CHAPTER 6 

 TERRESTRIAL AND FRESHWATER WETLANDS 



6.1 HABITAT ZONATION 



Figure 45, adopted from Browder 

 et al. (1973), presents a very gen- 

 eral but useful map of the distribu- 

 tion of terrestrial and freshwater 

 wetlands within the present study 

 area as of 1973. Because the scale 

 of the map is large, much of the 

 subtle ecotonal variation that 

 exists within and between habitats 

 cannot be shown. Restricting them- 

 selves to just the privately owned 

 East Everglades portion of this 

 ecosystem, Hilsenbeck et al. (1979) 



delineate no less than 40 types of 

 terrestrial and freshwater wetland 

 vegetation associations. In upper 

 and middle Taylor Slough, Olmstead 

 et al. (1980) delineate a total of 

 10 vegetation communities, 4 in 

 which graminoids (grasses) dominate 

 and 6 in which trees dominate. 

 Based on fish and wildlife distribu- 

 tions, the South Florida Research 

 Center (SFRC) (1980), distinguishes 

 only 7 terrestrial and freshwater 

 wetland habitats for the same area 

 encompassed by Hilsenbeck et al. 

 (1979). 



KEY 



10 Disturbed 



14 Pinelands 



15 Hardwood Hammocks 



17 Cypress 



18 Wet Prairies 



20 Marshes & Slough 



(Freshwater) 



21 Sawgrass Marsh 



20 24 Mtles 



_l I 



Figure 45. Terrestrial and freshwater wetlands in the lower Everglades and 

 Taylor Slough (adapted from Browder et al. 1973). 



109 



