Essay --

Everglades National Park is sanction to some of the most exceptional animal and plant ecosystems. From the tall, sunny rock pinelands to the humid, lush hardwood hammocks to the tropical, sawgrass marsh, the everglades is believed to be one of the most diverse and astonishing ecosystems in the United States. Sounds of birds tickle your eardrums, beautiful flowers bloom in the radiant morning sun, animals graze peacefully as they go about their day in their natural habitat. It is a breath taking sight and the most popular place for sightseers to go observe the wildlife or kick back and relax and take in the soothing fresh air. As you travel deeper into the hammocks you start to notice over population of certain plants. These types of plants are called invasive species, which are plants that are brought form other countries and other ecosystems and inserted into the everglades ecosystem. These plants begin to take over the everglades and eventually kill off and prevent native plants from growing. Plants like the Brazilian pepper, which kills all surrounding vegetation and can cause skin irritation, are of the highest threat to the everglades. They currently cover about 700,000 acres of north and southern Florida, and about 400,000 acres just in the Everglades National Park. Roughly 18,000 plants species are native to the numerous ecosystems of North America. Our native flora, United States native plants, allocates the infrastructure of the historic American landscape and determines the diverse ecosystems and regions of our country. These plants also supply natural sources of food, fiber, and other elements that we rely on for everyday life. The communities of various native plants have been significantly minimized as a result of ... ...r controlled activities. Natural upheaval such as fires, floods, tornadoes, and tree falls also provide way for invasive species to grow. The huge change brought upon the Florida landscape over the last few hundred years has set things out of balance. Without exotic species, native species and ecosystems would normally benefit from natural disturbances because they provide a chance for genetic mixing and nutrient recycling to occur. In early 2008, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Everglades National Park joined together to initiate a Florida Invaders, a program used to raise awareness about what’s being done and what we should do to help stop invasive flora and fauna from spreading. â€Å"The program was a good start but they should further raise awareness of the seriousness of the problem,† said Christine Beck, Ecology teaching assistant and FIU.