1. Impact of Humans, Plants, and Animals on the Environment of the Florida Everglades
SC.4.L.17.4 Recognize ways plants and animals, including humans, can impact the environment

2. Where is the Everglades?
All Photos: or unless otherwise noted

3. The Everglades of South Florida
This map shows a closer view of the Everglades. Locate the cities of Miami, Tampa, and Key West. Find Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay. Where are the Everglades located?

4. The Everglades includes many ecosystems such as this wet sawgrass prairie.

5. It also includes cypress swamps and dry areas with pine trees.
Pines

6. Native Animals and Plants
An animal or plant that has lived in an area for a very long time, often for centuries, is called a native.
Florida has many native animals, such as alligators, opossums, raccoons, and Florida panthers.
We also have many native plants, such as oak trees and pine trees.

7. Native Reptiles Alligator Green anole American crocodile
Here are a few native reptiles. A native animal is a kind of animal that has been in an area for a very long time.
American crocodile

8. Native Mammals Florida panther Raccoons Bobcat
Bobcat

9. Native Birds
Great Blue Heron
Anhinga
Little Blue Heron

10. Human Impact on the Everglades
Canals were dug to drain the water away from the late 1880s to the mid-1900s.
Draining created dry land for growing sugarcane and for developing towns.
More people moved into south Florida.
Animals were killed for food and birds for their feathers.
The ecosystems in the Everglades were in danger of being completely destroyed.
The events appear on mouse clicks.

11. What could be done to save the Everglades?
Congress declared the Everglades a national park in 1934 but it was not officially opened until 1947.
A south Florida journalist, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, published The Everglades: River of Grass in 1947, which described the Everglades ecosystems and their importance.
Many canals have been filled in and water has been directed back into the Everglades.

12. Non-native Animals and Plants
Animals or plants that are brought into an area are called non-native.
If the animals or plants can survive and reproduce in the climate of the area, they may become a problem.
Florida’s warm, wet climate allows many non-native animals and plants to survive.

13. Other Threats to the Everglades
Climbing ferns
Burmese python

14. Think about… What is a native animal or plant?
What are some native animals and plants in the Everglades?
What are some non-native animals or plants in the Everglades?
How are they affecting the Everglades?
How have people affected the Everglades?
Why do we want to save the Everglades?
Questions appear on mouse click.