Canoe trip on days 3 and 4

After waking up early on day three, we dragged ourselves out of bed and packed up our gear. We ate outmeal and then hiked around the island that we camped on and found an old cemetary that was for the first settlers in the area. We turned our canoes into catamarans using 2 by 4s. We left Fakahatchee around 9:00 ande then we navagated ourselves through the channels of the everglades to whitehorse island. There we camnped and had an hour to ourselfes before we had a journal prompt and then dinner. After dinner we made a fire on the beach and told jokes and riddles till we couldn't keep our eyes open anymore. The next day we set out for Cape Ramano. Because of the weather Chris, our guide, directed us there instead of us navigating ourselves. Through one channel we spent 20 minutes fighting the wind and current to make it across. When we arrived we went on a hike to some collapsed buildings and then headed back to collapse after dinner.

Cape Romano

On Thursday we paddled eight miles from White Horse Key over to Cape Romono.  Weatherwise the going was rough.

Hard wind and a strong tide made paddling in a straight line harder than ever.  In one spot we hit a little rain and sped on towards a resting point to avoid worse conditions.  On the way we saw dolphins, sea turtle, stingray, and a variety of birds that would majestically plunge headfirst into the water to make a snack out of some fish.


Eventually we got to the campsite at Cape Romano. Once we were there we set up camp. then we had out lunch summer sausage and crackers.  Then we had the option to go on a walk down the beach.

The walk was one mile long and we went all the way down to the end of the beach. there were shells everywhere. the entire beach was basically just shells. A little further down the beach there were these bizarre looking houses that were all broken down.

Somebody tried to make a hotel out of them but when the first storm hit they broke down. Then came the end of the walk where we got to the end of the beach and were able to look and see nothing but blue sky and the big blue ocean.

Once we got back to camp we made dinner, chicken alfredo. Then when we were done with dinner we had a fire on the shells right by the tide line. We were able to look up and see the stars and then look to the right and see Marco Island. Then we went to bed.

The next morning was the day of our departure we were going to go to the Calusa island marina to end out trip. The weather was bad and was supposed to get worse and if we didn't want to spend another night at the cape we would have to move quickly. We woke up packed up, ate breakfast and left. On the water it was not so rough, so we had a window of opportunity until the storm hit. We paddled as fast as we could and when we got to the marina we packed up the van and left. Right then it started to rain. We arrived back to Chokoloskee and spent put last night at the camp ground.

Mangrove Tunnels

On the second day we canoed for fourteen hours through a mangrove swamp. The going was extremely rough and we averaged around a half a mile an hour (opposed to three miles an hour in the ocean). The total distance that we traveled through in the tunnels was five miles. Once the tunnels ended it was a two mile paddle to Fakahatchee Island. The Mangrove swamp was difficult to maneuver through because branches connected overhead and formed tunnels, as you will see in some of the pictures we had to move around quite a bit to get through these tunnels and in some spots it was very narrow and dense. To add to the difficulties of the overhead canopy there were submerged obstacles in the shallow waters. Further more the last five hours of the journey were in total darkness. As you can imagine, it was very hard to see any obstacles and this further slowed our progress. There was also an additional spook factor because it was impossible to see any nocturnal animals and a few angrily hissed at us.

We saw a variety of birds, as well as an alligator, sea otter, and dolphins. One rare bird that we saw was the  Woodstork, we also saw a night heron, a moor hen, a pileated woodpecker, and others. The alligator was scary, but very cool. We had no other option but to paddle within five feet of it.When Alex Henderson passed by, it sunk into the water. It was anxious to eat him, fortunately for Alex he got away. The sea otter was seen after dark, as well as the dolphins.
Although challenging this adventure was fun and a good experience. I don't think any of us realized we would be paddling through a swamp such as this, especially at night. When we arrived at Fakahatchee Island we were all very exhausted and Jacqueline was very eaten by bugs, as well as others (but especially Jacqueline). It was a very welcome relief to eat dinner and go to sleep.

Cypress Swamp Hike

Our first day in the Everglades! And what a day it was. We started our journey with a long, bush-whacking hike through the Cypress Swamp and Saw-Grass Praries. Had an early start and delicious breakfast at our "homebase", JT's, before driving out to a trail head. Our first few miles were spent on an old tram road, where we saw panther tracks, our first gator, and even tried some local sour oranges... they were really sour.

We then took a sharp left, and headed straight into the knee deep water and muck. We started out climbing through the tight, viney forrest, learning about the local trees and plants.

We had a close encounter with a cottonmouth before we finally made our way out of the seemingly endless forrest and into the open, semi-dry prarie for a quick lunch break.

After lunch, we learned a little about navigation using landmarks, to find our way through the wide open prairie, still ankle deep in muck.

We ended our long journey charging through the tall cat tails. Alex D lead the group through the thickest muck of the day, keeping his eye out for lurking gators and snakes. The grass was thick, but the mud underneath was thicker. Finally, to everyone's excitement, we made it to our destination, a small pond by the highway. We were told there would be a nice boardwalk for us to travel around the pond on, however, there wasn't, so just when we thought it was all over, we had to finish our hike on our hands and knees to get through the thick brush.

We arrived at camp, safe and sound, and ready to crawl into our sleeping bags, all excited for what was soon to come.

- Luke F and Alex D

Alligator versus Crocodile

          In terms of physical differences the easiest way to tell the difference between the two is that a crocodile has a very long, narrow, V-shaped snout, while the alligator's snout is wider and U-shaped. Because of the wide snout of the alligator it packs more crushing power to eat prey like turtles that constitute part of its diet. The narrow crocodile snout, although still very powerful, is not really suited for prey like turtles but is very versatile for fish and mammals.

Another physical difference between the crocodile and the alligator is that the crocodile's upper and lower jaws are nearly the same width, so the teeth are exposed all along the jaw line in an interlocking pattern, even when the mouth is closed. They also have an enormous 4th tooth on the lower jaw that is accommodated by depressions in the upper jaw just behind the nostrils.

            An alligator, on the other hand, has a wider upper jaw, so when its mouth is closed the teeth in the lower jaw fit into sockets of the upper jaw, hidden from view. Only the teeth of the upper jaw are exposed along the lower jaw line. Even the enormous 4th tooth on the bottom jaw, which is exposed in a crocodile, is hidden in the alligator.

Another physical difference is that crocodiles have a lighter olive brown coloration, while alligators appear blackish. Alligators also prefer freshwater while crocodiles like brackish water and sometimes even ocean.

 

Calusa Indians of south west Florida

When Europeans first arrived in the 16^th century the Calusa Indians controlled south west Florida.  The Calusa were coastal fishermen, and some even lived in the Big Cypress uplands where they maintained hunting camps.  Hernando d’Escalante Fontaneda, a Spanish shipwreck survivor spent 17-years as a Calusa prisoner before he was rescued.  In his journal he described them as “men of strength”.  From his writings we learn that their marine cuisine included lobsters, oysters, and manatees, “enormous trout nearly the size of men,”and eels as thick as thighs.


Due to the bounty of available food the Indians of the Everglades had ample time to pursue construction, religion, and art.  They left behind enormous mounds of shells (clam, conch, and oysters) including a 150 acre island of Chokoloskee, which they then constructed their palm thatched homes upon.  They also crafted tools, ritualized costumes, and intricate artwork faithfully depicting local wildlife.

 

Approximate Calusa core area (red) and political domain (blue)

The Calusa were often described as nearly naked savages by early explorers, but they were a sophisticated people who worked to mold nature to their purposes through building seawalls, jetties, fish traps, and reservoirs and canals (one canal connecting Lake Okeechobee to a hunting ground was nearly 3-miles long.  They certainly had an impact on the environment of the Everglades, but with an estimated population of only 20,000 at their height their lifestyle was sustainable.
They were not an entirely admirable culture, as they practiced human sacrifice, marryied sisters, and kidnapped wives from conquered foes, but considering their culture persisted in the region for over 2000 years it is remarkable that they did not degrade their environment in more significant ways.
Sources:

Grunwald, Michael The Swamp: The everglades, Florida, and the politics of Paradise Simon Schuster PaperbacksNew York 2006
“Calusa indian art, artifacts, & anecdotes” visited 2/2/10. http://www.sanybel.com/calusa_indian.htm

“Calusa” Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia visited 2/2/10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calusa

Tropical Hardwood Hammocks

General Info.
Tropical hardwood hammocks are a groups of trees found in Florida, but one of the few that are characterized by tropical plants. Tropical hardwood hammocks occur in south Florida and along the Florida coastlines where it is tropical. The term hammock is used in Florida to describe forest habitats that are typically higher in elevation than surrounding areas and that are characterized by hardwood forests of gigantic evergreens. Tropical hardwood hammocks occur on patches of limestone, sand, and shell at heights that usually do not flood.Tropical hardwood hammocks provide critical habitat for a number of plants whose northernmost portions of ranges extend into South Florida. These plants may be found in other tropical climates like the West Indies, but in the United States, they only occur in the tropical hardwood hammocks of South Florida. Many Tropical Hardwood Hammock species are now listed as endangered. Hardwood hammocks form a dense canopy with a tangle of shrubs and vines at the ground level and its outer edges. They serve as superior places for animals to make their habitat. The thick shade created by a mature hammocks controls the temperature inside, keeping them several degrees cooler during the summer months, and protecting the hammock iterior from winter winds.

 Endangered Species
Bahama strongbark (Bourreria succulenta), buccaneer palm (Pseudophoenix sargentii), Florida boxwood (Schaefferia frutescens), lignum vitae (Guajacum sanctum), manchineel (Hippomane mancinella), and milkbark (Drypetes diversifolia).
Common Species
Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba), black ironwood (Krugiodendron ferreum), inkwood (Exothea paniculata), lancewood (Ocotea coriacea), marlberry (Ardisia escallonoides), pigeon plum (Coccoloba diversifolia), satinleaf (Chrysophyllum oliviforme), poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), and white stopper (Eugenia axillaris).







http://crocdoc.ifas.ufl.edu/msrpmap/tropical_hardwood_hammock.php
http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/hardwood_hammock.asp

Florida Manatees, Dolphins and Porpoises

The Florida Manatee

A silent inhabitant of the Florida waters, the Manatee is a massive grey mammal with whiskered snouts. These gentle giants are closely related to elephants and sometimes called "sea cows." The average manatee is roughly 10 feet long and can weight up to 1,000 lbs. To sustain such an immense weight, they spend an average of 6-8 hours eating ocean vegetation. Eating up to 15% of their body weight a day. The rest of the day is spent either resting or lazily traveling through the warm shallow waters of Florida's coast.  Resembling a seal, Manatees have large forelimb flippers that allow to maneuver and "walk" across the ocean floor. They can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes at a time, before breathing through nostrils with sealed caps locating on top of their faces. 

http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/ocean%20views/gallery/EssickTodd_Manatees_lg.jpg

Manatees prefer warm shallow areas. They are commonly found in rivers, canals, and estuaries with a bed of sea grass beds. In below 68 degree waters, Manatees will not eat and develop cold water stress, commonly resulting in death. 

Recently, causes beyond natural deaths, the Manatee population has become endangered. Human interaction is calculated as being responsible for 43% of manatee deaths. Fisherman who carelessly dispose of fishing lines and nets can  result in the entanglement of the fins and tails of the manatees, leading to infectious gashes. As manatees must surface for air, speed boats have become a serious threat as they can collide with the surfacing manatees. These boats will likely kill manatees on impact, if not contributing to deadly lacerations to the manatee's heads and backs. 

Things are, in fact, looking up for the Florida Manatees. Local groups such as the Save the Manatee Club are making great efforts to preserve and protect the habitat of the native Manatee. Raising awareness to boaters and fishers in the area has caused immense changes in the safety of the Manatee. Lets hope we have the opportunity to view this graceful creature!

http://www.ecofloridamag.com/archived/manatees.htm

Dolphins and Porpoises

The dolphin is the most iconic animal of the Florida waters. Dolphins belong to the Cetacea order, along with whales, dolphins and porpoises. Bottlenose dolphins are the most common found in Florida. They can be found all over the world, from Southern California to New Zealand all the way up to Norway. They travel in groups, called pods. These teams of dolphins work together in order to trap and capture their prey. Dolphins have the ability to acoustically scan underwater, revealing to them the landscape and other animals near by, called echolocation. This ability helps to not only detect prey but to also communicate with each other. They have sharp teeth, like their relatives the Orca, and consume mostly fish or squid. They do not, in fact, swallow their food, instead they swallow it whole. They have specialized muscles on the back of their tongue in order to squeeze the salt water from the prey before swallowing it down. Bottlenose Dolphins are incredibly playful, sometimes found catching free rides off the wakes of boats, or playing underwater games with each other. They have become so popular that Dolphin Interactions has become its own mass industry. While these experiences allow for more interaction and research with the animals, it has become an over powering industry that leads to the removal of hundreds of these animals every year from their habitats. 

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER, 58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, FL  33050-6019

305-289-1121  www.dolphins.org

http://www.myvisiontest.com/img/upload/2-dolphins.jpg