Everglades Review Sheet

Complete this review sheet without the use of your course notes, to determine how much you actually
recall and understand.

1. The Everglades is nicknamed the River of River of Grass, due to the abundance of sawgrass.

2. The headwaters of the Everglades is the: Kissimee River

3. Document the flow of water from the headwaters of the Everglades to the sea.

Water flows into Lake Okeechobee from several sources, including the Kissimmee River, Fishiting
Creek, Lake Istokpoga Taylor Creek and smaller sources such as Nubbin Slough and Nicodemus Slough.

4. What ecosystem dominates the Everglades? swamp or marsh? Marsh

5. What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?
Swamp has bigger area covered with water than marsh
Swamp dominated by trees then Marshes dominated by Grasses

6. Swamps dominated by Hardwood Swamps trees occur to the west of the Everglades in the Big
Cypress National Preserve.

7. The Florida Everglades has been reduced in size by over 50% due to human activities.

8. What estuary is the Everglades connected to by the flow of water?

Water flowed down the Kissimmee River into Lake Okeechobee, then south through the Everglades
marsh to the estuaries of the Florida Bay

9. What are biodiversity hotspots?

Biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened with destruction
10. Why are tree islands important in the Everglades?
Tree islands are vital habitats for many species who live in the Everglades and are biodiversity hotspots,
representing only 10% of the area of the Everglades but supporting over 50% of the biodiversity

11. List at least three species of wading birds that live in the Everglades.
roseate spoonbill, the wood stork, the great blue heron

12. What are the two main impacts humans have had on the Everglades?
Increased pollution due to excess nutrient rich runoff
Everglades has been polluted with pesticides and fertilizers

13. Provide two reasons why water from the Everglades and its headwaters drained?
Due to human activities such as drainage, flood control and agricultural activities, the Everglades has
been reduced to half of its original size

14. What impact due roads and highways have on the natural flow of water in the Everglades?
barrier to the natural southward flow of water

15. What happened to the Kissimmee River between 1962 and 1971? What impact did this have on
the quality of water that flowed south into Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades?

16. Natural hydrology in the Everglades depends on proper quantity, quality, timing and distribution
of water.

17. What impact did drainage have on the plant or animal diversity of the Everglades?
The drainage and diversion of water into the ocean changed the natural characteristics of the
Everglades marsh.

18. What impact did the excess nutrient rich runoff have on the plant or animal diversity of the
Everglades?
The effects of these human activities has caused less water to be in the Everglades than there should
be, and increased pollution due to excess nutrient rich runoff

19. Wildlife in Florida is adapted to natural fluctuations during wet and dry seasons.

20. What does CERP stand for?

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

21. What are the 2 major backbones of the restoration project?

Improved water quality and water flow and decreasing phosphorus loads are the backbones of the
restoration project

22. List at least 3 other conservation lands that will benefit from Everglades restoration.
National Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, and
Picayune Strand State Forest

23. What is nicknamed the liquid heart of Florida? River of Grass

24. What is nicknamed the Amazon of North America? Fakahatchee Strand State
25. What is the apex predator of the Everglades? What nonnative, invasive species does it compete
with?
Burmese pythons

26. What invasive plant species are removed from the Everglades?
melaleuca, Brazilian pepper, and Burmese python
27. Competition occurs when there is Niche overlap between two or more species that live in the
same habitat.
28. What is the purpose of storm water treatment areas?
Storm water treatment areas to naturally filter phosphorus from the water

29. Why is it important to remove excess phosphorus from the water?

to protect the sensitive balance of the ecosystem

30. How does the Kissimmee River Restoration Project help to improve the health of the Everglades
ecosystem?
as underway to restore parts of the river to its original condition

31. Canals are being backfilled to allow the water to flow south through the Everglades into the
Florida Bay.