Written by Dr. Lacey Huffling, Assistant Professor of Science Education at Georgia Southern University Nestled 60 miles from the Georgia Coast on the Georgia-Florida border is one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems, a 412,000-acre black water swamp known as the Okefenokee. The Okefenokee is a unique wetland that is the source of two rivers: The Suwanee and the St. Mary’s. With 85% draining to the Suwannee River, which flows to the Gulf, and the other 15% draining to the St. Mary’s, which flows to the Atlantic, the Okefenokee rises to the top of Georgia wetlands when considering a place to train Georgia teachers on water quality monitoring. What better place to learn how to monitor local water quality than in one of Georgia’s most unique environments. The abundance of biodiversity and human impacts from the past position the Okefenokee as a state-wide case study that can be used to address many of the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science. Haven of Biodiversity Okefenokee is home to a large array of flora and fauna. There are 48 species of mammals, over 200 species of birds, 33 species of fish, 101 species of reptiles and amphibians, and an undetermined number of invertebrates. There are several threatened and endangered species, such as red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis), wood storks (Mycteria americana), indigo snakes (Drymarchon corais couperi), and Florida panthers. The following are several other species that are of special concern on the refuge include: the gopher tortoise; Sherman’s fox squirrel (Sciurus niger niger); round-tailed muskrat (Neofiber alleni exoristus); Bachman’s sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis); Florida sandhill crane (Grus Canadensis pratensis); neotropical migratory birds; black-banded sunfish (Enneacanthus chaetodon); mud sunfish (Acantharchus pomotis); and banded topminnow (Fundulus cingulatus) (U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, 2006). Human impacts and the Swamp In the 1890s, there were attempts to drain the Okefenokee for logging; however, this was not successful an endeavor. A few years later in 1909, the logging of the Okefenokee began in earnest and continued until 1927. Over this 18 year period, over 423 million board feet of timber was removed with most of the logging affecting cypress trees. In 1918, The Okefenokee Society formed to advocate for the swamp to be preserved. In 1937, President Roosevelt issued an executive order and deemed the Okefenokee a national wildlife refuge. Today the expansion of regions surrounding the swamp are beginning to place a higher demand on the aquifer which is a concern for many. Connections to Georgia Standards of Excellence Here are a few of the standards of excellence that can be related to Swamp ecology. 7th grade Life Science S7L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to investigate the diversity of living organisms and how they can be compared scientifically. S7L4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to examine the interdependence of organisms with one another and their environments. S7L5. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information from multiple sources to explain the theory of evolution of living organisms through inherited characteristics. Biology SB5. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to assess the interdependence of all organisms on one another and their environment. SB6. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to assess the theory of evolution. Environmental Science SEV1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem. SEV2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to construct explanations of stability and change in Earth’s ecosystems. SEV3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to evaluate types, availability, allocation, and sustainability of energy resources. SEV4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to analyze human impact on natural resources. Interested in Learning More? If this short overview of the Okefenokee has piqued your interest, here are some resources to learn more: A Naturalist's Guide to the Okefenokee Swamp by Taylor Schoettle Natural History of the Okefenokee Swamp by Whit Gibbons in New Georgia Encyclopedia Human History of the Okefenokee Swamp by C.T. Trowell in New Georgia Encyclopedia Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge: Comprehensive Conservation Plan by U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Tree Castle Island by Jean Craighead George is set within the Okefenokee and a great introduction to the swamp for younger readers. Okefenokee Swamp Live by Georgia Public Television Georgia’s Own Swamp - A trip in a canoe with Naturalist, Don Berryhill by Georgia Public Television Georgia Outdoors: Okefenokee by Georgia Public Television Okefenokee: National Wildlife Refuge - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Okefenokee Swamp by Georgia Department of Natural Resources Ready to visit this amazing ecosystem, visit our partner pages for how to plan your Okefenokee exploration. The North Entrance - The Swamp Park in Waycross, GA The West Entrance - Stephen C. Foster Park in Fargo, GA The East Entrance - Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge and Okefenokee Adventures in Folkston, GA
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Details
Archives
June 2019
CategoriesSupported by the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under the Grant Agreement: 20000G9576
|