South Florida Information Access - Virtual Tour
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| 10,000 Islands | Rookery Bay |
Mangrove forests are very important in this marine environment. Mangrove leaves, trunks and branches fall into the water and are transformed into detritus, which is the basis of an elaborate food chain. Mangroves provide protected habitat, breeding grounds and nursery areas to many terrestrial and marine animals. Mangroves also provide shoreline protection from wind, waves and floods. Launch the boat from Everglades City and see some of the southern Ten Thousand Islands where the landscape is dominated by mangrove forests and water.
(Right) Adult brown pelicans and a second-year pelican swimming by a boat dock at Everglades City. Pelicans are large waterbirds and are commonly seen throughout Florida. Pelicans mainly eat fish.
An osprey parent and chick in their nest. Osprey pairs usually expand and repair the same nest year after year. Building nests atop the mangrove islands (as seen in these photos) provides the osprey and their young safety from predators and a close supply of fish. An osprey family in their nest.
Bald eagles mostly eat fish and generally live near waterways. Other foods they may eat include carrion, birds and small mammals. The bald eagle was chosen in 1782 as the national emblem of the United States. Today it is an endangered species.
Many small waterbirds are seen along Florida's beaches and waterways.
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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology
This page is: http://sofia.usgs.gov
/virtual_tour/tirb/index.html
Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather Henkel - Webmaster (hhenkel@usgs.gov)
Last updated:
January 28, 2004 @ 09:48 AM
(HSH)