Abstract
A subtropical watershed and wetland covering nearly 47,000 km2 in the southeastern United States, the Florida Everglades is a degraded, human-dominated environment. As a unique and important ecosystem, the Everglades provide a variety of important environmental services for society and nature. Over the past century and a half, anthropogenic actions have severely impacted the Everglades by disrupting the natural water flow and causing water pollution. As a result, the native flora and fauna have been displaced, important habitats have been lost, invasive species have become prevalent, and water contaminant concentrations have increased. Accelerating efforts are being made towards preserving the Everglades ecosystem by restoring water flow and improving water quality. To explore this complex and important aquatic ecosystem, we critically review the relevant environmental history, major terrestrial and aquatic characteristics and dynamics, engineered changes to water flow, major sources and impacts of nutrient pollution, trends in system response to pollution and mitigation actions, and recent regulatory efforts driving restoration.
Highlights
The Florida Everglades are one of the major wetlands of the world
In addition to the negative environmental impact that altering the overland water flow has had on the Florida Everglades, agricultural activities have led to water quality issues of wetland eutrophication, water contamination, and decreased coastal water-quality [1]
The Florida Everglades ecosystem is one that is adapted to low, oligotrophic concentrations of nutrients; native plants and animals are adapted to survive in nutrient poor-habitats
Summary
The Florida Everglades are one of the major wetlands of the world This regional subtropical watershed and wetland covering nearly 47,000 km at the most southeastern point of the continental United States has been experiencing significant land use and water quality changes over the century and a half that have led to a decline in overall ecosystem quality. At present it is a disconnected and compartmentalized, human-dominated ecosystem. Scale and the scope of the challenge is daunting, we conclude these efforts are providing hope for preserving the unique ecosystem of the Florida Everglades
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