Photo by: Alexa Elliott

MUCHO MANGROVES
The Ten Thousand Islands are home to a wide array of plant life, but three different kinds of mangroves are vital to this estuary.

Located on the outer edges of the islands, a Red Mangrove’s aerial prop roots not only stabilize soil, but also filter salt and other harmful chemicals from the water.

Black Mangroves have a much darker bark and finger-like roots, called pneumatophores that stick straight up from the mud, allowing the roots to breathe even when submerged.

White Mangroves are found on higher, dryer grounds and have special leaves that contain salt-secreting glands. Although not considered a true mangrove by many, Buttonwoods are hard-wood, salt-tolerant trees whose seedpods have a button-like appearance. These brackish-water plants make ideal habitats for a host of endangered species.

WATER BALANCE
The delicate balance of both fresh and saltwater is the thriving force behind the Ten Thousand Islands. Years of draining South Florida’s wetlands upstream, however, have had serious negative impacts on this fragile ecosystem as the timing and amount of freshwater reaching the estuary has been changed.

Now federal, state and local agencies are working on restoring the region’s natural sheetflow as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project. Currently, scientists at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve are collecting baseline data on the water quality and biology of the ecosystem. This data will be a useful tool to monitor the success of the restoration project as managers work to create more natural waterflows.

Resources for this article have been provided by Wikipedia and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.