Out in the sunny glades the broad leaves of the alligator flag mark the
location of an alligator hole. This is the most incredible ecosystem of
all the worlds within the world of the park; for in a sense the
alligator is the keeper of the everglades.
With feet and snout these reptiles clear out the vegetation and muck
from the larger holes in the limestone. In the dry season, when the
floor of the glades checks in the sun, these holes are oases. Then large
numbers of fish, turtles, snails, and other fresh-water animals take
refuge in the holes, moving right in with the alligators. Enough of
these water-dependent creatures thus survive the drought to repopulate
the glades when the rains return. Birds and mammals join the migration
of the everglades animal kingdom to the alligator holes, feed upon the
concentrated life in them—and in turn occasionally become food for their
alligator hosts.
[Illustration: ALLIGATOR FLAG]
Lily pads float on the surface. Around the edges arrowleaf, cattails,
and other emergent plants grow. Behind them on higher muckland, much of
which is created by the alligators as they pile up plant debris, stand
ferns, wildflowers, and swamp trees. Algae thrive in the water. The
rooted water plants might become so dense as to hinder the movement and
growth of the fish, were it not for the weeding activities of the
alligators. With the old reptiles keeping the pool open, the fish
thrive, and alligator and guests live well.
Plants piled beside the hole by the alligator decay and form soil with
mud and marl. Ferns, wildflowers, and tree seedlings take root, and
eventually the alligator hole may be the center of a tree island.
So, it’s easy to see how important the alligator is to the ecology of
the park. Unfortunately for this reptile, many people in the past
believed only in the value of its hide. Hunting for alligators became
profitable in the mid-1880’s and continued until the 1960’s. In 1961
Florida prohibited all hunting of alligators, but poaching continued to
take its toll. Finally, the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1969
protected the alligator by eliminating all hunting and trafficking in
hides.
As a result of complete protection, the alligator has increased greatly
in number. They are no longer an endangered species in Florida, and they
can easily be found in gator holes and sloughs. Today alligators are
eagerly sought by visitors to Everglades National Park who are anxious
to see and photograph this unique creature. Once again, the alligator is
the keeper of the everglades.
[Illustration: ACTUAL SIZE AT HATCHING (8″ to 10″)]
[Illustration: Alligator]
FOOD
FISH (gar, bass, etc.)
BIRDS
TURTLES (soft-shelled and others)
MAMMALS
RACCOON
SNAPPING TURTLE
GREEN HERON
[Illustration: 40 TO 60 EGGS LAID IN NEST OF HUMUS IN MAY OR JUNE]
[Illustration: MOTHER TENDS YOUNG 1 TO 2 YEARS
1 YEAR OLD: ABOUT 2′ LONG]
[Illustration: ALLIGATOR HOLE IN THE GLADES]
SNOWY EGRET
WHITE IBIS
WOOD STORK
MOSQUITO (15 species)
SNAIL EGGS
PIG FROG
ALLIGATOR NEST
DRY SEASON WATER LEVEL
GAMBUSIA
KILLIFISH
SUNFISH
LARGEMOUTHED BASS
FLORIDA SPOTTED GAR
FLORIDA SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE
1 SPIKE RUSH
2 PINK GERARDIA
3 SPIDER LILY
4 CATTAIL
5 PICKEREL WEED
6 ARROWHEAD
7 WATER LILY
8 SPATTERDOCK
9 BLADDERWORT
10 ALLIGATOR FLAG
11 MORNINGGLORY