EcoQuest Project Summer 2008 - Matheson Hammocks Park

Myself and my fellow classmate embarked on a journey through Matheson Hammocks Park in Florida. Via canoeing, driving and hiking through the park we came across a variety of wildlife.

Depending on how you view the video some of the text is hard to read so I have included the facts here:

The Mangrove Swamps and Island

On July 27, 2008 at 1600 hours, a group of students ventured forth into the waters of Biscayne Bay and subsequentlt into the mangrove swamps f Matheson Hammock

They were shocked and delighted at what they found in virtually their own back yard. This is a video diary of their experience

The 629-acre Matheson Hammock Park is home to the mangrove forest in urban Miami-Dade County, Florida

Most common to Matheson Hammocks is the red mangrove

The red Mangrove is well known for it's "prop roots." These roots aid in the plant's survival.

The roots allow the plant to obtain oxygen and exclude salt, giving the red mangrove the ability to grown in salt water.

Mangroves provide physical habitats for many oragnisms such as this tree crab

Mangroves serve as storm buffers by reducing wind and wave impact in shoreline areas; and help protect water quality and clarity by filtering runoff and trapping sediments and debris.

Mangrove forests are nurseries for hundreds of species of fish which upon maturity will leave these safe havens for the open sea.

The preserve was, until 1992, a vital breeding, and spawning habitat of anadromous and marine fish, baitfish and marine reptiles.

Matheson Hammock's tidal creeks led home to one of the nation's largest migration habitat of horseshoe crabs.

Wading birds en masse historically use this location to lay over on thier migratory trips north and south.

Trivial Fact: The Ibis is also known as "swamp chicken" due to its remarkably poultry-like taste and texture.

On their travels they did observe two strange creatures however, not natural to this ecosystem.

Two creatures whose very presence threatens the delicate balance in this ecosystem.

One... the green Iguana. Refered to by the park rangers as "simply a nuisance" who ravage the native plants and insect population.

The other has caused more damage to this ecosystem than the iguanas ever could...

Humans are the greatest threat to earths existing ecosystems

Pressure from urbanization, loss of natural water flow, and pollution are just some of the critical problems that affect this habitat.

Extensize urbanization and overdevelopment have altered the natural freshwater runoff so vital to a healthy estuarine system.

However, debris removal in areas of freshwater flow is already helping to restore the much needed balance of this endangered and essential estuary.

There has been improvement of water quality and clarity, increased tidal flush, and enhanced foliage growth. There are significant numbers of fish where two years ago there was only stagnation.

However, the fight to keep this area preserved is an on-going one. We must all learn to do our share.

Matthew Mur
Angelina Esposito
Florida International University

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Mangroves
• Matheson
• Hammocks
• Tree
• Crab
• Canoeing
• Ecology
• of
• South
• Florida

[hassledguy]

I remember hiking through here 35-40 years ago when I was a kid. We unspooled kite string as we went to find our way back.

[theNigroso101]

i dont know wat to say