Day 6 : Everglade wetland research station visit

7^th March 2014

Location : 25°19′0″N 80°56′0″W, Weather: Pleasant sunshine with around 27 ⁰C

This was our last day of this field visit in Florida. Around 10 am, we reached the Everglade wetland research station with the purpose of exploring the laboratory and meet Dr. Li Zhang assistant director. After reaching there, introductory presentation about the Everglades Wetland Research Station's goals and projects was given by Dr. Li Zhang. Then, we observed the soil laboratory, which reminded me the Wolfson Carbon Capture Laboratory as similar types of equipments were available in both laboratory. However, it was unfortunate for us not to be able to meet Professor William J. Mitsch due to his other commitments. 

Luckily, we were allowed to visit Prof. Bill Mitsch’s office, which was full of awards he received for his academic achievements, especially  Stockholm Water Prize.

From the Research Station, we  headed towards Everglades National Park  for a powerboat eco tour. It was a mesmerising experience for lifetime. It is really tough to describe in words the excitements of riding of a powerboat  in 10,000 Island coastal ecosystems and watching birds sitting on the mangroves trees around the within the Everglades National Park. Furthermore, watching jumps of  Bottlenose Dolphins over water was a breathtaking. Because of all these wonderful moments we were having, no one was really ready to end the visit . But we had to end our journey within two hours.

Jumping Dolphin 

After enjoying the nature at our best, ultimately the time to return back to Vester station came. After coming back, we did lots of fun, did some photography and completed species lists. Since this was our last day in the Florida, we went out for dinner at Docs restaurant.

Summary of Florida field visit

This field visit was an excellent experience in terms of understanding different types of wetlands ecology and rich biodiversity. Really, this trip gave me a feeling of complete wetland scientist. Now, I am clear in my views about how different countries set their priorities for the conservation and management of various wetlands. I believe, all this knowledge will provide me the basis to be a good wetland scientist in near future.

A complete list of species seen during Florida field visit

FLORA
Algae	Scientific name	Family
Sea lettuce	Ulva lactuca	Ulvophyceae
Ferns	Scientific name	Family
Bracken fern	Pteridium aquilinum	Dennstaedtiaceae
Giant leather fern	Acrostichum danaeifolium
Resurrection fern	Polypodium olypodioides	Polypodiaceae
Gymnosperms	Scientific name	Family
Pond cypress	Taxodium ascendens	Cupressaceae
Bald cypress	Taxodium distichum	Cupressaceae
Sand pine	Pinus clausa	Pinaceae
Longleaf pine	Pinus palustris	Pinaceae
Broadleaf trees	Scientific name	Family
Red oak	Quercus falcata	Fagaceae
Laurel oak	Quercus hemisphaerica	Fagaceae
Strangler fig	Ficus aurea	Moraceae
Red mulberry	Morus alba	Moraceae
Palms	Scientific name	Family
Florida silver palm	Coccothrinax argentata	Arecaceae
Coconut palm	Cocos nucifera	Arecaceae
Cabbage palmetto	Sabal palmetto	Arecaceae
Washington palm	Washingtonia robusta	Arecaceae
American sycamore	Platanus occidentalis	Arecaceae
Gumbo limbo	Bursera simaruba	Arecaceae
Small broadleaf trees	Scientific name	Family
Black mangrove	Avicennia germinans	Acanthaceae
Red mangrove	Rhizophora mangle	Rhizophoraceae
White mangrove	Laguncularia racemosa	Combretaceae
Mango	Mangifera indica	Anacardiaceae
Brazilian pepper	Schinus terebinthifolius	Anacardiaceae
Papaya	Carica papaya	Caricaceae
Coastal plain willow	Carolina willow	Salicaceae
Wildflowers	Scientific name	Family
Bear grass	Xerophyllum tenax	Melanthiaceae
Wild petunia	Ruellia humilis	Acanthaceae
Alligator flag	Thalia geniculata	Marantaceae
Water lettuce	Pistia stratiotes	Araceae
Aloe vera	Aloe vera	Xanthorrhoeaceae
Yellow buttons	Tanacetum vulgare	Asteraceae
Horrible thistle	Cirsium horridulum	Asteraceae
Late boneset	Eupatorium serotinum	Asteraceae
Sothern cattail	Typha domingensis	Typhaceae
Duckweed	Lemnaceae	Araceae
Large flowered sabatia	Sabatia grandiflora	Gentianaceae
Saltmarsh cordgrass	Spartina alterniflora	Poaceae
Sea oat	Uniola paniculata	Poaceae
Wild bamboo	----------	Poaceae
Anglepod blue flag
Sea lavender	Limonium carolinianum	Plumbaginaceae
Swamp hibiscus	Hibiscus grandiflorus	Malvaceae
Turk’s cap	Mamavaviscus arboreus	Malvaceae
Common bitter mint	Hyptis mutabilis	Lamiaceae
Blue morning glory	Ipomoea indica	Convolvulaceae
Quill leaf	Tillandsia fasciculata Swartz	Bromeliaceae
Wild sage	Lantana camara	Verbenaceae
Caster bean	Ricinus communis	Malpighiales
Water plants	Scientific name	Family
Fragrant water lily	Nymphea odorata	Nymphaeaceae
Water hyacinth	Eichhornia crassipes	Pontederiaceae
Saw grass	Cladium	Cyperaceae
FAUNA
Marine mollusks	Scientific name	Family
Atlantic horseshoe crab	Limulus polyphemus	Limulidae
Crabs	Scientific name	Family
Stone crab	Menippe mercenaria	Menippidae
Common spider crab	Libinia emarginata	Epialtidae
Mangrove crab	Aratus pisonii	Sesarmidae
Echinoderms	Scientific name	Family
Common sea star	Asterias rubens	Asteriidae
Butterflies	Scientific name	Family
Little metalmark	Hamearis lucina	Riodinidae
Reptiles	Scientific name	Family
Reef gecko	Sphaerodactylus notatus	Gekkonidae
Florida scrub lizard	Sceloporus woodi	Phrynosomatidae
Brown anole	Anolis sagrei	Polychrotidae
American alligator	Alligator mississippiensis	Alligatoridae
Brown water snake	Nerodia taxispilota	Colubridae
Birds	Scientific name	Family
American pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	Pelecanidae
Brown pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis	Pelecanidae
Anhingra	Anhinga anhinga	Anhinga
Double crested cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	Phalacrocoracidae
Great egret	Ardea alba	Ardeidae
Snowy egret	Egretta thula	Ardeidae
Blue heron	Ardea herodias	Ardeidae
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus	Threskiornithidae
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	Threskiornithidae
Roseate spoonbill	Ajaja ajaja	Threskiornithidae
Red-headed woodpecker	Melanerpes erythrocephalus	Picidae
Red-bellied woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	Picidae
American crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Corvidae
Wood stork	Mycteria americana	Ciconiidae
Bald eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Accipitridae
Piping plover	Charadrius melodus	Charadriidae
American oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus	Haematopodidae
Barn owl	Tyto alba	Tytonidae
Great horned owl	Bubo virginianus	Strigidae
Mammals	Scientific name	Family
Manatee	Trichechus	Trichechidae
Bottlenose dolphin	Tursiops	Delphinidae