You might get the impression of Big Cypress National Preserve as being a collections of dome and strand swamps, and cypress trees dominating the landscape. It does have its share of cypress, but if you look at the photo above, you'll see two major habitat types, wet prairie dominating the foreground and pinelands in the background.
What causes the difference? In a word, hydrology, the flow of water. The prairie is wet enough throughout the year to prevent pines from taking hold and taking over; the ground where the pines are is a little higher and drier, enough so that the trees can grow here. The other major habitats in Big Cypress: hardwood hammock, dome and strand swamps and estuary. More on hammocks and estuaries later in the tour.
NEXT STOP: The Sea Beckons
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What causes the difference? In a word, hydrology, the flow of water. The prairie is wet enough throughout the year to prevent pines from taking hold and taking over; the ground where the pines are is a little higher and drier, enough so that the trees can grow here. The other major habitats in Big Cypress: hardwood hammock, dome and strand swamps and estuary. More on hammocks and estuaries later in the tour.
NEXT STOP: The Sea Beckons
RETURN TO THE TOUR PAGE —||— RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE