Unesco Project

UNESCO Paper

Introduction to Life Science SCI/230

3/11/2012

UnESCO Paper

The Florida Everglades was once the continents richest hoard of wetland life

(Webb 1990). The waters of the Everglades provide drinking water for south Florida.

The wetlands improve water quality by filtering out pollutants and absorbing excess

nutrients, replenish aquifiers, and reduce flooding (National Wildlife Federation, Mar

2012). Over the years several influences including human activity have threatened the

Everglades ecosystem. The invasion of non-native species of reptiles, plants, birds, and

fish have threatened this ecosystem, and placed several species of the area on the

endangered species list. Humans began to change the make-up of this area dating back to

the 1800’s and early settlement into the south and central Florida areas. Man made

waterways have disturbed the natural flow of water to the Florida Everglades which has

affected the aquatic ecosystem in the area. Man’s intentions were to improve the quality

of human life on land, but as development continued the comfort of humans on land in

the Florida area would come at a large cost to undo years of destruction to the ecosystem

of the Florida Everglades. Although restoration projects are currently underway there is

more work that needs to be done toundo the damage that human actions has caused to this

precious ecosystem.

The rich tropical setting of the Everglades provides a habitat for an array of

plants, mammals, reptiles, and birds. All whose contribution to the ecosystem is equally

important. The Everglades is home to over 900 kinds of fish and crustaceans, 830

different types of plants, and over 250 bird species (Crane, 2009). The Everglades most

endangered animal is the Florida panther, of which about 80 panthers now survive. Other

native mammals that dwell in the Everglades are the West Indian manatee, and...