Florida’s Wetlands

Here are some photos of the coastal wetlands in Florida. Coastal (estuarine) wetlands are basically salt water and brackish water which make up only 5 percent of all wetlands in the United States. America has a total of 105 million acres of wetlands, 20 percent of which are located in Florida, covering 30 percent of the state. Since the first pioneers stepped foot in Florida nearly half of the wetlands have disappeared. Today there is a movement to preserve the wetlands primarily for the sake of clean water as well as other environmental benefits that wet lands provide.

The two main ingredients of a wetland is saturated soil and vegetation that has adapted to wet or flooded soil. Some of the more common plants found along coastal shore wetlands are mangroves, pond pine and cypress trees. They have special root systems that provide exceptional support in soft soils. Some other examples of wetland vegetation are torpedo grass, sweetbay magnolia, royal fern, water hickory, buttonbush, sawgrass, white-top sedge and water-lilies.

Wetlands serve as a natural habitat for wildlife and fish as well, many of which are endangered and rare native species. American alligators and the endangered American crocodiles, live in Florida’s wetlands. Other large critters like Florida panthers, wild boar, deer, foxes, bobcats and black bears, use the wetlands for food and shelter. Beautiful birds such as storks, herons, egrets, ibises and spoonbills also thrive in the wetlands. Florida’s wetlands support nearly three-quarters of Florida’s endangered birds as well as, 20 percent of the Atlantic coast’s wintering waterfowl.

Click on image to enlarge. Left click for zoom and minimize.

Use backspace or back arrow to return to photo gallery.