Editing Everglades (section)

===Mangrove and Coastal prairie===
[[File:Mangrove trees in Everglades.JPG|thumb|Red [[mangrove]] trees bordering a tidal [[estuary]] in the Everglades]]

Eventually the water from Lake Okeechobee and The Big Cypress makes its way to the ocean. Mangrove trees are well adapted to the transitional zone of [[brackish]] water where fresh and salt water meet.<ref>Katherisen, K. (2001). "Biology of Mangroves and Mangrove Ecosystems", ''Advances in Marine Biology'', Alan J. Southward (ed.) '''40''', pp.&nbsp;18–251. {{ISBN|978-0-12-026140-6}}.</ref> The estuarine ecosystem of the [[Ten Thousand Islands]], which is comprised almost completely of mangrove forests, covers almost {{convert|200000|acre|km2}}.<ref name="Ripple"/>  In the wet season fresh water pours out into Florida Bay, and sawgrass begins to grow closer to the coastline. In the dry season, and particularly in extended periods of drought, the salt water creeps inland into the coastal prairie, an ecosystem that buffers the freshwater marshes by absorbing sea water. Mangrove trees begin to grow in fresh water ecosystems when the salt water goes far enough inland.<ref>George, p.&nbsp;19.</ref>

There are three species of trees that are considered mangroves: red (''[[Rhizophora mangle]]''), black (''[[Avicennia germinans]]''), and white (''[[Laguncularia racemosa]]''), although all are from different families.<ref>Jewell, p.&nbsp;41.</ref> All grow in oxygen-poor soil, can survive drastic water level changes, and are tolerant of salt, brackish, and fresh water.<ref>Whitney, p.&nbsp;286.</ref> All three mangrove species are integral to coastline protection during severe storms. Red mangroves have the farthest-reaching roots, trapping sediments that help build coastlines after and between storms. All three types of trees absorb the energy of waves and [[storm surge]]s. Everglades mangroves also serve as nurseries for [[crustaceans]] and fish, and rookeries for birds. The region supports Tortugas pink shrimp (''[[Farfantepenaeus duorarum]]'') and stone crab (''[[Menippe mercenaria]]'') industries;<ref>{{cite web| title= About Florida Bay| publisher= Sea Grant Florida| date = July 16, 2001| url=http://www.floridabay.org/intro.shtml| access-date=2008-06-08}}</ref> between 80 and 90 percent of commercially harvested crustacean species in Florida's salt waters are born or spend time near the Everglades.<ref name="Ripple">Ripple, p.&nbsp;80.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last = Humphreys|first = Jay|author2 = Franz, Shelley|author3 = Seaman, Bill|title = Florida's Estuaries: A Citizen's Guide to Coastal Living and Conservation|publisher = National Atmosphere and Oceanic Administration and the Florida Department of Community Affairs|date = March 1993|url = http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgph93001.pdf|access-date = 2008-06-08|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231821/http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgph93001.pdf|archive-date = 2016-03-03|url-status = dead
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