The pineland, like other plant [communities], has its own community of animals. Some of its residents, such as the cotton mouse, opossum, and raccoon, are found in other communities of the park, too.
Some of the pineland animals, however—pine warbler, reef gecko, and five-lined skink, for example—are particularly adapted to this [environment]. These lovers of sunlight are dependent, like the pine forest, on the occasional natural or manmade fires that hold back the [hardwood trees].
The pine rockland is quite different from the other plant-and-animal [communities] you will see as you drive through the park: it is the only ecosystem you can explore on foot in any season. Other parts of the park are largely flooded during the wet season. Elevated boardwalks have been provided in some of these areas to enable you to penetrate them a short distance from the road.
As you will see, fire plays an important role in some of the other [Everglades] [communities], too.
Tree-island Glades
(elevation: 1 to 3 feet above sea level)
BAYHEAD WILLOW HEAD SAWGRASS PINE DWARF CYPRESS FOREST ALLIGATOR HOLE CYPRESS HEAD
PIG FROG
one-third life size
