ABSTRACT

Expanses of freshwater marsh are the essence of the Everglades. The productivity and habitat of these marshlands provide the value upon which Everglades wildlife thrives. Seasonally changing water levels alternately produce and then concentrate aquatic organisms, making them easy targets for the ecosystem’s top predators. While the expanses of marshes often give us the impression of tranquility, they have been formed and maintained through powerful stresses imposed by water, weather, and fire.