In a blog post last week, we discussed two different ecosystems in the Everglades: mangroves and coastal lowlands. Those are just two of many of the ecosystems within the Everglades.  

Each ecosystem looks and acts different and helps the circle of life. On an airboat tour with Captain Mitch, you will fly by many of the Everglades’ ecosystems. For this blog post, we wanted to share some information with you on two more ecosystems in the Everglades.  

Pinelands:  Pinelands are forests that live in the exposed limestone substrate of south Florida. It’s a rugged terrain with a slash pine canopy. Throughout the pinelands, there is a variety of different flora and endemic species, which only grow in the local area. The pinelands are also known as the pine rocklands. For this ecosystem to thrive, fire is essential. The fires help clear out faster-growing hardwoods that block out light to pine seedlings. The plants in this area are used to frequent fires. The Park uses prescribed fires to mimic the natural pattern of fires to help keep the pinelands alive.  

Harwood hammock: Hardwood hammock is a dense area of broad-leafed trees that grow on a natural rise just a few inches. Hammocks can be found in most all ecosystems in the Everglades. Many tropical species like mahogany, gumbo limbo, cocoplum, along with temperate species like live oak, red maple, and hackberry live in hardwood hammocks. Since the plant life is so varied in a hardwood hammock, there are lot’s of wildlife that live their too. Due to the elevation, hardwood hammocks hardly flood. These hammocks are also protected by fire as acids from decaying plants dissolve the limestone around the tree islands that creates a moat. Ferns and airplants are seen throughout hardwood hammocks due to the moisture-filled air and shaded areas.  

As you can see, there’s lots of moving parts that make these ecosystems thrive, so it’s important to protect and care for all these different ecosystems as they all play a critical role in the lifecycles of endless plant, animal, and insect species.  

Next month, we will discuss about the following ecosystems: freshwater sloughs, freshwater marl prairie, cypress, and marine and estuarine.  

Want to see a few different ecosystems up close? 

Come on down and enjoy a fun trip out on the water exploring the Everglades on an airboat tour that leaves from Everglades City. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours  is open 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).  

To book an airboat trip in the Everglades, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 239-695-3377 or click Everglades airboat tour page. 

There are many different ecosystems in the Everglades. In fact, you will fly by many of them on one our airboat tours. For this blog post, we wanted to share some information with you on a few of the ecosystems in the Everglades.  

Mangroves: Mangrove forests live along coastal channels and winding rivers in south Florida and the Everglades. The term “mangrove” identifies several species of salt-tolerant trees that thrive in harsh growing conditions along the coast. There is red black, and white mangroves found in the Everglades. The red mangroves are the most well-known for their stilt-like roots that stick out above the water. These mangroves live in tidal waters where the freshwater and saltwater mix together. The Everglades is home to the largest population of protected mangrove forests in the hemisphere. Many marine species call mangrove forests home. Birds also use mangroves during their nesting periods. Mangrove forests also help protect inland and the Everglades from surges and winds due to hurricanes.  

Coastal lowlands: Coastal lowlands live between tidal mud flats in Florida Bay and dry land. The coastal lowlands are also known as the coastal prairie. This area is well-drained and is filled with shrubby, salt-tolerant vegetation. No mangroves can thrive in the coastal lowlands due to periodic flooding and heavy winds. Many different species can live in the lowlands due to its varying salinity levels. Succulents and other desert-like plants are known to thrive in the lowlands.  

It’s important to protect  and care for all these different ecosystems as they all play a critical role in the lifecycles of endless plant, animal, and insect species.  

Want to see a few different ecosystems up close?  

Next week, we will discuss about the following ecosystems: pinelands and hardwood hammock.  

Come on down and enjoy a fun trip out on the water exploring the Everglades on an airboat tour that leaves from Everglades City. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours  is open 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).  

To book an airboat trip in the Everglades, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 239-695-3377 or click Everglades airboat tour page. 

If you’re thinking about coming out on an airboat ride with Captain Mitch, you’ll be spending some time in the Everglades. How much do you know about the Everglades? It’s a beautiful landscape, and our team at Captain Mitch’s Private Everglades Airboat Tours wanted to share some information with you about the area.  

On an airboat tour, we fly through grass and swamps of the Everglades. Taking an airboat ride in the Florida Everglades swamp land and an ecosystem is unlike any other in the world. Similar ecosystems, like he Amazon, Nile Basin, and the Mississippi River Delta all differ from one another in many ways. However, one unifying factor is the presence of significant freshwater rainfall near an ocean or other saltwater body. This flow of fresh water from rivers into salt water creates a mixture called brackish water. Brackish water is home to a variety of flora and fauna found in the Florida Everglades.  

The flow of nutrients and small mineral particles that flow into the Everglades serve as food for the small life forms that grow. Other semi-aquatic plant life found in the Everglades serve as a breeding ground and nursery for fish, birds, alligators, deer, bears, hogs, snakes and more.  

The Everglades is lush and green almost year-round due to the warm temperature and flow of fresh water created by the rains of about 60 inches are year annually.  

The total acreage of the Everglades (land and water) is 1,542,526 acres.  

About 1 million people visit the Everglades each year.  

Ready to explore this beautiful land? Our local captains will show you a great time. You’ll get the chance to see alligators, birds, and more. Our airboat tours are a thrill ride as well as an educational experience. There are many exciting and wonderful things to see on Captain Mitch’s Airboat tours.  

Come enjoy a fun trip out on the water exploring the Everglades on an airboat tour that leaves from Everglades City. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours  is open 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).  

To book an airboat trip in the Everglades, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 239-695-3377 or click Everglades airboat tour page. 

The Everglades is home to thousands of species. We consider ourselves so lucky that airboat rides exist so we can explore the habitat of so many animals, plants, insects, birds, and more. Unfortunately, there are many species who are threatened or endangered in the Everglades.  

Thirty-nine native Florida species that may live in the Everglades (at some point) are federally listed as threatened, endangered, or are candidates for a listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. About 180 plant and animals species that occur in the Everglades are listed by Florida as threatened, endangered, species of special concern or commercially exploited.  

Right now, there is critical habitat is designated or propose for 10 of the 39 species in the Everglades and more than half of the Everglades is currently designated as a critical habitat for one or more species. A critical habitat is a legally-designated area that is deemed essential to the conservation of federally listed species. 

Here is a list of some species current standing in the Everglades: 

• Cape Sable seaside sparrow – It is endangered and has a critical habitat in the Everglades.  

• Wood stork – It is endangered and does not have a critical habitat in the Everglades.  
• Everglades snail kite – It is endangered and has a critical habitat in the Everglades. 
• Bartram’s scrub hairstreak – It is endangered and has a critical habitat in the Everglades. 
• Florida bonneted bat – It is endangered and does not have a critical habitat in the Everglades. 
• Florida panther – It is endangered and does not have a critical habitat in the Everglades. 

• West Indian manatee – It is threatened and has a critical habitat in the Everglades. 
• American alligator – It is threatened due to similarity of appearance and does not have a critical habitat in the Everglades. 
• American crocodile – It is threatened and has a critical habitat in the Everglades. 
• Loggerhead sea turtle – It is threatened and has a critical habitat in the Everglades. 
• Florida bristle fern – It is endangered and does not have a critical habitat in the Everglades and there are no recent records of it in the Everglades.  

• Red cockaded woodpecker It is endangered and does not have a critical habitat in the Everglades and there are no recent records of it in the Everglades. 

Because of the Endangered Species Act, the Everglades National Parks works are to improve protections for these species through different programs, status surveys, habitat management, and more.  

Come enjoy a fun trip out on the water exploring the Everglades on an airboat tour that leaves from Everglades City. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours  is open 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).  

To book an airboat trip in the Everglades, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 239-695-3377 or click Everglades airboat tour page.