Abstract
Tree islands are a feature of many large, flat wetlands. They develop in these wetlands around some point of formation. Points of formation can include topographic highs in the bedrock, blocks of floating peat and depressions in the bedrock. Their point of formation can even be the result of human activities. The flora and fauna of tree islands are not unique, but are a subset of those in surrounding areas. This chapter summarizes what we know about the origin, development and human use of tree islands. Tree islands are important to the Everglades because:
-
1)
they are a major spatial feature of the landscape and provide much of its biocomplexity.
-
2)
they enable many terrestrial plant and animal species to live in the Everglades ecosystem.
-
3)
they are essential for many groups of wetland animals and birds during part of their life cycle, especially for nesting.
-
4)
they concentrate nutrients and may play an important role in the overall nutrient dynamics of the Everglades ecosystem, and
-
5)
they preserve important archaeological and cultural features of South Florida.
In short, their significance is much greater to the Everglades and South Florida than their modest total acreage would suggest.
With a few exceptions, only recently have tree islands begun to be studied. Consequently, our knowledge of most aspects of their geology, ecology and archaeology is still rudimentary. Most studies have focused on their geological origin or on their plant communities. Both, however, are still not well understood, and most aspects of tree island ecology (vertebrate and invertebrate population dynamics, primary production, peat accumulation rates and patterns, etc.) have received very limited or no attention. Recent landscape studies have indicated that there were significant losses of tree islands during the second half of the Twentieth Century. Studies of their archaeology indicate that larger tree islands have been used for thousands of years in a variety of ways and that many tree islands have been lost.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Davis, S. M. and Ogden, J. C. 1994. eds. Everglades: The Ecosystem and its Restoration. Delray Beach, FL: St. Lucie Press, 826 pp.
Frederick, P.C. and Powell, G.V.N. 1994. Nutrient transport by wading birds in the Everglades. In: Davis, S. M and Ogden, J. C. eds. Everglades: The Ecosystem and its Restoration. Delray Beach, FL: St. Lucie Press, pp. 571’ 584.
Gunderson, L. H. and Snyder, J.R. 1994. Fire patterns in the Southern Everglades. In: Davis, S.M and Ogden, J.C. eds. Everglades: The Ecosystem and its Restoration. Delray Beach, FL: St. Lucie Press, pp. 291’305.
Wetzel, P.R. and van der Valk, A.G. 2000. Tree Island Restoration and Creation. West Palm Beach, FL: South Florida Water Management District, Everglades Department, Unpublished Report. 50 pp.
Mason, D. and van der Valk, A.G. 1995. Characterization of the extant vegetation, seed banks, peat thickness, peat topography and bedrock topography on tree islands in Water Conservation Areas 3 A and 3B. Unpublished Report to the South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
van der Valk, A., Sklar, F. (2002). What We Know and Should Know about Tree Islands. In: Sklar, F.H., Van Der Valk, A. (eds) Tree Islands of the Everglades. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0001-1_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0001-1_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6490-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0001-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive