Rhythms of the Refuge a Guide for Educators
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rhythms of the Refuge A Guide for Educators Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge 1 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rhythms of the Refuge A Guide for Educators Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Table of Contents Dedication .........................................................................................4 3. Objectives ..........................................................................24 4. Plants of Wet Prairies .................................................... 53 3. Ease of Dispersal Due to Welcome Educators ............................................................................5 4. Methodology .....................................................................25 5. Wildlife of Wet Prairies .................................................. 54 Continuous Disturbance of Habitats ............................ 71 Acknowledgments ..............................................................................6 E. Standards/Activities/Lessons E. Sloughs .................................................................................... 57 a. Solutions and Management ....................................... 71 Chapter I: Introduction to 1. Standards ......................................................................... 25 1. What is a Slough? ............................................................ 57 b. Monitoring ................................................................... 72 Established Conservation Systems .................................................7 2. Lessons/Activities ........................................................... 25 2. What Does a Slough Look Like? .................................. 57 c. Mapping ........................................................................ 72 A. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ................................................7 a. Fire Adaptations ...................................................... 25 3. Plants of the Slough ........................................................ 58 d. Treatment .................................................................... 72 1. Mission ................................................................................7 b. Fire and the Carbon Cycle ..................................... 26 4. Wildlife of the Slough ..................................................... 59 e. What Can You Do to Help with Exotics? ................. 72 2. Programs and Activities ....................................................7 c. Using Art to Show Understanding ....................... 31 F. Standards/Activities/Lessons ............................................... 61 D. Impacts of Exotic Wildlife .................................................... 73 B. National Wildlife Refuge System ............................................7 Chapter III: Water is Our Treasure for the Balance of Life ..... 32 1. Wetland Metaphors ........................................................ 61 1. Injuries Due to Exotic Wildlife ..................................... 73 1. Map ......................................................................................8 A. Water and the Refuge ............................................................ 32 2. Animal Olympics ............................................................. 61 2. Direct Impacts on the Arthur R. Marshall 2. Presence in Florida and Map of Refuges .......................9 1. Quality ............................................................................. 32 3. Patterns in Nature .......................................................... 62 Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge .......................... 74 E. Activities/Lessons .................................................................. 74 3. History ..............................................................................10 2. The Water Quality Problem.......................................... 33 Chapter V: Endangered Species ................................................... 63 1. Plants on Trial ................................................................. 74 4. Mission ..............................................................................10 3. The Solution .................................................................... 33 A. What Does it Mean to Be Endangered? ............................. 63 2. Oh Deer! ........................................................................... 75 5. Waterfowl Production Areas ..........................................11 4. What Can You Do to Help ............................................. 34 1. Federal Endangered and Threatened Species ........... 63 5. What the Future Holds ................................................. 34 6. Wildlife Management ......................................................11 2. Florida Numerical Summary of Species ...................... 63 Chapter VII: Human Connection .................................................. 76 B. Standards/Activities/ Lessons 7. Recreation .........................................................................11 3. Endangered and Threatened Species A. Symbiosis Defined .................................................................. 76 8. The Blue Goose ................................................................11 1. Standards ......................................................................... 34 Specific to ARM Loxahatchee NWR ............................ 63 1. Health Defined as Relationship between Humans 9. Rachel Carson ..................................................................11 2. Lessons/Activities ........................................................... 34 B. Factors of Species Endangerment ....................................... 65 and Environments ............................................................ 76 10. Timeline .............................................................................12 a. Water Quality Testing ............................................. 34 1. Humans ........................................................................... 65 a. How Do We Maintain Health? ............................... 76 C. Standards/Activities/Lessons b. Plants vs. Pollutants “Run-off” Race .................... 35 a. Causes ....................................................................... 65 b. Environmental Degradation Costs 1. Standards ..........................................................................13 Chapter IV: Everglades Ecosystem ............................................. 36 b. Solutions ................................................................... 65 to Our Health ............................................................ 76 2. Activities/Lessons – Timeline .........................................13 A. Cypress Swamp ...................................................................... 36 C. What You Can Do to be Part of the Solution ...................... 65 c. Land Development Affects Health ....................... 76 3. Activities/Lessons – USFWS Emblem Design ............14 1. What is a Swamp ............................................................. 36 D. Wildlife Laws and What They Mean ................................... 65 d. Pollution Affects Health .......................................... 77 4. Activities/Lessons – Conservation Jeopardy ...............14 2. Why is it called a Cypress Swamp ................................ 36 E. Activities/Lessons .................................................................. 66 e. Ecological Psychology – Chapter II: Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee NWR ...................15 3. History and Conservation ............................................. 37 1. I will Survive ................................................................... 66 Nature Deficit Disorder .......................................... 78 A. Everglades History.................................................................15 4. Plants of the Cypress Swamp ....................................... 37 2. And Then There were None .......................................... 66 B. What Can You Do to Make a Positive Impact? ................... 78 B. Historical Dates Affecting the Refuge .................................16 5. Wildlife of the Cypress Swamp ..................................... 40 3. Bringing Art into the Classroom .................................. 66 1. Xeriscaping ...................................................................... 78 1. Culture and Archeology ..................................................17 B. Sawgrass Communities ......................................................... 43 2. Permaculture ................................................................... 78 a. Native Americans .....................................................17 1. What is Sawgrass? .......................................................... 43 Chapter VI: Exotics Invading South Florida and 3. Policies and CERP .......................................................... 80 Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge ..... 67 b. Homesteading and Pioneers ...................................19 2. How does the Sawgrass Community Develop?........... 44 C. Activities/Lessons .................................................................. 80 A. Flora and Fauna ..................................................................... 67 2. Influences ..........................................................................20 3. Plants of the Sawgrass Communities ..........................