Images

The red-tinted fronds of a leather fern, at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Dark green fronds of a shield fern stand out against a mostly royal fern
background, at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Freshwater swamp in front of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor
Center.

Freshwater, cypress swamp at the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Freshwater swamp covered with the aquatic plants duckweed and water
spangles, at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Ephiphytes thrive among the tall cypress trees at Loxahatchee National Wildlife
Refuge.

Many different fern species prosper in the water and shade of a cypress swamp
at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Swamp canopy and sky reflected in the swamp waters of Loxahatchee National
Wildlife Refuge.

Looking southwest across the pickerelweed and waters of impoundment #7 at
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Metal culverts within this canal's banks transport water between the
impoundments and the canal at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

A close-up of cattails found within the predominately cattail marsh of
impoundment #8 at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Looking northeast, at an inflow pumping station located near the northeast
corner of Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 1 West.

Looking from an observation deck, at Rookery Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve, onto a flock of birds resting in a brackish (somewhat salty)
pond community. Mangrove islands grow inside and along the edges of the
pond.

At the end of the boardwalk behind the Briggs Nature Center at Rookery Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve, clusters of magenta fruits surround the
stems of this American beauty berry shrub.

The marsh of Water Conservation Area 3 as seen looking north of I-75
(Alligator Alley). Spatterdock are seen in the foreground.

Flooded marshes of Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA-3), seen north of I-75
(Alligator Alley).

A large flock of birds, mostly egrets, resting and flying along a canal on Highway
833 (a short drive north off of I-75 (Alligator Alley)).

Two alligators lying along a canal, just north off of I-75 (Alligator Alley) onto
Highway 833.

A morning glory resting amid ferns, alongside the Fakahatchee Strand State
Preserve boardwalk.

A great blue heron and great egret in the parking lot by the Big Cypress Bend
boardwalk at Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. The heron is enjoying a fish
dinner thanks to the hunting skills of the egret. While the egret had initially
held a fish in it's beak, the heron's squabbling caused the egret to drop it.

The Getting Building at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center allowed the center to expand the capabilities of the USGS to include more offices, a large sediment and coral laboratory, core archive space, electronics shop, workshop, and a loading and staging area for field research.