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This foundation was formed to restore and protect the everglades and its issues. It provides their solutions for the threats on the everglade's ecosystem.

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THREATS

TO OUR ECOSYSTEM

For most of its history, that massive rain-fed series of wetlands, lakes and rivers we call the Everglades flowed from just below Orlando and through Lake Okeechobee south to the tip of the Florida peninsula, as well as east and west towards the coasts. More than a century's worth of extensive urban and agricultural development has not only reduced the wetlands' size in half, but fertilizer from upstream agricultural areas has polluted the water, degraded the ecosystem and harmed wildlife in the remaining Everglades.

For most of its history, that massive rain-fed series of wetlands, lakes and rivers we call the Everglades flowed from just below Orlando and through Lake Okeechobee south to the tip of the Florida peninsula, as well as east and west towards the coasts. More than a century's worth of extensive urban and agricultural development has not only reduced the wetlands' size in half, but fertilizer from upstream agricultural areas has polluted the water, degraded the ecosystem and harmed wildlife in the remaining Everglades.

NUTRIENT POLLUTION

With the development of South Florida came the establishment of agricultural lands. Sixty years ago, demographers predicted South Florida's population would reach two million people by the 21st century. It's already at eight million and expected to double in the next 50 years. Thus, fertilizers used in agricultural areas north and south of Lake Okeechobee made their way into the heart of the Everglades, through the estuaries stretching east and west, and into Florida's iconic beaches.

SEA LEVEL RISE

The projected increase of sea level rise affects both the natural areas and developed areas of the Everglades. In our coastal cities, sea level rise will increase the pressures for flood control and water supply on a system already strained to the breaking point. In the natural areas of the Everglades, saltwater encroachment into freshwater marshes will cause rapid retreat of coastal mashes. Everglades restoration is our best hope of keeping the Everglades wet and holding back the saltwater invasion

INVASIVE SPECIES

Exotic Plants and animals can be thought of as a kind of biological pollution. Exotic animals, such as Burmese pythons, and exotic plants, such as Brazilian pepper and Australian pine, displace natives and threaten to disrupt ecosystem balance.

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threats to the everglades ecosystem | EF Everglades

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For most of its history, that massive rain-fed series of wetlands, lakes and rivers we call the Everglades flowed from just below Orlando and through Lake Okeechobee south to the tip of the Florida peninsula, as well as east and west towards the coasts.

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This article elaborates on the pollution and degrading air quality in the everglades. Specifically, it demonstrates where the nitrogen and sulfur deposits are negatively effecting the ecosystem.

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Barron, M. G., Duvall, S. E., Barron, K. J. 2004. Retrospective and Current Risks of Mercury to Panthers in the Florida Everglades. Ecotox. 13: 233-229. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2171802

Brandon, A., Cunningham, M., Onorato, D., Jansen D., Rumbold, D. G. 2009. Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Mercury Concentrations in Blood and Hair of Florida Panthers (Puma concolor coryi): 1978-2008. 30th Annual Meeting of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, New Orleans, ar. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2171806

Carriger, J. F. and Rand, G. M. 2008a. Aquatic Risk Assessment of Pesticides in Surface Waters in and Adjacent to the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks: I. Hazard Assessment and Problem Formulation. Ecotoxicology 17 (7): 660-679. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-008-0230-0

Carriger, J. F. and Rand, G. M. 2008b. Aquatic Risk Assessment of Pesticides in Surface Waters in and Adjacent to the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks: II. Probabilistic Analyses. Ecotoxicology 17 (7): 680-696. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-008-0231-z

Carriger, J. F., Rand, G. M., Gardinali, P. R., Perry, W. B., Tompkins, M. S., Fernandez, A. M. 2006. Pesticides of Potential Ecological Concern in Sediment from South Florida Canals: An Ecological Risk Prioritization for Aquatic Arthropods. Soil and Sediment Contamination 15 (1): 21-45.

Clark, C.M., Simkin, S.M., Allen, E.B. et al. Potential vulnerability of 348 herbaceous species to atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur in the United States. Nat. Plants 5, 697-705 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-019-0442-8

Eagles-Smith, C.A., S.J. Nelson., C.M. Flanagan Pritz, J.J. Willacker Jr., and A. Klemmer. 2018. Total Mercury Concentrations in Dragonfly Larvae from U.S. National Parks (ver. 6.0, June 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9TK6NPT

Eagles-Smith, CA, JJ Willacker, CM Flanagan Pritz, AC Ellsworth. 2019. Total Mercury Concentrations in Fish from 31 National Parks, USA, 2015-2016. USGS Sensitive Data Release. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2260288

Eagles-Smith, C.A., J.J. Willacker, S.J. Nelson, C.M. Flanagan Pritz, D.P. Krabbenhoft, C.Y. Chen, J.T. Ackerman, E.H. Campbell Grant, and D.S. Pilliod. 2020. Dragonflies as biosentinels of mercury availability in aquatic food webs of national parks throughout the United States. Environmental Science and Technology 54(14):8779-8790. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c01255

[EPA] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2008. The National Listing of Fish Advisories. Available at https://www.epa.gov/choose-fish-and-shellfish-wisely/fish-and-shellfish-advisories-and-safe-eating-guidelines

Florida [DOH] Department of Health. 2016. Your Guide To Eating Fish Caught In Florida. Available at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2227753

Geiser, Linda & Nelson, Peter & Jovan, Sarah & Root, Heather & Clark, Christopher. (2019). Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens. Diversity. 11. 87. 10.3390/d11060087.

Geiser, Linda & Root, Heather & Smith, Robert & Jovan, Sarah & Clair, Larry & Dillman, Karen. (2021). Lichen-based critical loads for deposition of nitrogen and sulfur in US forests. Environmental Pollution. 291. 118187. 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118187.

Guentzel, J. L., Landing, W. M., Gill, G. A., Pollman, C. D. 1998. Mercury and major ions in rainfall, throughfall, and foliage from the Florida Everglades. The Science of the Total Environment 213: 43-51. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/664056

Hart, K., D. Krabbenhoft, and S. Snow. 2010. Mercury Bioaccumulation in Everglades Pythons. Poster, Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference: July 12-16, 2010. Naples, FL. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2172138

Horn KJ, Thomas RQ, Clark CM, Pardo LH, Fenn ME, Lawrence GB, et al. (2018) Growth and survival relationships of 71 tree species with nitrogen and sulfur deposition across the conterminous U.S.. PLoS ONE 13(10): e0205296. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205296

Kohut, B. 2004. Assessing the Risk of Foliar Injury from Ozone on Vegetation in Parks in the South Florida / Caribbean Network. Available at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2181551

Krabbenhoft, D. P. 2010. Mercury Bioaccumulation in Everglades Pythons. Poster, Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference: July 12-16, 2010. Naples, FL.

McCoy K., M. D. Bell, and E. Felker-Quinn. 2021. Risk to epiphytic lichen communities in NPS units from atmospheric nitrogen and sulfur pollution: Changes in critical load exceedances from 2001‒2016. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/ARD/NRR-2021/2299. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2287254.

[NADP] National Atmospheric Deposition Program. 2018. NTN Data. Accessed January 20, 2022. Available at http://nadp.slh.wisc.edu/NADP/

Newman, J., Zillioux, E., Rich, E., Liang, L., Newman, C. 2004. Historical and Other Patterns of Monomethyl and Inorganic Mercury in the Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi). Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 48: 75-80. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2171915

[NPS] National Park Service. 2010. Air Quality in National Parks: 2009 Annual Performance and Progress Report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/ARD/NRR-2010/266. National Park Service, Denver, Colorado. Available at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2166247

[NPS] National Park Service. 2022. Fish Consumption Advisories. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fishing/fish-consumption-advisories.htm

Porter, E., Blett, T., Potter, D.U., Huber, C. 2005. Protecting resources on federal lands: Implications of critical loads for atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur. BioScience 55(7): 603-612. https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2005)055[0603:PROFLI]2.0.CO;2

Rand, G. M. and Carriger, J. F. 2004. Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment (SERA): Canal-111 and Adjacent Coastal Areas. Report submitted to Everglades National Park.

Rand, G.M. et al. South Florida Freshwater Ecological Risk Assessment: 1990-2007. In Prep.

Roelke, M. E., Schultz, D. P., Facemire, C. F., Sundlof, S. F., Royals, H. E. 1991. Mercury Contamination in Florida Panthers. Report of the Florida Panther Technical Subcommittee to the Florida Panther Interagency Committee. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/604674

Rumbold, D. G. 2005. A probabilistic risk assessment of the effects of methylmercury on great egrets and bald eagles foraging at a constructed wetland in South Florida relative to the Everglades. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 11 (2): 365-388. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/664106

Rumbold, D. G., Fink, L. E., Laine, K. A., Niemczyk, S. L., Chandrasekhar, T., Wankel, S. D., Kendall, C. 2002. Levels of mercury in alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) collected along a transect through the Florida Everglades. Science of the Total Environment 297 (1-3): 239-252. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/664107

[SFER] South Florida Environmental Report. 2011. Volume I The South Florida Environment. South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Sullivan, T. J. 2016. Air quality related values (AQRVs) in national parks: Effects from ozone; visibility reducing particles; and atmospheric deposition of acids, nutrients and toxics. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/ARD/NRR-2016/1196. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.

Sundlof, S. F., Spalding, M. G., Wentworth, J. D., Steible, C. K. 1994. Mercury in Livers of Wading Birds (Ciconiiformes) in Southern Florida. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 27 (3): 299-305. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213163

Ugarte, C. A., Rice, K. G., Donnelly, M. A. 2005. Variation of total mercury concentrations in pig frogs (Rana grylio) across the Florida Everglades, USA. Science of the Total Environment 345 (1-3): 51-59. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/664123

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Park Air Profiles - Everglades National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

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Barron, M. G., Duvall, S. E., Barron, K. J. 2004. Retrospective and Current Risks of Mercury to Panthers in the Florida Everglades. Ecotox. 13: 233-229. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2171802 Brandon, A., Cunningham, M., Onorato, D., Jansen D., Rumbold, D. G. 2009. Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Mercury Concentrations in Blood and Hair of Florida Panthers (Puma concolor coryi): 1978-2008.

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The invasive Burmese python is causing the death of many native species in the everglades. This species is causing terror to many endangered animals that inhabit the everglades

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Pythons, Invasive and Hungry, Are Making Their Way North in Florida

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A study from the U.S. Geological Survey called the state’s python problem “one of the most intractable invasive-species management issues across the globe.”

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The python situation in the everglades is causing havoc, as their population continues to grow they start to expand eastward for more food as the kill off the native population in the everglades.

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The 10th Annual Python Challenge recently took place in the Florida Everglades. That's the event where snake hunters from across the world hunt for these invasive snakes to try and eradicate them before they can do more damage to the sensitive ecosystem in South Florida.

This year's winner was Paul Hobbs from Tennessee, who caught 20 pythons and took home the $10,000 grand prize. This year, more than 1,000 hunters took part in the event and caught 209 Burmese Pythons. More than 1,000 snakes have now been caught during the hunts, but there is a long way to go.

The number of snakes caught this year is down from previous years, which may sound like a good thing, but it may be the opposite. A lack of snakes in the southern tip of Florida likely means these pythons are moving north looking for food after devouring in their path.

Despite what many people think, these snakes can survive in cooler weather because they simply go underground until it warms again. So, a crew from FOX 35 went along for the hunt this year to see what it's like to take part in this thrilling expedition and what it's really like in the Florida Everglades at this point.

The first thing our crews noticed was the lack of animals. Other than numerous alligators, we saw practically no other animals. No deer, no raccoons, no squirrels. It became apparent how bad the problem was when we came upon a small trash heap left behind by a fisherman on a remote trail.

Food had been left behind for what appeared to be several days, and nothing had eaten the leftovers. That simply means that the snakes have even eaten all the scavengers, like rats, that would normally take care of food left behind.

The people most impacted by the Burmese Pythons are likely the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians. They have lived off the land in the Everglades for decades, but their way of life is now in jeopardy. Craig van der Heiden, the Wildlife Director for the Miccosukee Tribe. He says that this hunt is personal for them.

"A part of their livelihood is to protect the Everglades. And so, the pythons are creating havoc on the ecosystem, and they are a part of the ecosystem." Van der Heiden points out that the laws that govern the tribe are even in question. "Even within their constitution," van der Heiden says, "it's written that they have to protect the Everglades."

In fact, the Miccosukee Tribe has never spoken to the media about the pythons until our interview, partly because it's taboo for them to speak about the snakes. But we were allowed to speak with 15-year-old Hector Tigertail, who has committed his life to fixing this problem.

"Our culture depends wholly on the animals and land. So, what these pythons are doing is killing all of our sacred animals, from our deer, alligators, and well, our livelihoods, honestly," says Tigertail.

To battle this threat, the Tribe is training dogs to try and hunt down the pythons. Their search dog named Shato, is now tracking down the snakes in places where humans could never find them.

"And so, with the use of the dog, the Miccosukee has have found the biggest python that's been caught," says van der Heiden.

That snake was 20 feet long. Shato is also adept at finding females, which is the ultimate find because they can carry up to 100 eggs. That means finding one pregnant python is the equivalent of catching 100 snakes at once.

Everyone admits that this fight will take decades and will likely require some sort of new technology to track down the pythons. But the Miccosukee Tribe says they don't have a choice because their way of life is now in danger.

"Without the land or any animals, honestly, we wouldn't have a tribe, Tigertail says. "We want to have stories to tell. Without this, I wouldn't really have a purpose beyond Earth."

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Invasive pythons moving closer to Central Florida after wreaking havoc on South Florida ecosystem

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The 10th Annual Python Challenge recently took place in the Florida Everglades. That's the event where snake hunters from across the world hunt for these invasive snakes to try and eradicate them before they can do more damage to the sensitive ecosystem in South Florida.

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Record breaking Burmese python caught in everglades

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Record breaking Burmese python caught in everglades

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The invasive Burmese python presented is a record breaking python that was caught in the everglades.

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The Florida White Egret is a native species that inhabit the everglades. The invasive Burmese pythons threaten species similar to this bird.

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This video (slightly graphic) demonstrates the ruthlessness of the Burmese python. The appetite of the Burmese python holds no limitations.

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5-Foot Gator Found Inside 18-Foot Burmese Python in Florida Everglades

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This 18-foot-long Burmese Python found in the Florida Everglades was discovered to have eaten a 5-foot-long alligator, according to geoscientist Rosie Moore

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The Florida panther is an endangered species that is native to the everglades. The Burmese python threatens this species' food source.

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The Florida Cottonmouth is a native snake that is known for its defensive tendencies. They are usually nonaggressive snakes.