Key
Derived from the Spanish word cayo, meaning small island
Succession
A series of predictable and orderly changes within an ecosystem over time.
Climax Community
A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species over time (hardwood plants and apex predators)
Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Everglades
Large subtropical swampland in Florida of about 4,000 square miles where water transitions from fresh to salt water
Sawgrass Marsh
Large portion of Everglades which is characterized by sharp edged grass that is usually flooded
Hardwood Hammocks
Portion of the Everglades characterized by raised “islands” of hardwood trees
Pine & Cypress Forest
Portion of the Everglades characterized by large hardwood trees that sometimes surround swamps
Mangrove Forest
Climax Community of the Florida Keys, with hardwood mangroves that grow in both salt and freshwater
Florida Bay
This is a bay that makes up the southern coast of Florida. It lies between the Everglades and the Florida Keys including coral reefs
Tidal Pool
Ecologically diverse pools of salt water left behind during low tides.
Subtidal Zone
The coastal life zone that remains underwater (below low tide)
Low Tide Zone
The portion of the intertidal zone is usually submerged except during extreme low tides
Middle Tide Zone
The portion of the intertidal zone that is submerged during high tides and exposed during low tides
High Tide/Spray Zone
The portion of the intertidal zone that is always exposed except during the highest tides only receive moisture from the breaking of waves
Coral Reef
The most diverse marine biome on Earth, usually found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline.
Hermatypic
Hard coral that continuously grows and adds to the reef (reef building corals)
Ahermatypic
“Soft” coral the grows on hard coral and does not contribute to the growth of the reef (non-reef building coral)
Bioerosiion
Natural/continuous process by which living things breakdown/cycle coral reef
