturally in periphyton, its presence in an area usually indicates the presence of healthy water. And because water quality is so important to any ecosystem, a strong presence of periphyton usually means good things for any environment.

To see plenty of periphyton, as well as some of the Everglades more exciting and interactive creatures, take an Everglades airboat tour with the best in the business at Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours. On your Everglades airboat ride you’ll see alligators, fish, birds, and maybe even a frog or two, so join us today and experience Florida the way it was meant to be seen!

Filed Under: Captain Mitch, Everglades Airboat Rides, Everglades Airboat Tours, Everglades Animals, Everglades Plantlife, Everglades Wildlife Tagged With: , , , ,

The Importance of Mangroves in the Everglades Ecosystem

February 6, 2015 by
mangroves

A lush web of mangrove roots.

Mangroves are one of the last true natives in Florida, with an estimated 469,000 acres of mangrove forests found throughout the southern coastal areas of Florida. Because they thrive in saltwater and brackish water environments, they have made a comfortable home here since prehistoric times, and today, though there are more than fifty species of mangroves worldwide, three of these species can be found in the Florida Everglades.

 

Red Mangroves
Perhaps the most common and well known type of mangrove found in Florida, red mangroves have often been called “walking trees” because their “prop-roots” give them the appearance of standing right on the surface of the water. This species of mangrove grows close to the water’s edge and is distinguishable by its raised, reddish, tangled roots.

Black Mangroves
Black mangroves are less typical mangroves, because they prefer environments that are slightly raised up from water level. Black mangroves have finger-like projections called pneumatophores that appear around the trunk of the mangrove, making them easily identifiable in nature.

White Mangroves
White mangroves are difficult to identify because they look more like traditional rooted trees than the water lining greenery people are accustomed to when thinking of mangroves. White mangroves prefer even higher elevations than black mangroves, and unlike both red and black mangroves, white mangroves have no visible root system. White mangroves can be best identified by their leaves, which are elliptical, light yellow-green, and have two distinguishing glands around the base of each leaf.

 

Mangroves are extremely essential to all natural life in the Florida Everglades and throughout the rest of Florida. Mangroves provide food and shelter to many species in the Everglades, as well as provide protected areas for new mothers to raise their young. Mangrove branches also serve as nesting grounds for many of Florida’s important bird species, while their roots provide important attachment surfaces for many marine creatures as well. Without mangroves in the Everglades, many other plant and animal species who rely on them for various reasons would not be able to survive in this environment.

An airboat tour through the Everglades allows tourists and residents alike to experience the lush mangrove forests of Southern Florida up close. Visit Captain Mitch today of Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours and see for yourself why an airboat ride is truly the only way to experience the River of Grass to its fullest.

Filed Under: Everglades Airboat Rides, Everglades Airboat Tours, Everglades History, Everglades Plantlife, Everglades Wildlife Tagged With: , , , ,

Obama Shows His Support for the Everglades

February 6, 2015 by
President Obama

President Obama supports Everglades restoration.

Good news for the Everglades this week, with President Obama having announced on Monday, February 2nd that he is proposing to spend $195 million on Everglades restoration projects starting in 2015. This is quite a jump from last year’s proposal, showing that Obama will support the Everglades restoration project throughout the remainder of his presidency.

In general, Obama’s plans for his last two years in office include many large-scale public works projects, including the construction and repair of various national roads and bridges, so the project of Everglades restoration fits nicely into his “big picture” plan. The restoration will not only revive the natural landscapes and wetlands of the national park, but because it requires massive construction, it will produce hundreds of jobs in the area as well. Everybody benefits from the Everglades restoration.

Everglades restoration projects include:

  • Addition of multiple water reserves in Broward County
  • Restoration of the Kissimmee Valley

With specific goals for restoration including:

  • Restoration of natural water flow
  • Further protection of endangered wildlife
  • Prevention of future flooding
  • Assurance of clean water supplies throughout Southern Florida

It’s easy to join the President in showing your support for the Florida Everglades, by supporting local businesses who rely on tourist support in order to survive. It is the gentle Gladesmen like Captain Mitch of Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tour Company
who brave the Everglades waters every single day so that others can enjoy the beauty that is the River of Grass from the comfort of an airboat ride.

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What is Brackish Water?

February 6, 2015 by
brackish water

A patch of brackish water.

If you’ve traveled around Southern Florida, chances are you’ve heard the term “brackish” used when describing some areas of water. But what is brackish water and what makes it characteristic of some bodies of water and not others?

Brackish water is a cross between freshwater and saltwater – it has a higher salinity level than freshwater but not as high as seawater. Typically, water is considered brackish if it contains between 0.5 and 30 grams of salt per liter, however the salinity of any given body of water considered to be brackish can heavily fluctuate over time.

Brackish water can be naturally occurring, as well as the result of human construction projects and waste run-off. When brackish water occurs naturally, it is generally around an estuary where a river connects to the ocean, and the freshwater from the river blends with the saltwater from the ocean.

Though many underwater creatures are usually comfortable in either one or the other, freshwater or saltwater, there are some who thrive in brackish water and can flow quite easily between the two environments. Some species commonly found in brackish waters are bull sharks, sturgeon, tilapia, and trout, as well as various species of crab and shrimp.

An Everglades airboat tour with Miami Airboat Tours is the perfect opportunity to view some of these unique and interesting animals in their brackish habitat. Much of Southwest Florida is considered brackish water, especially around the coastlines on both the east and west sides of the states, and much of this water feeds into the world-famous River of Grass, also known as the Florida Everglades. Take an airboat ride with us today and experience the beauty that is the Everglades with the guides who know the area best – we are Florida’s original Airboat family!

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Osprey

February 6, 2015 by

osprey-flyingThe osprey goes by many names – fish hawk, sea hawk, fish eagle, and river hawk – but all names seem to call out one particular characteristic of this powerful hunting bird, the fact that its diet is comprised almost entirely of fish. While this is certainly not the only unique characteristic of the osprey, it is currently the most well known.

The osprey is comfortable in many habitats, and can be found throughout the world and on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. It is one of only a few species of birds that can be found worldwide, making this truly a unique and spectacular creature. It is considered a diurnal raptor, though due to its unique hunting and catching behavior, the species has been given its own taxonomic genus.

Ospreys greatly resemble various species of hawks, a fact that is evident as del in many of its chosen nicknames. Ospreys can reach heights of around two feet, with wingspans that can reach six feet, making these truly majestic birds to be both feared and respected by their prey. Ospreys are easily distinguished from hawks by their unique wing patterns, which are long, narrow, and featuring four long and one short finger-like feathers, giving them a very distinct appearance of almost having hands on their wings. When in flight, these “hands” tend to droop heavily, giving the ospreys a more gull-like than hawk-like appearance in the air.

While the osprey almost exclusively feeds on fish, they have been known to eat small rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and even other small birds as well. Because the osprey has excellent fine-tuned vision, they are able to detect their underwater prey from high above in the air. AFter hovering momentarily, the osprey plunges into the depths below to efficiently catch its lunch or dinner.

Although most osprey migrate to warmer climates during cold winter seasons, because the climate in Southern Florida is hospitable year-round, many osprey who make this area home choose to stay here throughout the year. Currently, osprey populations continue to thrive worldwide, and although populations were in danger at the beginning on the 20th century due to hunting by egg collectors, today this bird is both common and comfortable with its numbers and current habitats.

To enjoy osprey in the wild, take an airboat tour through the Florida Everglades, a national park that houses a very large population of osprey year-round. Airboat rides are fun, fast, and thrilling for the whole family, and the perfect opportunity to experience all of the amazing Florida wildlife that calls this area home.

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