Endangered Species in the Florida Everglades

These are a list of endangered species in the Florida Everglades, names, and scientific terminology.

Pictures are placed in order:

American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Atlantic Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempi)
Atlantic hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Atlantic leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritima mirabilis)
Snail (Everglades) kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)
Wood Stork(Mycteria americana)
West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)
Florida panther (Felis concolor coryi)
Key Largo wood rat (Neotoma floridana smalli)
Key Largo cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola)
Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis)
Schaus swallowtail butterfly (Papilio aristodemus ponceanus)
Garber's Spurge (Chamaesyce garberi)

List of Spices provided by the Florida Everglades:

http://www.nps.gov/archive/ever/eco/danger.htm

Link to Photos (provided by google)
http://animalis.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/american-crocodile-emerging-water.jpg
http://www.pacificworlds.com/yap/native/images/turtle1.jpg
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/turtles/thumbs/images/63.jpg
http://chemistry.csudh.edu/faculty/jim/cozumelaug06small/turtle4.jpg
http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/review/2002/images/Leatherbackturtle.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Ammodramus_maritimus_nigrescens1.jpg/200px-Ammodramus_maritimus_nigrescens1.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Common_snail.jpg/800px-Common_snail.jpg
http://identify.whatbird.com/img/4/232/image.aspx
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/NYG/S1885.jpg
http://goflorida.about.com/library/graphics/panther.jpg
http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/thumbnails/images/tnc_815432211121095.jpg
http://www.agpix.com/catalog/AGPix_RiPo9/large/AGPix_RiPo9_0007_Lg.jpg
http://k53.pbase.com/v3/82/193082/1/44525374.IMG_3467640.jpg
http://www.flaentsoc.org/arthropdiversity/schaus.jpg
http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/ResBot/flor/WNY-Niag/chammacu.jpg

The Carbon Cycle

"The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged between the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth.

The cycle is usually thought of as four major reservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of exchange. The reservoirs are the atmosphere, the terrestrial biosphere (which usually includes freshwater systems and non-living organic material, such as soil carbon), the oceans (which includes dissolved inorganic carbon and living and non-living marine biota), and the sediments (which includes fossil fuels). The annual movements of carbon, the carbon exchanges between reservoirs, occur because of various chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes. The ocean contains the largest active pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth, but the deep ocean part of this pool does not rapidly exchange with the atmosphere."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_cycle

http://www.youcontrol-climatechange.co.uk/climate/images/carboncycle_sm.jpeg

The National Resource Defence Council

“The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.” http://www.nrdc.org/


“Greenpeace is an environmental activist group founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1971 to oppose the United States testing nuclear devices in Alaska. The focus of the organization later turned to other environmental issues, and it has become known for its campaigns against whaling, bottom trawling, global warming, ancient forest destruction, nuclear power, and genetic engineering. Greenpeace has national and regional offices in 42 countries worldwide, all of which are affiliated to the Amsterdam-based Greenpeace International. The global organization receives its income through the individual contributions of an estimated 2.8 million financial supporters, as well as from grants from charitable foundations.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenpeace


"Wild Spots Foundation is uniquely dedicated to saving valuable habitats around the world through a variety of programs that promote, defend, and protect biodiversity through education, visual arts, ecotourism, science and technology. Specifically, the doctrine of the Foundation is to serve conservation beyond utilitarian reasons by incorporating a sense of stewardship and ownership, which protect the world's valuable wild spots (ecosystems and associated biodiversity) in return for the physical, aesthetic and spiritual sustenance it offers for generations to come." http://www.wildspotsfoundation.org/

"Curb Global Warming

Our atmosphere is overloaded with heat-trapping carbon dioxide, threatening large-scale disruptions in climate. If we continue pumping carbon into the atmosphere at current rates, then a drastic temperature hike of 3 to 9 degrees by century's end will become inevitable, with disastrous consequences. We must act now to speed the wholesale adoption of cleaner sources of energy both at home and abroad.

Save Endangered Wild Places

Across the Americas, the last large remnants of wild nature are under siege by chain saws, bulldozers and oil rigs. If we allow these natural treasures to be destroyed, humankind stands to lose vast troves of biological diversity, critical regulators of global climate, and irreplaceable sanctuaries for recreation and contemplation. NRDC's BioGems Initiative combines expert advocacy, online citizen activism, and front-line work by local partners in defense of our hemisphere's most imperiled ecosystems.

America Beyond Oil

Our gasoline habit is a major environmental liability, and is fast becoming an economic and national security risk as well. Burning oil in our cars and trucks releases global warming pollution, toxic air pollutants and makes us dangerously dependent on some of the world's most oppressive regimes. NRDC is pushing for federal legislation to cut oil use, expand the market for fuel-efficient vehicles and to ramp up production of sustainably grown biofuels as an alternative to oil.

Revive the World's Oceans

Ninety percent of the large fish like tuna and swordfish are already gone. Every year, high-tech fishing trawlers scrape bare an expanse of ocean floor 75 times larger than all the forests clearcut on land. All six species of sea turtle in U.S. waters are threatened with extinction, and marine mammals are increasingly assaulted by lethal noise from high-intensity military sonar and industrial activity. NRDC is working to create and implement a visionary, comprehensive strategy to revitalize the world's oceans, using proven solutions to restore and sustain diverse ocean life.

Stem the Tide of Toxic Chemicals

Medical science tells us that we can prevent cancers, asthma and brain impairments simply by reducing exposure to environmental pollutants. Yet our economy continues to drive the proliferation of disease-causing chemicals in consumer products: toxic mercury in batteries; carcinogenic chemicals in baby bottles and toys; neurologically damaging pesticides in garden products. NRDC is working to eliminate 10 major families of toxic chemicals by guiding major retail chains to substitute less-toxic alternatives in their key products.

Accelerate the Greening of China

China is about to overtake the United States as the world's largest global warming polluter. Its thirst for oil will double by 2010, requiring another Saudi Arabia to meet its needs. Its air pollution is poised to quadruple in 15 years. Up to 40 percent of the toxic mercury in U.S. soil comes from China. And China's soaring demand for timber makes it the world's biggest driver of rainforest destruction. Fortunately, China's leaders recognize this emerging ecological disaster and are inviting outside help to avert it. NRDC is helping China's leadership shift toward sustainable policies that will balance economic and environmental progress."

NRDC: The Earth's Best Defense. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from National Resource Defense Council Web site: http://www.nrdc.org/issues/

The globally portrayed mission of the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), in my opinion is to protect the Earth today for our future generations tomorrow. The NRDC was created due to the massive changes within our ozone layer, and the contribution of countries all over the world to this ongoing eminent treats. I.e. our wild life, pollution within our oceans, massive production of toxic chemical distributions, and global warming which is the most controversial today, just to name a few. In addition, the NRDC maintain and priorities over 60 of the Earths deadliest threats like, Global warming, oil and energy, air, wild lands, wild life, health, nuclear weapons, oceans, and environmental Justice, just to name a few. It is noted that if we don’t try to put a halt or reduce the constant release of deadly chemicals in the Earth’s atmosphere we could soon experience life threatening repercussions.

Secondly, in countries like the United States and other continents across the world wild life has also captured the media’s attention. With the battle for oils to run vehicles, and factures more and more animals are winding up on the endangered species list each and every day. Furthermore, this is due to the plowing and mass destruction of their habitats, for lumber, oil, homes, and numerous other resources. However, as these problems arise and become more clear countries like China for example, supply the United States with over 40 percent of mercury soil. These are issues that the world is currently facing today, and if we don’t put a stop to it now, the world will eventually become a very unfit place to inhabit.

Problems at Lake Okeechobee

“Lake Okeechobee, a backup drinking water source for five million people and the heart of the Everglades, sits at a record low. Crop losses are expected to near $1 billion. And the worst is yet to come. Green will soon turn brown, wide pools of water diminished to mere puddles.
Peering down on the lake from a helicopter on Tuesday, Carol Wehle, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District, marveled at its wide patches of dry Okeechobee shoreline that are typically covered in water.
With below average rainfall for a second straight year, and drought predicted to continue, South Florida water managers are warning residents to brace for severe shortages as the seven-month dry season begins.
“You worry about being able to supply water. You worry about how long it’s going to take for the lake to recover,” Wehle said. “If everyone embraces the concept of water conservation, we will weather this drought.”
The district manages 2,000 miles of canals, the world’s largest single flood control operation. Constant manipulation of water is needed to ensure communities aren’t inundated during downpours and farmers and residents have water during drought. But there is little land to store water for dry times.
Agriculture in the region has already been forced to cut 45 percent of its water use. The industry, including sugar, peanuts and horticulture, could see up to $1 billion in losses.
U.S. Sugar Corp., the nation’s largest producer of cane sugar, predicts it could suffer a 30 percent loss of production, roughly $200 million.
The water management district is upgrading its pumps along Lake Okeechobee to ensure farms will continue getting water even if the lake drops to 7 feet, which could happen by next summer. It’s normally about 12 feet then. Without the pumps, fields could go dry since the system operates on gravity, but only at 10 feet and higher. On Tuesday, the lake sat at about 10.4 feet, some five feet below normal levels for November.

The district will also be closing off canals that typically send excess water into the ocean to store as much as possible.
Everglades’s restoration is also at stake.
The state has cut off the fragile ecosystem for withdrawals of any new or additional water supplies, meaning utilities will have to find new sources of water to supply demand for growth. It is the first time in history that Everglades’s water was deemed off-limits.
Wehle said Everglades’s restoration remains a priority. She said water restrictions will conserve its liquid life so restoration can move forward.
“The Everglades will be impacted by the drought but that impact will not be exacerbated by the impacts of man,” Wehle said.
“We’re going into the dry season in the worst possible condition,” said Sara Fain, of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Without water, “the entire system gets off balance,” Fain said, adding that year-round water restrictions are crucial if the wetlands are ever to recover.
Earlier this year, South Florida was under the most severe water restrictions with communities forced to cut back outside watering to once a week. The district said those restrictions will likely return by December, and year-round restrictions are being considered.
The entire Southeast is in a pinch, and experts say less winter precipitation is expected because of La Nina conditions in the Pacific.
“Overall, I think the Southeast is going to come through this,” said Michael Hayes, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. “The question is, what lessons will we learn and how can we better prepare ourselves so the impacts of the next drought are not as severe?””

Skoloff, Brian (2007/11/06). Naples Daily News. Retrieved January 13, 2008, from Naples News Web site: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/nov/06/florida_face_tight_water_restrictions_after_anothe/

Today in the 21st century, as issues like global warming and numerous nature problems arise, water quickly becomes a key factor. In some of today’s most controversial issues, that is rumored to have sprung from global warming. For some states like Hawaii and Florida that is surrounded by a vast entity of water, one would not fathom that these states would undergo problems, i.e. droughts, water shortage, and wild fires, etc.
More specifically Florida’s Lake Okeechobee which is the main source of water for thousands of Florida residents has been experiencing a shortage of water supply due to a drastic decrease in rainfall for almost two years. Due to this drop natives and residence of Florida alike could see dramatic changes in their water usage in the up and coming year. It is also noted that farmers and crop worker will also lose over a $1 billion in production because of this ongoing dilemma, we face today in Florida.