ABSTRACT
Many of the wetland areas of Florida are isolated depressions on flat tablelands higher than surrounding areas. The presence of wetland plant species is used to locate and define the boundaries of wetland ecosystems. Swamps flooded most of the years tend to grow pond cypress and gum. Types of wetland ecosystems in Florida are freshwater marshes, Lake Margin wetlands, floodplain forest, and saltmarsh and mangroves. Marsh vegetation and mangrove trees have special adaptations to obtain freshwater from the saltwater that covers their roots. Coastal wetlands provide protection from hurricane tides and protect the coastline from erosion. The flow of the Everglades was partly blocked by the construction of highways and dikes to make water reservoirs for agriculture and cities. In order to restore waters to the Florida landscape and because of the nutrient filtering capacity of wetlands, all runoff from agricultural lands, cities, and sewage wastewater should be directed through a wetland before reaching public lakes, streams, estuaries, or groundwater.
