What type of ecosystem is the sawgrass prairie?
Sawgrass prairies form two different kinds of communities. The famous dense stands with grass standing well over a man’s head are a monoculture completely dominated by sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense). These communities have very low diversity and are unable to support large communities of fish and other wildlife.
Where does sawgrass grow?
Cladium jamaicense or sawgrass is mainly found in Everglades and moist soil. They can adapt to coarse soil as well; however, they prefer swamp or moist soil. This plant is mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the United States, from Virginia to Florida.
What is a sawgrass prairie?
The Sawgrass Prairie is also known as the sawgrass marsh (see picture). This habitat stays wet most of the year. It’s only when the Everglades enters its Dry season that we start to see water levels drop and the ground becomes visible.
What animals live in the sawgrass marsh?
Other Species of Interest
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Exotic |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator mississippiensis | American Alligator | No |
| Aramus guarauna | Limpkin | No |
| Sylvilagus palustris | Marsh Rabbit | No |
What kind of ecosystem is Everglades?
The Everglades has the largest continuous mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere. Mangroves are incredibly important to our coasts.
How does sawgrass grow?
This hydroperiod, along with the depth of water, determines the growth of sawgrass. A longer hydroperiod along with increased water depths produces taller, thicker stands of sawgrass while a short hydroperiod and shallow waters result in limited growth.
Why is sawgrass important?
During the Everglades dry season, sawgrass can help fuel wildfires. The wet soil which roots the plant allows it to recover while also removing any invading plants or trees from the marsh.
What kind of grass is sawgrass?
Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) is not a “true” grass, but actually a member of the sedge family, characterized by sharp teeth along the edges of each blade. Sawgrass once covered the northern portion of the Everglades, growing to heights of over 9 feet (2.7 m) tall on the rich, dark peat soils.
How many ecosystems are there in the Everglades?
Nine distinct types of ecosystems have been identified within the Everglades National Park, including cypress, freshwater marl prairie, freshwater slough, coastal lowlands, mangrove, pinelands, hardwood hammock, marine and estuarine.
What are 3 habitats found in the Everglades?
These four resources, (food, water, shelter, and space) are the traits of a successful and healthy habitat for the plants and animals of the Everglades. Wet Habitats: Sawgrass Prairie/Marsh. Freshwater Slough.
What types of ecosystems are in the Everglades?
Many think of the Everglades as a freshwater wetland, but more than one third of the park is comprised of marine and estuarine ecosystems.
What type of grass is sawgrass?
Why should we save the sawgrass prairie?
Although sawgrass in the Everglades can harm the human hand, it is essential to life in the Everglades in many ways. Not only is it efficient at utilizing nutrients to sustain the health of its surrounding environment, but as it decays, it creates a healthy, organic soil called peat.
How does sawgrass adapt?
Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) is adapted to survive year-round inundation and periodic burns. These sedges grow to 3 m on deeper peats, and remain closer to 1 m on shallower soils. Few other species are found in these dense marsh communities.
What is sawgrass used for?
Sawgrass may be useful as a source for developing biofuel (ethanol), possibly replacing corn as the cellulose (the basis for developing ethanol) source of choice. On Gotland, a limestone island in the Baltic sea, Cladium mariscus is used for thatching.
Is sawgrass edible?
According to Eat the Weeds, the inner bottom core of a sawgrass stalk is edible, although difficult to get to as you might imagine. It can be eaten cooked or raw. It has been estimated that sawgrass once covered 2 million acres of the Everglades.