Warrior Chronicles - April 2024

CHRONICLES WARRIOR

ALLABOUT THE EVERGLADES THE EVERGLADES

By: Ethan Chambers and Leila Polo

The Florida Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States It spreads out 2,357 square miles The Everglades has been a National Park for 200 years! It is home to many animals and plants, and most importantly, it provides water to our very own state of Florida In this newsletter, Author Academy will talk about different types of habitats found in the Everglades, invasive species, habitat loss, and some threatened or endangered animals

HARDWOOD HAMMOCKS

By: Gabby Rodriguez

Did you know that the Everglades is made of smaller ecosystems? One of the ecosystems is the hardwood hammock. The hardwood hammocks is a dry habitat that can be found in the Everglades Hardwood hammocks are grouped in small preserves along the Atlantic Coast. Walking through the hardwood hammocks is like walking through a shady tropical forest Some animals you can find are the west indigo snake and the Florida wingleaf butterfly. Other animals you may see are the river otter, the Florida panther and the whitetailed deer. This habitat is home to many different species of animals.

THE PINELANDS

By Antonella Montalvo

The pinelands is a very, very dry environment in the Everglades and is home to a variety of animals like the zebra longwing, the Florida panther, the black bear, and the gray fox The pinelands is almost similar to the desert because the climate is very dry and hot. This habitat is also home to a variety of different plants The pinelands has several different types of trees that are unique to the specific area These trees are called slash pine, jack pine, red pine, pitch pine, and blackjack oak. The pine rocklands, also called the pinelands, have a hard rocky ground, made up of limestone Like other hardwood hammocks, they are found on higher ground, making them a dry habitat (unlike the freshwater slough and sawgrass prairie which are part of the wet habitats of the Everglades )

THE MANGROVES

By: Eric “Andy” Freeman

Mangroves are considered to be a shelter to many Everglades animals

There are four different mangrove tree species that can be found in the Everglades. There are red, white, and black mangroves, as well as the buttonwood mangrove

These trees can protect people and wildlife from flood waters. They also act like a barrier between the ocean and land In addition, they help climate change by collecting heat.

Did you know this is a perfect place for animals to live? Some interesting birds that can be found in mangroves are anhingas, egrets, and green herons

THE SAWGRASS SWAMP

By Rafa Stuyck

The Everglades is the only place whe crocodiles and alligators can live in the habitat. Their home is the sawgrass ma can live together because of the mixtu water from Lake Okeechobee and the from the sea There are also other type that live there such as snapping turtles blue herons.

Let’s make sure to not build near Lak Okeechobee, so the water can continu down in to the Everglades so the sawg swamp can remain stable and these th

DIFFERENT TYPES OF POLLUTION AND HOW TO STOP THEM

By Cade Sporrer

Did you know that the Everglades is experiencing habitat loss? This is enraging! The Everglades should be preserved, not destroyed. Evidence proves that “Nutrient pollution causes algae blooms that take oxygen out of the water, suffocating much of the natural flora and fauna. More than 25 percent of the Everglades has been damaged by excessive nutrient pollution.”

One example of habitat loss is pollution When I was at Blackpoint Marina and Biscayne National Park, different types of pollution were everywhere One was the music coming from party boats. This is one form of pollution, and it is called noise pollution Unfortunately, excessive loud music can scare birds away and not allow them to enjoy their peaceful habitat I also noticed that a pile of junk was obstructing the flow of water causing animal confusion There were areas of seafloor without water because of mounds of trash washed into it. Between the loud music and garbage found in the water, it made me feel awful!

Now that you have been informed on a couple of our pollution issues, you may want to help solve it. To save the Everglades, do a beach clean up and pick up trash, do not drive boats with loud music near the coast

What are you waiting for?

Save the Everglades today!

“Top 10 Scariest Facts about the Everglades ” Environment Florida, 6 Aug 2022, environmentamerica org/florida/media-center/top-10-scariest-factsabout-the everglades/#: :text=This%20creates%20what%20is%20called, damaged%20by%20excessive%20nutrient%20pollution

BE AN EVERGLADES CHAMPION

If you would like to become a Nature Ambassador or volunteer at an upcoming event, email Zachary at zlarosa31@wcsmiami.org or scan the QR Code.

INVASIVE SPECIES

By Breeze “Wind” Martinez, Maya Solis, and Marcelo Ferri

I’m positive that this school year you have heard about the threats that the Burmese python and the lionfish cause to out environment Did you know that Burmese pythons are from Asia? Unfortunately, some people have purchased Burmese pythons for their children as pets When families realize they grow too large, they don’t want them anymore as pets, so they throw them out in the Everglades. Having these reptiles in the wild, can pose a threat to human safety and the Everglades’ food chain They eat everything they find including alligator and crocodile eggs This is an issue because the alligator and crocodile’s life cycle are being interrupted These snakes are slowly making there way to the top of the food chain! If they continue they could be the king of the Everglades Another invasive species is the lionfish. The lionfish is native to the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific, however many people enjoy seeing the fish in their aquariums They have ended up in the wild because people have dumped their “pets” into the canals Lionfish eat more than 70 marine fish and invertebrate species including yellowtail snapper, Nassau grouper, parrot fish, banded coral fish, and cleaner fish This is a problem because they are eating the fish we like to eat! Today, over 30,994 lionfish have been removed from the Everglades, and we still need your assistance

I am sure you have heard of mosquitoes, those annoying pests that make you itch forever Here are some facts on the invasive mosquito First, only female mosquitoes bite Isn’t that weird? Secondly, mosquitoes are more active when the moon is full; no one really knows why, though. Lastly, they can breed in really small amounts of water and that’s why we have so many in the Everglades

Another invasive animal is the wild hog Did you know that this animal is effecting our habitat? It destroys landscapes by digging giant holes, and they eat almost everything They are omnivores They can grow to be 5-6 feet long and can carry 24 different diseases.

The peacock is an invasive species in the bird family that is very common at Westminster Christian Peacocks may be beautiful, but they are very aggressive, especially during mating season They scratch cars and mess up lawns in their wake They also cause traffic by standing in the middle of the street They hurt native birds by eating their food and decimating or destroying the plants that the native birds make their nests in.

The giant African snail, a k a G A S, is another invasive species This snail poses a serious health risk to humans because they carry the parasite rat lungworm They cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments by consuming at least 500 different types of plants The giant African snail is considered an agricultural pest As you can see, the giant African snail is detrimental and destructive to native plants and animals. If found they need to be dealt with properly

You may be wondering what to do if you find an invasive species Please call 888-Ive-Got1 (483-4681), as shown on the left if you find one of these animals

Another way to help is by delivering an unwanted invasive animal to Zoo Miami on Amnesty Day. Look at the Zoo Miami website for more information!

THE ROAD TO HABITAT LOSS

By: Justin Harder

Cars need roads so they can travel from place to place but these roads are encroaching on animal habitats throughout the Everglades. The state of Florida has added more paved surfaces including highways, parking lots, and streets so cars can travel farther distances faster. However, the creation of these roads is killing animals and is forcing them into smaller spaces. This causes a lot of problems. Shrinking an animal’s habitat, can cause them to lose their food sources. Animals may begin to die off or eat each other or other things they shouldn’t because they don’t have much food. Because animals are forced into smaller habitats, they can interbreed with one another. Imagine having a jaguar-wolf! That could be scary. Thankfully, some people have determined some ways to help keep these animals safe. Underground tunnels are being built beneath the roads so animals can travel safely from one side of the road to the other. This prevents the animals from getting hit by cars. These animals need our help- we have been called to action! It’s up to our generation to help save the t f th E l d

WEST INDIAN MANETEE

STOCK ISLAND TREE SNAIL PIPING PLOVER

Stable- Threatened- Endangered

! Endangered Species Area

“Threatened” means that a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future “Endangered” means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

WANTED :

T H R E A T E N E D

E N D A N G E R E D

WEST INDIAN MANATEE

STOCK ISLAND TREE SNAIL

PIPING PLOVER

WOOD STORK

AMERICAN CROCODILE

FLORIDA PANTHER

THE PIPING PLOVER

By Sophia Hernandez

There is still hope for the piping plover. The piping plover is a threatened bird that lives in the sandy beaches of the Everglades. The piping plover is a small, round, sandycolored bird. It has a black band across its forehead from eye to eye, kind of like a unibrow, and it also has a black ring around its neck. The piping plover’s diet is made up of insects, crustaceans, and marine worms Foxes, raccoons and skunks are the main predators of the plover Unfortunately, its federal status is threatened This means that its numbers are declining rapidly and that its habitat is disappearing Their numbers are declining because of building, growing populations and wild and domesticated animals. New construction is happening because when people move to Florida they need new homes As people move to more isolated places they need clothing, food, and other items so more construction happens This takes over the habitats of different animals. As people move, they also get pets. These animals harass the piping plover

Remember what I said in the beginning, “There is still hope for the piping plover ” To help the piping plover, the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects the piping plover and other birds The Federal Endangered Species Act is also in place to help the piping plover. This white-feathered beauty is protected in Florida.

Let’s continue helping the piping plover by respecting its habitat!

THE WEST INDIAN MANATEE

by Anabelle Blanco

Do you know why manatees are so endangered? First of all, they live in many different places like estuaries, canals, marinas, and Florida’s shallow water. Manatees are vegetarians, or the technical word “herbivores,” which means they only eat plants such as seagrass, and occasionally, small fish. As a result, their main threats are boat collisions, habitat loss, pollution, getting caught in fishing lines, Red Tide, and vegetation ruin. How sad is that! We are harming these “Gentle Giants ” They have no predators, so why are we threatening them? They are such interesting mammals.

to stop these amazing creatures from before it’s too late!

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

By Miranda Goldberg

Where does this animal make its home?

North Carolina, South Florida-the Everglades, West Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee

What does its diet consist of?

Insects, arthropods, and seeds

What are its natural predators?

Predators include rat snakes, corn snakes, and southern flying squirrels

Why is it listed as threatened?

Loss of Habitat - In the early 1800s to the 1900s, long leaf pines were destroyed and transformed into agricultural fields. Only one percent of their land remains!

What is being done to protect this species?

This species is protected by the U S Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Federal Endangered Species Act, and the RCW Safe Harbor Program.

Choose a threatened or endangered animal and do your own research. Be sure to use a reliable source!

Use this QR code to find an animal you might be interested in researching.

Species: _____________________________

Scientific Name: ______________________

Where does this animal make its home?

What does its diet consist of?

What are its natural predators?

Why is it listed as threatened?

What is being done to protect this species?

ANIMAL YOUR HERE TRY IT

What is a reliable source?

When you do any kind of research or fact finding, you want to make sure that the information you use is valid, vetted, fact-checked, and factbased. Use the Common Sense Media site below to find some reputable resources for your animal study, many are leading research institutions. That site is linked below.

GATORS VS CROCS:

COMPARING AND CONTRASTING

Alligators

Alligators haveaU shapedsnout

Their colorsare blackandgray

They prefer freshwater

They are way nicer then crocodiles Theyarenot endangered

Theyboth canlivein the Everglades. They both love to eat meat (carnivores)

Crocodiles

Crocodiles have a V shaped snout

Crocodiles have an olive or tan color

Crocodiles prefer saltwater

Crocodiles don’thave an overbite

Crocodiles aremore aggressive

Alligators and crocodiles are alike in several ways. Both alligators and crocodiles live in the Everglades. Also, they are both carnivores, this means that they both have a similar diet of turtles, birds, fish, and mammals. On the other hand, one way that they are different is the shape of their snout. The alligator has a wide, Ushaped snout while the croc has a more narrow V-shaped snout. Another difference is that the crocodile is endangered while the alligator is not. Crocodiles are known to be more aggressive. Does that mean that alligators are a little bit nicer? Not sure I’d want to stick around to find out!

AUTHOR ACADEMY TEACHER LIAISONS: Mrs. LaRosa & Mrs. Childers

HIGH SCHOOL MENTORS: Mackenzie Floyd ‘24 & Caroline Schaffer ‘24