Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
| Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
Refuge in 2014
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| Nearest city | Goodland, Florida |
| Area | 35,000 acres (140,000,000 m2) |
| Established | 1996 |
| Governing body | US Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Website | Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge |
The Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is located in Southwest Florida in Collier County, between Marco Island and Everglades City, Florida. The refuge was first established in 1996 and covers 35,000 acres of the Ten Thousand Islands. The refuge includes both fresh and saltwater, and protects a large area of mangrove forest.
Activities include fishing, hunting, bird watching, kayaking and camping.
The refuge is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. There are approximately 200 species of fish, 189 species of birds and innumerable plant species.
Mangroves
The red mangrove is the most dominant species of mangrove in Florida and can be found as a shrub or as tall trees. They produce many viviparous seedlings that fall from the mangrove.
Black mangroves are very similar to the red mangroves in which they like to live in the most salt-rich soils. Pneumatophores extend from the soil and act as a root support system.
Unlike the red and black mangroves, the white mangrove usually grows on high, dryer land. The leaves of the white mangrove are different than the others because of its thick roundish leaves.
Mostly found in marsh-like areas and is quite invasive. Too much of this type of grass tends to reduce the mud feeding habitats of the local shorebirds.
Usually found on sand dunes and very tolerant of salt spray, unlike most plants.
Brazilian pepper, Florida holly, Christmas-berry or false pepper
Reaches 12 meters high with intertwined branches. First introduced in the United States in 1898 by a plant explorer. The Brazilian pepper tree has taken over thousands of acres in south Florida and is rapidly growing.
Melaleuca tree
The melaleuca tree is becoming one of the most dominant invasive trees in south Florida. The reason they are so dangerous to South Florida is because they dry up areas that are supposed to be wet for most of the year.
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Wikipedia