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| Swamp Trail | Marsh Trail |
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Map showing location of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. |
Much of the land within WCA-1 consists of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The Refuge consists of sawgrass marsh and some cypress forest and covers about 146,000 acres. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is located within the northernmost part of the Everglades, on US 441/State Road 7, southwest of West Palm Beach. To the west of Loxahatchee NWR is the Everglades Agricultural Area and to the east are urban communities.
Take a walk along the Swamp Trail, through the center of a cypress swamp.
Cypress Swamp Boardwalk Trail |
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The 0.4-mile Cypress Swamp Boardwalk trail starts and ends at the Loxahatchee Visitor Center. |
Butterfly garden |
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Tiny blue flowers of nettleleaf velvetberry grow in the butterfly garden in front of the Visitor Center. This shrub generally prefers moist, fertile soils, but tolerates drought. It generally blooms year-round and grows quickly.
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Hot-pink pentas (nectar plants) star-shaped flowers bud and grow in the butterfly garden in front of the Visitor Center. Pentas are popular butterfly garden plants.
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Insects |
These are but some of the colorful flying insects you can see while walking along the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. |
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Lichen |
Red patches of "baton-rouge" lichen stand out against the lush, green, fern-covered understory of cypress swamp. [larger image] |
Lichens are made up of two symbiotic organisms, algae and fungus. The fungus collects water and provides the basic structure while the algae makes food via photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of transforming light energy (the sun) into chemical energy (sugars, food).
Lichens are good biological indicators of air quality as they will die when exposed to air pollutants.
Types of lichens found within the swamp of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge include foliose, "baton-rouge", fruticose and old man's beard.
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Foliose lichens on a tree trunk. [larger image] |
Fabulous Ferns! |
Many different fern species prosper in the water and shade of cypress swamp. Some of the ferns found within the swamp include: cinnamon fern, wild Boston fern, royal fern, strap fern, giant leather fern, sword fern, swamp fern and shield fern. |
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The red-tinted fronds of a swamp fern. The swamp fern is native to Florida. [larger image] |
Dark green fronds of a shield fern stand out against a mostly royal fern background. [larger image] |
A reddish-colored swamp fern frond family sits amidst the predominately green understory. [larger image] |
Brown anole |
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Brown anole on the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk. Brown anoles can camouflage themselves by changing from brown to very dark brown, and some can become black.
In the early 1970s, this lizard was introduced to Florida from the Caribbean. Since then, (native) green anole populations have decreased.
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Looking through the swamp understory around the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk.
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A view of the swamp near the end of the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk.
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Cypress trees with red, baton-rouge lichens and dangling spanish moss.
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Looking up or looking down? |
The swamp canopy and the sky are being reflected in the swamp waters so you are actually looking down! |
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Related SOFIA Information
Below we have listed science projects and publications from studies that are being conducted, or have been conducted, in the area of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Follow these links to read about each project and to see project-related publications and data.
Science Projects:
Related Publications:
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