Wildlife Issues Readings 2-3

Endemic species are those that

Flying squirrels, common inhabitants of temperate hardwood forests, are unusual in that they are the only -------- squirrel.

Florida scrub jays commonly bury ----- in open sandy areas.

Most of Florida's 8,000 lakes are -----.

Mortality rate of young alligators is about ---- during the first 2 years of life.

The ----------- is a common venomous snake in the Florida's wetlands.

Florida scrub is a pyrogenic system, which means the plants and animals living there are --- adapted.

Marshes are like swamps except they have

Bald eagle and osprey populations in Florida and elsewhere have recovered dramatically since the ban on ----- was implemented.

American crocodiles superficially resemble American alligators, but the crocodile can be distinguished by its --------------.

The dominant factor is structuring many of Florida's upland communities is ---------.

Florida's 'blackwater' rivers owe their dark color to ------- in the water.

Dry soils are said to be -----.

As one proceeds down the peninsula from north and south in Florida the biodiversity of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians --------.

Sea turtle hatchlings are disoriented by --------.

Several subspecies of recently extinct and endangered --------- lived or are still found on sand dunes along Florida's beaches.

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is the ---------------.

The large rivers in Florida are home to the -------------, which is the largest freshwater turtle in the world.

Red mangrove is easily recognized by its ------.

Least bitterns, clapper rails, and cape sable seaside sparrows are bird species commonly associated with -----------.

Mangroves are tropical trees but the ---- mangrove is the most cold tolerant and occurs farther north than the other two species.

Fires of catastrophic level get everyone's attention, but most wild fires are ---- acres or less in size.

In Florida, temperate hardwood forests are often called ----------.

Florida's springs are important places for manatees in the winter because the springs provide a --------------.

The number of people killed by alligators in Florida since the early 1940's is ----.

Almost 90% of Florida's dry prairies have been converted to ---------.

The two principal species of salt marsh plants in Florida are ---------------.

Black mangrove is easily recognized by its

As the diet of these birds is mostly fish, it is thus not surprising to find ------- around Florida's lakes and rivers.

Florida's peninsula is built on an underlying geological formation consisting largely of ---------.

----- pelicans are strictly surface feeders that do not plunge-dive to capture food.

Cooperative breeding is a trait seen in the -----------.

Many of the plant species in the tropical hardwood forest ecosystem of southern Florida originated in -----------.

Florida's scrub ecosystem is characterized by ------ soils.

While at the local beach you see ------ pelicans capturing fish by plunge-diving.

As nesting sites for birds have disappeared from Florida's beaches some species such as least terns have taken to nesting on --------.

Alligators in Lake Apopka have been found with atypical hormone levels and other reproductive abnormalities, which are thought to be the result of -------------.

The burrows of gopher tortoises are used by the ------------- as a refuge from predators and harsh environmental conditions.

The ------ is a species of lizard that occurs only in the Florida scrub.

Dry prairies in Florida are the primary habitat for --------.

Sand dunes in Florida tend to be higher on the east coast then the west because the dunes on the east coast -----------.

Fox squirrels, typically inhabit ---------- in Florida.

Significant areas of salt marsh habitat in Florida are eventually likely to be lost in ----------.

Forested wetlands are called --------.

The single most widespread upland ecosystem in Florida is ----------.

Florida has more than ------ rivers.

The length of time that wetland soils are saturated or flooded is called the--------.

Florida's scrub ecosystem is characterized by ------- plant species.

Species that spend most of their lives underground to escape harsh surface conditions are said to be

Florida freshwater springs are artesian, which means that -----------

The ----- is the dominant tree in many of Florida's freshwater swamps.

The 'squeaky' sugar sand on Florida's panhandle beaches is composed primarily of -----.

Florida's scrub ecosystem is dependent of ------- fires.

Dry prairies in Florida are they only habitat that supports ------------.

Mesic is a term used to describe ------ soil

Florida's beaches are the most important nesting sites of the ------- turtle.

Restoration of the Everglades ecosystem will depend mostly on ----------.