The Future of Florida’s Wilderness: Rewilding and Restoration Part 1/6

Let’s get serious about the Florida environment. This first posting outlines the three major issues regarding the future of Florida, especially Southwest FL.

The title image is a view of Estero Park Preserve. I added the sign graphic.

Scenarios for the future
Risk/benefits of rewilding
Consequences of species intra- and interdependence

For centuries Florida has been famed for its vibrant and diverse wilderness. It is a living repository of species drawn from the Caribbean, the Gulf, and subtropical America. Yet the past two hundred years have seen this unique ecosystem ravaged. People introduced non-native species, relentlessly homesteaded, and transformed the landscape for agricultural and urban development. The result is a wilderness in crisis. It is fragmented, altered, and teeming with exotic species that out compete or hybridize with the native flora and fauna. This document series outlines a strategic plan for the future of Florida’s wilderness. It is an examination of possible scenarios. It presents the risk/benefit calculus of rewilding. It supports species interdependence. It has a step-by-step outline for ecosystem restoration.

Definition: Rewilding is comprehensive, often large-scale, conservation effort focused on restoring sustainable biodiversity and ecosystem health. (institute of Rewilding)

A landscape in Southwest Florida showing dense vegetation, including shrubs and dry grass, representing the ecological challenges faced in the region. — This is one example of tens of thousands of citrus groves abandoned and overrun by invasive species.

A landscape view of Florida's wilderness featuring tall grass and scattered trees, highlighting the need for ecological renewal. — Babcock ranch preserve undeveloped wet prairie

A lush, green forest scene in Southwest Florida featuring a variety of trees and underbrush, showcasing the region's rich biodiversity in its natural state. — Babcock ranch preserve undeveloped upland wood

Major Scenarios for the Future of Florida’s Wilderness

Florida stands at a crossroad, with three major possible scenarios for the trajectory of its wilderness:

1. Continuance as a Species Repository: For millennia, Florida has served primarily as a bank of species. Rather than an origin point for evolutionary novelties it has been a major exporter of species elsewhere. Rewilding under this scenario would focus on maintaining and nurturing native species. It preserves the region’s role as a living archive of biodiversity.
2. Generator of New Species: The widespread introduction of similar but non-native species—both intentionally has created a dynamic environment. Hybridization and adaptation of ornamental and agricultural plantings will unintentionally transform Florida into a generator of new species. Unpredictable and unintentional ecological outcomes will result.
3. Degraded Ecosystem: If rewilding efforts fail or are mismanaged, Florida will become an ecological cautionary tale. With native species in decline invasive species will become rampant. Ecosystem services like water purification, habitat provision, and storm protection will severely decline.

Risk / Benefit Considerations in Rewilding

The imperative to restore Florida’s wilderness must be balanced by a careful analysis of risks and benefits. Rewilding, while promising, is not without peril.

Genetic Integrity: Simply replacing lost native species with physically similar, but non-identical genotypes can backfire. A non-native genotype may outcompete local species or fail to provide for dependent mutualists, causing cascading ecological harms. Cloning or propagating exact native genotypes minimizes this risk while preserving ecological relationships honed over millennia.
Ecological Compatibility: The introduction of new or “replacement” species may disrupt established mutualisms. They may also create new competitive dynamics while further destabilizing the ecosystem.
Proof of Concept: Any rewilding project must proceed through careful. It demands experimentation, trial phases, and rigorous review of existing literature. These will all be needed to maximize chances of success and minimize unintended consequences.

Intra- and Inter-Dependence of Species

Ecosystems are intricate webs with species depending on one another for food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal, and countless other functions.

Physical and Genetic Identification: Restoration begins with precise identification of native species, both morphologically and genetically. This enables accurate matching of replacement stock and helps avoid mismatches that could undermine restoration.
Codependent Species: Many native species are mutually dependent. For example the relationship between native bees.; wildflowers or wading birds and wetlands. Successful rewilding requires restoration of these relationships, not just individual species.
Environmental Conditions: Beyond the species themselves, restoration must account for the specific environmental factors. Soil chemistry, water availability, fire regimes, and more allow these relationships to thrive.

These are the topics of the postings to follow

Review of State Key Initiatives
Structured outline for rewilding
Maximizing existing objectives
Marketing the concept for large scale rewilding of Florida
Call to action

SUMMARY

This is not just about legacy. This is your own quality of life; your own property value; your own cost of living. What are you thinking about when you don’t support initiatives, don’t press your representatives and spread invasive species? There are only three choices. 1. Fix it; 2. live with it as is; 3. abandon it and live with the consequences.

Let’s know your thoughts. Leave a reply jn the comment box below or start a thread in our discussion board.

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#rewilding #restoration #environment #risk/benefit #

July 13, 2025

Exploring More of Africa: A Photographer’s Dream Adventure

Everglades Ark is traveling again. This year the itinerary includes two weeks in Africa in the middle of our trip to Europe. Africa is a remarkable generator of spectacular species and a reservoir of diverse wildlife. This will be our second visit to the area below the horn of Africa. Kenya and Tanzania both offer excellent wildlife viewing. Three years ago we were in central Kenya to see its high concentration of wildlife, particularly in the Masai Mara. This time we will spend another 7 days in Kenya followed by 7 days in Tanzania. These regions are known for their vastness and remote wilderness areas.

The title picture was created from a photo made during the last trip to the Masai Mara. It is part of a community presentation made here in Bonita Springs FL.

In this area I expect to see a somewhat different variety of bird species and different behaviors. I am really looking forward to this safari and hope to bring back great stories and images. Our 2022 postings from the previous trip to Africa were extremely well received. The new posts of this experience should be ready in the fall. I will do my best to assure that they too are appreciated.

We will travel with National Geographic, G Adventures. Our group of 6 in the vehicle should make a reasonably comfortable seating arrangement. Our winter weather will be relatively cool and mild. Some of the location highlights will include the Great Migration, Ngorongoro crater and the Great Rift Valley.

The safari photo gear will be much the same except for the new Canon R5 body. This camera body will allow for more videography, better image stability, faster image recording and higher resolution. The array of memory cards will fill the demands of the two cameras. I will not use a blue tooth hard drive for image back-up. Every evening I plan to upload the images from the cards of the day directly to the iCloud . To facilitate this I will use the FTP on my iPad. For those interested in photography, here is a NatGeo link to aid in basic photographic experience when you photo/travel.

Map of Africa highlighting Kenya and Tanzania, illustrating the geographical locations important for wildlife viewing and safari itineraries. — The highlighted area in the Africa map shows the approximate travel area.

The itinerary includes:

Nairobi, Nakuru lake and park
Naiviasha Lake
Masai Mara plane
Olduvai Gorge and anthropology museum
Serengeti National Park
Ngorongoro national park

For those interested in wildlife photography and stories of Africa follow us for the posts in September!

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June 28, 2025

Exploring the Elements of the Classical Japanese Garden. Part 4

The purpose of the classical Japanese garden is to provide a place for meditation and veneration. A Shinto shrine is the historically oldest and perhaps archetypical garden. Its form may date back to 500 BCE. It is noted for its rusticity and blending into the local surroundings. It is a place for contemplation and veneration of the native elements and important concepts and significant ancestral figures. These spiritual elements called “Kami” were recognized as important and worthy of respect or veneration. These were not deities for worship but instead were intellectual constructs supporting the Japanese “rules of civility”

This is part 4/5 in a series of postings on my experiences and observations of gardens of Japan. For a complete understanding please visit the other postings. (1) (2) (3)

There are typically 6 elements in the classical Japanese garden. These include a Torii Gate, a bridge, one or more lanterns, rocks, a pond, and trees.

The Torii is a gateway which is placed at the entrance of the shrine. It signifies the transition between the ordinary and the spiritual worlds. Often it is painted carmine red and made of wood. I frequently saw two shapes. Myojin torii are curved upwards at their ends and have a crossbeam that extends past the posts. Shinmei torii have a straight top and a crossbeam that ends at each post. There may be associated symbolic decorative rope or string accents called Shimenawa which along with trees further signify the boundaries of the shrine space.

The bridge symbolizes transition from one state of existence or world to another; from mundane to spiritual, from our sensual mortal reality to perfect immortal paradise. They maybe made of stone or wood and maybe either elaborate constructions or simply a single flat stone. Stepping on a bridge gives us a choice – either we cross it and take time on the bridge, or we turn back. In some gardens, bridges led to a central island called nakajima, which symbolized the Pure Land of Amida Buddha.

Stone lanterns originate in Buddhist traditions where the light suggests the enlightenment of Buddha’s teachings through the darkness of ignorance. From a Shinto perspective stone lanterns or yorishiro are made to attract, guide and house kami in the created sacred space. Each item in the construct has special significance. They are regarded as peaceful and tranquil.

Garden rocks selected and arranged for contemplation while sitting.

Rocks are ever so carefully selected, placed and arranged into the shinto garden. They are the residences of the kami. They symbolize the mountains or islands or even powerful figures in the Japanese pantheon. They are especially important in the Zen Buddhist garden. In the Zen garden, rocks stand for Mt Horai, the “Blessed Isles of the Immortals”.

Expansive water feature with bridge in background

Water in the shinto garden represents purity or purification. Without water in the garden the significance of bridges, rocks and islands would be lost. Ponds and especially flowing water are a key element to all but the Zen gardens. Instead of water in the Zen garden, gravel and stones are carefully placed and raked into patterns resembling rippling water.

Group of carefully trimmed trees in private garden. Note the variations in color and texture.

Trees are included within and around the periphery of the garden. They are called shinboku, and may be draped with shimenawa rope. The shinto shrine trees are specifically designated as sacred because of their age, size, or connection to a particular kami. Large, old, single or groups of trees are attributed with concepts like immortality or endurance, beauty or mythology. They are the connection between the natural world and the divine.

Perhaps the ideal of the shinto garden, this place is in the wilderness at the base of Mt. Fujii. The Torii arches over the simple stone path. The bridge provides a decisional option to access another route. The native trees surround not only this pleasant lowland but also the entire Mt. Fuji national park. The stones are truely mountainous.

SUMMARY:

The five classical garden types include shinto shrines, buddhist gardens, zen-buddhist gardens, imperial palace grounds, and castle grounds. Images of these can be seen on our previous blog.

Shinto shrines are intended for veneration of kami.

Buddhist monastery: I think of these enclaves as gardens for the mind. They are surrounded garden areas that are mostly devoid of effigies or suggestions of kami. They are intended to provide tranquil respite for peace and tranquility. Buddhism derives from India and became very powerful in Japan. During the Shogunate civil wars the Buddhists fought for independence from the warring parties. During the Edo period Buddhism was considered a threat to the Empire. Its foreign origin and power conflicted with the concept of three principals of Japan; duty to the Emperor, to the Nation of Japan and to the Japanese ancestors. The State no longer supported the monasteries. Attendance dwindled and contributions were insufficient to maintain these mammoth wooden buildings.

Zen/Buddhist gardens: Zen Buddhism arose during the civil wars. The Shoguns combined various portions of the Shinto faith and positions of Buddhism to facilitate their own code of ethics. The esthetic simplicity of the Buddha combined with a strict discipline of the Samurai. This is referred to as the “Shogun way”. Samurai and Daimu modeled their private retreats in the form of shinto shrines.

Imperial palace grounds. The centers of government changed during the more than one thousand years of imperial rule. Several cities were host to the Emperor and these cities hold the remains of the various palaces.

Castle grounds: The castle itself is a military fortification. It was not a residence, instead it was a place for defense. It would be packed with munitions and armaments. These materials were used for offense or as a depot for invasion forces. Surrounding the castle the army would be encamped and the outer rings were the support and suppliers for the troops. The grounds may have extended many square kilometers around the castle. The gardens encircling the castle were for walking, meeting and socializing.

CONCLUSION:

It appears to me that both shinto and buddhism seek enlightenment. They have opposite approaches to achieve this goal. Buddhism puts faith in self inspection, shinto puts faith in kami. Both approaches have value.

REFERENCES:

Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

REFERENCE LINKS:

Stone lanterns , Water in Japanese gardens , Bridges in Japanese gardens

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#Japanese garden #kami #shinto #buddhist #lanterns #bridges #trees #samurai #shogun #zen

June 15, 2025

This Spring, Explore SW Florida’s Unique Environment

You are invited to attend a series of three presentations this Spring, 2025. It is available only to residents of the Bonita Bay Community Association and their guests.The purpose of these presentations is to give information and encourage you to go.

This is a chance to explore the unique diversity of the SW Florida environment. Topics include our distinct surroundings, plants of special beauty, and our environment compared with other similar but globally distant areas. This presentation is also an opportunity to discuss these varied topics with John Knapp, author of Everglades Ark.

Topics and dates

Location

Community Activities Center: 3451 Bonita Bay Blvd., Suite #100.. Water and coffee included in attendance. No registration needed. Also see the schedule in the Bonita Bay publication Around the Bay

At the door there will be a $5.00 BBCA registration fee and, to help fund the Everglades Ark education effort, a $10.00 donation.

Questions ? Please call the Bonita Bay Community Association, Community activities, 239-390-5550.

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#lecture #Florida #ecosystems #flowers #comparison

December 10, 2024

The Evolution of Japanese Gardens: Exploring Dramatic Cultural Influences – Part 2

The cultural changes of Japan are fascinating and profound. Journey with me and see how they have significantly influenced gardening on Honshu and all art in Japan. This posting is a generalized recapitulation of the history. It will help you follow the cultural forces as they change through time. Powerful characters in that history built these gardens and structures. We will look for the demonstration of these influences by interpreting the evolving style and content of their gardens.

The featured image is a shinto shrine. Be sure to see the earlier posting, Cultural Insights from Japan’s Stunning Garden Landscapes.

Types of gardens:

We will look at three types of gardens which were made and modified over the last thousand years. I have selected Japanese history to follow the gardens. All of the gardens were made with special intention. In Japan there are three identifiable types of gardens; wilderness, production and formal (classical). These will be individually discussed in the posts to follow.

Early Development:

Shinto:

Shinto is an ancient veneration based faith. It is native to Japan. It may have originated ~300 BCE. It is not a true religion. It attributes veneration to spiritual Kami; avatars of people, objects and forces in natural settings. The Shinto shrine is simple and rustic. It has specific elements and design style emphasizing nature. This is the earliest referenced form of Japanese gardens. The natural elements and symbolic representations in design are in nearly all subsequent classical Japanese gardens.

Buddhism:

Buddhism is a philosophic, faith based life style. It originated in India and came to Japan ~400 AD. It emphasizes simplicity, restrained behavior, self awakening, and reincarnation using meditation. There are many forms of Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is a Samurai adaptation of one of the extant Buddhist sects. It is more severe in imaging and its gardens are characterized by the use of stones, gravel and sand. The arrangement is designed for stationary meditation not for walking. This form of faith acknowledges the concept of limitations. The gardens encourage transcendence of the limitations of the objects.

Entrance gate to Buddhist monastery / garden

IMPERIALISM:

Walking path in a large and complex Kyoto Imperial garden. It includes Shinto elements of water, bridge, trees and shrubs, lanterns and other Kami references.

The emperors of Japan have a long and troubled history. They date back to 1000 BC well before written history. Imperial power has risen and fallen at lease three times in recorded history. In the last period, Imperial power did not return until after the second visit of Commodore Matthew Perry. He was sent by the US president to force the trade. Japanese nationalists precipitated the overthrow of the Shogun and reestablish the power position of the Emperor.

Samurai: CODE

Samurai warriors had a moral code of ethics and behavior. Their training started in childhood. It focused not only in strength but also intelligence. When they were not fighting or training their combat skills they practiced self reflection, studied philosophy, literature, and the arts. They showed discipline, frugality, kindness, honesty, personal duty & honor, athletics, military skills, military strategies and political savvy. Ultimately they were trained to be fearless in battle. They were rewarded with currency, land and promotion.

The samurai developed a complex hierarchal order. The shogun was the highest rank of military commander. The feudal land lords were called daimyo. The shogun and his samurai provided military protection to the emperor and the daimyo. Through aggressive civil warfare attrition, one Shogun eventually dominated. This resulted in the end of civil strife, a unified Japan and peace which lasted for 200 years. In total, samurai directed an inalienable influence for 600 years.

The White Castle built buy the samurai Shogun

Politics and civil war:

Two Samurai armies fighting for opposing Shogun who seek domination of territory and power. (Source Anonymous)

The four current and historic Japanese capital cities are on Honshu. Each has a palace with gardens built for an emperor. These palatial gardens were made for the royal entourage for pleasurable encounters. They were used for meetings, entertainment, and celebrations for those with imperial access. In private, the emperor entertained his friends and families, concubines and eunuchs and his other supporters. They were used for and socialization, fun, intrigues, scheming, and planning. They had outer buildings and walkways. There were surrounding walls and moats with defensive designs. A class of defensive warriors was encouraged to defend the high culture class. These men called samurai were dedicated and highly trained. They were better than the ancient Greek Spartans .

Mid development:

The Shoguns were highly successful leaders of the Samurai warrior class. Regional Shoguns built castles with associated buildings as well as gardens. These were strategically placed for conflict management and defense. Daimyo and Samurai also built traditional gardens because they had land and power to pay and support them. These private gardens were used as retreats for meditation and rest.

Late Development:

During this period political pressure reduced support for some and increased support for other gardens. During the 1600-1850 (Eco) period Buddhism was controlled by the shogun. During the 1886 -1912 (Meiji) period the government forced a separation of Shinto from Buddhism. Buddhism was persecuted because it was considered a foreign influence. State money was no longer directed to the massive and expansive Buddhist monasteries and gardens. They deteriorated in structure and appearance. Shinto increased in importance and along with Confucian thoughts were strongly supported by the State. This accomplished four valued behaviors. It reduced the power of a passive Buddhist ideology. It reinforced commitment to Japanese nationalism. It forced discipline, militarism and ethnic superiority. This also supported naturalistic idealism and devotion to the Emperor, the State and ancestral heritage. The samurai were outlawed. The military continued the defensive and offensive duties and many of the ethics of the samurai. The leadership pursued fanatic militarism and ultra-nationalism. To capitalize on the gains of WW I and to compete with the western powers, in 1931 all resources of Japan were committed to expansion through “total war”.

Continuing Development:

The sequela of the bombing of Japan during World War II, particularly in cities like Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki was devastation. The death toll was enormous. Among cultural artifacts, traditional Japanese gardens were too, heavily damaged or completely destroyed as a result of the conflict. There is insufficient data for a true count. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of national treasured gardens were lost.

Through military force, the USA substantially altered the Japanese culture early by gunboat and later by atomic bomb diplomacy. The first time was opened the borders to international trade and introduction of advanced technology. The second opportunity opened Japan to multilateral, international, equilateral negotiation and trade without warfare.

This leveling of the field has allowed the Japanese people to cooperate with other nations and peoples. They assimilated and develop new ideas without loosing their identity. They now share their culture with others. The Namba Park is an excellent example of post-modern architecture and garden blended into the urban center of Osaka.

Conclusion

Many factors influenced the Japanese gardens: The Shinto veneration set the basics of the Japanese garden. Once established, the Samurai character and Shinto/Buddhist beliefs pervaded through the culture. My interpretation of the gardens emotes a display of discipline, unwavering moral values, intelligence, honor, and duty. The people of Japan have demonstrated continued adaptablity. The gardens of tomorrow will reflect the constants and the changes.

Period, era and influence and characteristics summarizing the progress of Japanese gardens

Topics for your discussion on the discussion board

Have we answered the question posed in the previous posting? “Can some value in Japanese ethnographic field work be extracted from study of the iconography of Japanese gardens ?” How do you see the evolving relationship of Shinto, Buddhist and Samurai behavior? Please show and interpret examples of your local gardens that reflect the thinking, philosophies or values of your community.

If you have expert knowledge in Japanese gardens please share your thoughts or images in the discussion board. This will help us all learn more.

If you want to enter into a dialogue please use the discussion board and engage in group participation.

NEXT

In our next posting we will explore the three forms of gardens in Japan.

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Recommendations for film lovers:

Yojimbo by the award winning director Akira Kurosawa

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan, A period docudrama currently on Netflix directed by Stephen Scott,

Last Samurai Standing a docudrama currently on Netflix staring Tom Cruise, directed by Michihito Fujii

The Last Samurai, A period docudrama on Netflix directed by Edward Zwick,

Reference texts:

•Japan, DK Eyewitness, Penguin House, Dorling Kindersley, 2000

•The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Benedict R., Houghton Mifflin, 1946, 1957, 1967. 2005

•Judgement at Tokyo, Bass G.J., Alfred Knoff, 2023

•Zen Gardens, Masuno S., Tuttle Publishing, 2012

•Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

•Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

#gardens #Japan #Shinto #samurai #Buddism #Shogun # culture #imperialism #history #philosophy #art

November 15, 2024

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease: Threatening Caribbean Reefs, Wildlife and Ecosystems

This is a follow-up publication on Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. It describes the findings in the coral reefs in the Cayman Islands during a week in mid April, 2024. The travel to the island was reasonably easy and the accommodations onboard the live-aboard cruise were good. The conditions of the reef life and tropical fish however was disheartening. We have a big problem.

The featured image was made from a view of the sunset from the port on Grand Cayman island. The sunset may be symbolic of the future diving in the Caribbean. I hope that there is a recovery in the future.

As reported in four previous posts (Death in Paradise), there is a continuance of even greater proportions seen during this trip. I reported on the findings on the reefs around Roatan Island off the coast of Honduras two years ago. The condition of the reefs showed considerable loss of the polyp life because of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). It was quite extensive and showed nearly 70% loss of life. At night the coral showed a significant loss of fluorescence because of the large dead areas of coral polyps. During the day one could see the areas of exposed stony skeleton of the reef.

The reef at multiple sites of the Cayman Islands including Grand, Little and Brack, has been devastated by the disease. The population of the reef fish is also significantly diminished. I did not make a count of the fish or of the areas of dead coral. Because of the extent of the dead coral there was no reasonable way for me to make an accurate comparison. It was very distressing. With the option to make 20 dives I made only 12. There was nothing worthwhile to see. I would estimate more than 80% to 90% loss of polyp life.

In conversation with other experienced divers on board the ship they said that they saw similar conditions across many of the Caribbean islands from Bonaire to the Mayan coast. Generally, they were unaware of the cause of the polyp depletion but said that it looked the same as in the Caymans. The less experienced divers were unaware of the problem and were happy to be in the warm water (85.5 degrees F). There was still some interesting wildlife but is was very reduced when compared to the concentration I had seen as little as 5 years ago.

50% of central coral head is dead. All of the surrounding coral is dead.

70% of brain coral is dead. Surrounding coral is lifeless.

nderwaterOther areas typical of the reefs showing the discruction of the polyps.

Caribbean Spiny Lobster (*Panulirus argus*) It was good to see a lobster but formerly there were dozens.

Mating Flamingo Tongues (*Cyphoma gibbosum*)

Hawksbill turtle (*Eretmochelys imbricata*) Critically endangered.

Rough file clam (*Ctenoides scaber*). Similar to the disco-clam seen in the Palau reefs.

There was still life in the Caribbean but it may be below the 100-foot depth accessible for divers and also for much of the live that requires light. The life forms that were readily apparent were mostly bottom feeding animals. Sponges and soft fans were still alive and did not seem to be affected by the SCTLD.

The effects upon the economy that are a result of reef polyp loss are not readily available, however, many of the recreational hospitality workers are questioning their future employment opportunities. I suspect that there may be some resistance in these businesses to make these issues more public.

There has been some publication of the research into the cause of the disease and it seems that researchers have identified an infection. “Results suggest that the bacterial community may be involved in SCTLD, but other members of the holobiont (i.e., viruses and Symbiodiniaceae) may contribute to lesion progression”.^1, ²

Vectors and process of viral action is not yet publicized ³. One should not expect a recommended solution for a cure until much further research will be done. I anticipate that it may take decades and that the reef corals will not survive at the current rate of disease progress. This has a direct impact on the southwest coast of Florida.

If you have observed the effects of SCTLD in other areas of the Caribbean or other places in the world please engage in the SCTLD dialogue in the discussion board.

References: Where 2. and 3. are specifically related to work done in Florida reefs.

1. A meta-analysis of the stony coral tissue loss disease microbiome finds key bacteria in unaffected and lesion tissue in diseased colonies

2. Microbial Community Shifts Associated With the Ongoing Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Outbreak on the Florida Reef Tract

3. Viral-Like Particles Are Associated With Endosymbiont Pathology in Florida Corals Affected by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

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#SCTLD #Stony coral tissue loss disease #coral #turtle #nudibrank # Flamingo tongue #coral polyp #file clam

June 27, 2024

Feathered Friends Found on Our Tour of SWFL Preserves

We had an opportunity to explore three distinctly different areas in Southwest Florida. Discussion of these focused on upland systems that ranged from the interior of the Everglades to the Gulf of Mexico costal planes. The earlier posts described the geography and associated plants. Animals were also found. Here are some of the feathered vertebrate species: Avians. The animal classification will follow the previously posted bird Clades. The important lesson learned here is animals predate on each other and share the environment by mutual specialization. We will discuss the significance of this concept after we have a chance to see the animals. There are some general observations which may be time or seasonal related conditions. During exploration of the various locations the song birds were less frequently found in the flatwoods. Additionally, the waterfowl were never found in the pine or scrubby flatwoods. The raptors were found in all explored areas.

The featured image is a nesting American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with chick. This very large nest is in a hardwood, upland Slash pine near a creek.

THE BIRDS:

There were three types of birds which I photographed. All of them are wonderous in their appearance, behavior, songs, and interactions with their surroundings. To really appreciate them you must go into the field, be patient, watch and listen. I could not photograph all I saw and this is not an encyclopedia of all that are present. The following posts are an opportunity to show what to expect to see when you are there. They will have more selected photographs of some of these magnificent animals.

Waterfowl:

Including: Spoonbill, Storks, Egret, Herron, Anhinga, Duck and others

This pair of Wood Storks were feeding deep in a swamp

Raptors:

Including: Hawk, Eagle, Falcon, Osprey, Owl and others

Red Shouldered Hawk has a nest in a hard wood upland portion of Corkscrew Swamp.

Songbirds:

Including: Cat bird, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Finch, Warbler and others.

Black and White Warbler eating insects found under Cyprus bark in Corkscrew Swamp

Some birds were out of range of the telephoto lens, some were covered by foliage, some were too fast or not in focus and some were not to be found because of seasonal changes. I did my best but we are not done. Further exploration will provide an opportunity to see more, enjoy the spectacle and photograph the events.

References:

Wood Stork

Red shouldered hawk

Black and White Striped Warbler

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#Florida birds #birds

March 16, 2024

Pine Flatwood / Scrubby Flatwood – Part 1

Here is our chance to see and compare exploration experiences These are observations of a Pine flatwood in Estero Bay State Preserve, Florida which we will compare to an observed hummock system. In theory, this flat should not be here in South West Florida because the karst is close to the surface however other soil conditions are present.* We explored a Florida hard wood hummock in the last two post. Part one of this observation shows the general landscape**. Part two will show the details of the smaller scrub plants.

The feature image is the Florida State flower. The Tickseed (Coreopsis Leavenworthii)

The Florida Estero Bay Preserve comprises 11,300 acres (17 square miles) and is part of the Estero River delta. It has a complex assembly of plants and animals. There are two entrances. The southern River Scrub entrance was chosen because it opens into a scrubby flatwood pine area. Often this area is wet, however, today the specific area of interest was the dry scrub area. February is among the seasonally drier months and the plants should be typical of the reserve’s description.

This feature image is emblematic of a SWFL Pine flatwoods. They are characterized by:
Low, flat topography
Relatively poorly drained, acidic, sandy soil
Plant growth composed of open pine woodlands with frequent fires

The last time I was here was in February 2023, three months after hurricane Ian flooded this area with salt water to a depth of more than twelve feet. I then reconnoitered the area for just an hour with the intention to revisit with good preparation. On this day I was surprised to find the area reasonable vital however, some of the grasses and palm trees were still quite distressed.

February 2023. The only live oak in the area was easy to see, but could not be found Feb 2024.

February 2024. This slash pine did not survive the hurricane and flood surge.

The walk-about:

For nearly five hours I walked through a five-mile portion on and off the trails in the southeastern portion of the preserve. The trails were well marked, wide and relatively easy to hike. Off the trails, it was very difficult to make any headway. I was insufficiently prepared for the hazards of the flats. Because of the dangerous anatomy of the saw palmetto growth, it was nearly impossible to walk.

Savanna like flat covered with saw palmettos. Slash pines were about 10 meters apart.

The Scrub flat seen a year ago is in recovery. The palm has scorched bark.

This pine flatwood area was burned last year and has made an excellent regeneration. In the middle of the picture the lower leaves of the palm burned however, the crown is still intact.

This area was burn after hurricane Ian, The defoliation is is the result of both storm surge wind damage and prescribed burn. Many of the plants suffered and died as as result of the salt water immersion.

This return visit was exactly one year after the last. This area is very open and bright. The savannah like landscape was covered with low growth saw palmetto and grasses. This was regularly punctuated by sabal palm and slash pine trees. The difference between this pine flatwood and the hardwood hummock of the C.R.E.W. could not be more dramatic. When compared to the hardwood hummock, the flats had very few large gymnosperms such as the live oak trees. There were no hummock islands of bunched trees. While this walk-about was during midday there were few insects or birds. It was very quiet. One mated pair of ospreys were flying through the trees near the river. They occasionally ventured into the flats.

Tidal swamp land with brackish water tolerant plants including mangroves.

Unburned flood tidal marsh areas were not explored; however, they seem to be fully covered with mangroves. Photos of that area show the limit of the walk to the northwest.

Riverbank of part of the Estero River delta with mangrove.

Chart of Estero Bay South – Ecosystems,
walking detail. Red line is the walking trail.

Discussion:

The hardwood hummock had a range of elevations. The high ground was about 10 inched above the pond level. Contrarily, this ecosystem is very flat and at this time of the year is dry. The hardwood hummock had live oak trees with some pines and palms. The flatwood area at this location is populated almost exclusively by slash pines with a few palms and oaks. The understory is scrub consisting mostly of saw palmettos. Walking toward the wetlands, some hardwoods were in the ectotone between the flats and the wetland mangroves. .

There is much more to see in this preserve. During dry periods, the southern portion could be traversed on the paths by bicycle. Go to part two of this exploration!

References:

*Natural Resource certification

**Scrubby pine flatwoods

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#pine flatwood #scrubby flatwood #prescribed burn #tidal marsh #surge #saw palmetto, #ecotone

February 25, 2024

Florida C.R.E.W. Hardwood Hummock – Part 2

This is a description of the grassy and herbaceous undergrowth of this small part of the C.R.E.W. Together with the Part 1 post, the purpose of this presentation is to reduce the confusion of seemingly random plants and to help you understand why you see the what and why of the plants you see when you explore this type of wilderness area.

The featured image shows the “American beauty berry” in the understory. It was found along the trail to the live oak hummock on the path in the C.R.E.W. Cyprus Dome Cypress Hummock. This is second of a two part presentation of this area. The part one has the GPS location, charts and maps and describes the walk-about of the Corkscrew Reserve Environmental Watershed.

Perhaps the best way to understand the hydrology and geology for an area is to look at the plants. They have adapted themselves to use the area without the need to follow the resources like the animals. In fact the animals seek out the plants for survival. In these two presentations you can see the variances in plant anatomy and physiology through a series of locations. The plant adaptations have taken eons to reach the characteristics that make them identifiable as genus and apecies. The plants have the ability to adapt to the changing environment using two tools. These include plant succession and genetic mutation. Succession occurs when an ecosystem changes gradually or even catastrophically. This may cause the plant climax species to expire. Opportunistic species then overtake an available environmental niche. Mutations are genetic changes that take place at a known rate and this may result in variations which are better adapted to survive in an ecosystem. These mutations can be cumulative and can be perpetuated in the genome of subsequent progeny by inheritance of the variance.

Two signs of animal activity. The bear has slashed through the outer surface of a palm to feast on the honey made by a nest of bees.

This is a view into the scrub before the pond. From this distance the green mid-growth seems to be mangroves.

Here is a scene off the path toward the marsh with reeds and sedges and other grasses.

Thorn apple bush (*Crataegus alabamensis*) with the thorns as an identifier.

Possible Florida alligator weed with changing colors

This view is in the periphery of the transition zone with no oaks but many palms and saw palmetto dominating the understory.

Coastal plain grass-leaved-goldenrod (*Euthamia* *caroliniana)* (I think)

Shiny blueberry (*Vaccinium myrsinites*)

Meadowsweet at the edge of the hardwood hummock. Identification of this would be better if the blooms were fresh.

This is a sample of plants in the late transition zone. Note the oak tree litter which acts as a plant inhibitor. Though the “beans” contain no caffeine, they can be roasted and consumed as a coffee-like beverage.*

Bull thistle (*Crisium vulgare*), Invasive

Rosary pea (*Abrus precatorius*), invasive, highly toxic.

Beauty berry *(Callicarpa americana)*. The berries are edible to humans, although should be consumed in small amounts. Raw berries are edible, but generally are used to make jellies and wines.**

Observation of a confined area environment is a complicated but fun puzzle. The area should be visited during multiples of seasons, time of day intervals and length of observation to begin to grasp a comprehensive understanding of the area and begin to understand the reasons for classification and to understand the interactions of the plants and animals. Even simple identification is difficult when the plants are not blooming or in leaf. From this first time visit it can be discerned that there is a progression of plant types and land elevations in this small area. At the end of this presentation there is a simplified map of the area under observation.

This image of the understory in the oak hummock canopy shows the more dense plant undergrowth. This may occur because the oak tree litter is less prevalent and because some plants are less susceptible to the shedding of oak allelopathogens..

This is a sample of plants in the late transition zone. Note the abundance of oak tree litter which acts as a plant inhibitor.

No oak tree litter here and hence no trees, however, there are many herbaceous plants. That is a Fritillary Butterfly.

This simplified chart shows the four major ground areas that were observed. The hardwood hummock is about ten inches higher than the scrub flats. The scrub flats are about two inches above the level of the pond water.

The undergrowth depends upon water, sunlight, soil minerals and a range of allelopathic inhibitors. Be sure that you check out part 1 of this series. This understory is very different from that found in the Estero River Scrub Preserve State Park. We will go there in the near future.

Here is a recommendation. Go out into the nearby wilderness area. Pick a quiet spot and try to identify the type of environment classification you see or identify the undergrowth plants. It can be a fun and an educational challenge! Share your experiences or photos in the comment box below.

Reference:

Wild Coffee1

Wild coffee 2

Wild Weeds – American Beautyberry

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#hummock #succession #mutation #climax species #herbaceous understory #CREW #allelopathic #oak hummock #scrub flats #hydrology #geology

February 13, 2024

Flowering Trees of SW Florida

We need a break form hurricane damage remediation. Some of these images and more were shown on previous postings. They are repeated here because many of these trees and flowers were damaged or lost during the hurricane Ian storm of 2022 and therefore are no longer available. We need a reminder of the past and promise of the future.

The freely available image is featured as the opener is copied from a Cindy Shuder-Sandine Facebook posting and attributed to a military reconnaissance photo. It shows hurricane Ian as it landfalls on Fort Myers beach 20 miles from where I live. It speaks a thousand words.

The flowers of the Bauhinia tree are stunningly beautiful with lavender petals and veiny traces of red made to attract the eyes of the beholder. The flower has male anthers full of pollen. In fact, in an ecstatic burst it releases its stamens full of thousands of pollen grains. The sensuous perfume attracts hummingbirds and bees. These hungry messengers dip into the sweet deep recesses of the flower and pick up the pollen and can carry it into the receptive flower of a female tree. In fact, it has its own female calix organelle within the same flower. It should be able to self-pollinate. But wait! The flowers bear no ova. It cannot reproduce sexually. It is baren. There will be no fertilized seeds. All that blossom is for enjoyment only. Most people who casually look at the gorgeous orchid like flower are unaware of the frustration of the tree which must propagate from cuttings at the whim of gardeners and lovers of the flowers.

Hong Kong orchid tree (*Bauhinia blakenia)*

The flowering trees have many secrets from most people. Flowers of some trees may never be seen by seasonal residents. They may bloom during the hot and humid seasons. An example of this is the Flamboyant Royal Poinciana tree. It blooms in the summer when our population is much smaller than that of the tourist season. Of all flowering trees, it has the most breathtaking beauty of riotous red and orange blossom.

Flamboyant Royal Poinciana, AKA Flame Tree

Contrarily, some residents are unaware of the lack of some blooms during their absence. An example of this is the Golden Trumpet tree which shows its fertility in yellow colors for three weeks during spring break. The benefit of our climate is that it is tropical. The weather provides an opportunity to have a continuous parade of seasonal flowers in Florida. There is never a time when something is not blooming.

Through the years, resident and community efforts have enhanced our neighborhoods with many plants. The trees are the most outstanding because of their height and spread of their branches. They also hold that secret prize. In certain seasons they burst out with colors and shapes that are beyond wordy description. The images that were captured in these photographs are beautiful and pictures are indeed worth a thousand words. Beyond the visual impact they give us a breath of perfume and an earful of rustling music as their leaves clatter against one another. These images are just a sample of the dozens of flowering trees in our neighborhood of SWFL

The flowering trees are appealing not only to us but also to a menagerie of animals from insects, reptiles, and birds. Most of all the flowers of the male plants are attractive to the female plants. The resulting reproductive products of fruits, nuts and seeds can be delicious as well as nutritious to a wide range of creatures.

The colors of the flowers seem to be the most fascinating aspect of their appearance. The approximation of contrasting or complimentary hues and chromas is at times so obvious and sometimes so surprising. Sometimes it is shocking and other times it is soothing. There never seems to be an unpleasant combination. They seem to be more alive and sensuous than their cousins with less showy highlights like the oaks or even more so than the conifers.

It is such a treat to explore the streets, lanes, gardens, and wilderness to find something new or to see a variation of something familiar. Walking or bicycling provides an excellent opportunity to see and stop to appreciate the details and odors. It is a chance to see which other plants and animals are associated with the flowering trees. These cohabitations can be as intriguing as the flower. It can lead to an exploration of the details of environmental impact and an appreciation of ecological systems. I hope that you are inspired to go out and look for the trees and inspect them and perhaps appreciate their mysteries, of colors, shapes, timing, and scents.

Dwarf Powderpuff (Calliandra haematocephala) attracting bees.

The flowering trees shown here originate from all over the world including Africa, South and Central America, China, and India and more. Untold secrets of these trees are yet to be discovered. What species of butterflies and moths are attracted to the various trees. Do the non-native trees interact or communicate with the native plant population? Are the plant defenses and pheromones compatible with the local insect population and microbial biota? There is still so much to discover.

Pride of India (*Lagerstroemia speciosa*)

Malibar Chestnut AKA (*Pachira aquatica*) (Money Tree),

The full list of the Flowering Trees of SW FL in found on Pages section of this site. It shows names, colors, sun exposure etc. They also can be geolocated on the Everglades Ark Epicollect data base site, There have been several other postings on this site showering the flowering trees during the special seasons .

#Scrambled Egg Tree #Glaucous Cassia #Malibar Chestnut #Pachira aquatica #Jacaranda #Jacaranda mimisifolia #Cassia #African Tulip #Spathodea campanulate #Red Silk Floss #Ceiba speciosa #White Silk Floss #Rose of Venezuela #Brown macrophyllia #Plumeria, hot pink #Pink Shower #Cassia #Coral Bean #Pride of India #Dwarf Powderpuff #Calliandra haematocephala #Pink Shower #Purple Glory AKA Princess flower #Lagerstroemia speciosa #Pink Shower #Golden Trumpet #Tabebuia chryaotricha #Magnolia #Golden Trumpet #Tabebuia chryaotricha #Flamboyant Royal Poincieana, yellow #Flamboyant Royal Poinciana # Flame Tree #Bauhinia blakenia #Hong Kong orchid tree

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April 22, 2023

Rhinoceros to Rhinosaurus

The Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is the only remaining of the African Big Five animals to be presented in our African Safari posting series. The reason they are marginalized is that there are very few remaining in the wild. The rhinoceros is a severely endangered species. We saw only three of them and they all were captives in highly guarded reserve areas. It may become the first of the big five to become extinct and this could easily happen within our lifetime. In the estimate of the South African government the “killing of rhinos by hunting will exceed that of births by next year, thus precipitating a slide towards the extinction abyss.” Without drastic measures they will be wiped out as surely as the dinosaurs.

The featured image shows the horns of the rhinoceros. These are the prize for which they are savagely and illegally hunted. All images were made in Botswana.

Yearling foal of the mare rhinoceros. On these few specimens rests the survival of the 7 million year old species.

The drastic procreative measures include extraordinary protection from poachers and other hunters, careful management for natural breeding programs, promotion of high-tech breeding programs using artificial insemination and hormone management for increased fertility.

Rhinos are poorly understood therefore breeding is not easy. They have a long gestation period; the inter-birth interval appears to be ~3 to 4 years; sexual maturity of the female may be up to age seven; males up top ~10 years; fertility also may depend on ovulation cycle, hormone levels, and the size of pre-ovulatory follicles. Life span is ~40 yrs. Adult weight is 2.5K to 4K pounds. Management is difficult because they are not docile animals. Maximum possible offspring per life time is ~ 06.

The result of a successful breeding. Mare and foal grazing together.

Adult White Rhinoceros with double horn still intact grazing on short grass in protected conservatory. “White”is perhaps an English mistranslation of the Dutch word “wijd”which means “wide”. The wide refers to the width of the rhinoceros’ lower jaw.

There is some hope that breeding programs will at least stabilize the population. With the cooperative effort of the government of South Africa, Botswana “will become the next Noah’s Ark for rhinos in Africa”. The exact location of the breeding stations was not disclosed. There are also private animal breeders who specialize in these large animals.

On this trip we saw multiple endangered animal species including the Hartebeest, Gravy’s zebra, Rothschild’s Giraffe, Wild Dogs, Roan antelope, Thompson’s gazelle and the lesser Kudu. There are others which we did not see like the Pangolin and the Sable antelope.

My general suggestion is to visit the African nations that promote the wildlife and are safe to visit. See the animals, plants and ecosystems while you can because the future is unpredictable.

#rhinoceros #Africa #Kenya Botswana #rewinding #breeding #endangered #extinct #horns #poaching #

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References:

Rhino conservation controversy

Rhino breeding program

Rhino conservation in Botswana

Rewinding with rhinos

Rhino reproduction and development

January 23, 2023

Hippo Home

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) are always near water. Most often they are in the water where they can be submerged. This blog recounts three African experiences. There was an exception. In one of the camps where we stayed a small hippo was scampering under the board walk and into the woods in the evening. I believe that it was in the camp where it could take shelter from the local pride of lions. In the Okavango delta the hippos were in the river system and not very visible. When in the river of Chobi they were more visible from the stream and facing the bank. There they would submerge and occasionally reemerge to walk in the bank.

The feature image is a portrait of a hippo in the Mara river n Kenya

The cows were watchful of their young as they both ate their fill of the grass. It was clear that there was some social group interaction among the adults. They tended to stay in loose proximity. This was really evident in the area of the Mara river in the savanna of Kenya. While in the river they were not interactive with the nearby crocodiles. The crocodiles know better and keep their distrance.

Typical hippopotamus on land grazing after soaking up some sun. The white sand on the belly will wash off then it hits the water.

Looks like a Mara river love-in . The giant animals seem so benign.

There was an occasion which was somewhat unexpected. Looking at the placidity of a small lake a dark bump breached the surface. In a few moments it became apparent that this was a very large adult hippo. It began to walk to and up the bank of the shore. This was a really big animal, perhaps the size of a small SUV.

—-+—-

A Survivor

It was silent and ponderously slow. The slow gate might not have been due to its size but rather because of the large gaping wound in its left shoulder. It was deep and relatively recent but no longer bleeding. He was moving away from the lake and toward the woods.

Slowly climbing out . There seemed tto be a problem

It is now obvious that the animal had been injured.

We followed it for perhaps 50 yards. The wound was easily seen. Now it could be identified as two large parallel gouges through the skin and into the muscle. The hide in that area is tough, usually about two inches thick. Add to that the penetration through the four inches of flesh layers below the skin and you have some idea about the severity of the injury. The muscle was not severed but the skin through the fat layer was missing. I hope that the resulting infection won’t be too bad. There will be a big scar.

The injury had two vertical parallel gashes the they were a perfect fit for hippo lower tusks. The hide and fat had been scraped away exposing the muscle. Look at the rest of the hide and you can see that this big boy has seen a lot of fighting.

The distance between the two wounds and their general shape strongly suggested that these were caused by the two lower tusks, The skin remaining was ripped upwardly. These were probably made by a rival hippo. They were apparently acquired during an epic battle between two mammoth hippopotami.

The fight must have been just hours ago during the night. I wonder what the other guy looked like. The other contestant was not in sight. This fellow, with help of the birds, was tending to his wounds. This wasn’t his first encounter. He had been in other scrapes and had the scars to show. These fights can be deadly. It looks like this guy will be back for another day. Hippopotamus are reported to kill approximately 500 people per year making them the deadliest vertebrate animal in Africa

#hippopotamus #wound #herbivore #aquatic #fight #dominance #Africa #Maasai Mara #Botswana

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January 19, 2023

Antelope Species of Botswana and Kenya

The antelope species make up the vast majority of Africa’s wild mammal population.* There are millions of them grazing across the land. They are vegetarian. Grazing animals consume the annual growth of the Savana and woodlands. They trim the grass, shrubs and trees. They are prey for the carnivores and spread the seeds of the plants. They are an integral part of this great ecosystem.

The feature image is a magnificent male Greater Kudu in a forested area of the Okavango Delta

These animals are part of an animal clade called Ungulates^(**) because of their toes with hooves. The ungulates also have horns that are bilaterally symmetric without branches but with variations such as twists, spirals, rings and flutes. These appendages are bone covered with keratin. They are well adapted to their coarse vegetarian diet and have a specialized digestive system which allows them to digest cellulose.

They all move together in groups because safety is in numbers. Part of that behavior includes mixing with a herd of other similar grazing animals for added protection. Included in this group are Gazelle, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Eland, Reedbuck, Gerenuk, Dik-dik, Kudu (lesser & greater), Wildebeest, Ayala, Bongo, Oryx and Impala.

My first introduction to the antelopes was a charmer. The little doe wandered into our campsite and simply walked in front of me as if by magic. Fortunately, I had my camera and like it was by plan she waited and posed for me for this portraits.

Cape Bush Buck faun. This animal is usually shy but will become habituated to humans and stay near the lodge. A real cutie!

These animals had the most interesting behaviors, colors and horns. I found the Impala to be the most beautiful. They have such large eyes and their coats are gorgeous; so shiny and without any blemishes. The distinctive markings on their rumps are narrow vertical black stripes. They are also very busy. Unlike the big cats, they are always involved in some activity. Since they are grazers they eat the low grasses. This unfortunately distracts their attention and they can’t look up for dangerous prey like lions or dogs. Therefore, when you see them, there is a rotation of grazers and sentinels with their heads up. When they are chased or pursued they are extraordinarily fast and agile. When fighting for dominance in their herd they use their horns, sometimes with deadly precision.

Female Impalas (*Aephyceros melampus*) in wooded area of the Okavango. Note their shorter horns compared to the males.

Two male impala dueling with interlaced horns They were probably sparing and not fighting for dominance because the males were not separated from the females. Boys! Be careful when you play with those sharp things!

Male and female Impala drinking from a small creek in Maasai Mara. These antelope were everywhere. They were probably the most numerous and sometimes they herded together in groups of 50 or more.

Hoof print of an antelope. Probably Impala. Note the “split” of the keratin hoof, showing the characteristic two toes. (***)

Impala and Lesser Kudu sharing space at the riverside in Chobe National Park, Okavango, Botswana. Check out the Impala scouting the background.

Perhaps one of the remarkable features of the giant Kudu antelopes was their spiral horns. Spiraled but nearly straight, the antlers of the Kudu were the most distinguished. The white stripes of their coats were also easily recognizable.

Greater Kudo, *(Tragelaphus strepsiceros)* with beautifully spiraled horns

Greater Kudu mixed with a herd of Zebra in the marshland of Okavango Delta of Botswana. It was easy to identify these large animals. Birds on the bodies of the Kudu eat the insects that are a pest for the large mammal.

Tsessebe are sometimes called the “Blue Jeans antelope” because of its distinctive leg coloration.

Lechwe (*Kobus leche*) Standing in front of our tent in late afternoon.

During a game drive through the shallow swamp the water buck obliged us with his massive ringed horns.

Water buck (*Kobus ellipsiprymnus*) In the Okavango Delta marsh.

If our guide had not pointed it out I would have easily missed seeing the Dik-dik. It is so small and blends so easily with the ground color that it was almost invisible. It was smaller than the tiny doe that visited the camp site on another occasion.

Dik-dik (*Madoqua kirkii*) Smallest of the antelope species is only18 inches tall.

Gerenuk (*Litocranius walleri*) standing on its hind legs eating leaves. This is a typical behavior.

Oryx (*Oryx beisa*) Long straight ringed horns and painted face are signature trademarks for this large animal.

Thompson’s Gazelle *(Eudorcas thompsonii)* Straight horns with rings dark band along the lateral aspect of the ribcage. Smaller than the Impala and the Grant’s gazelle. Almost as fast as a cheetah and very numerous.

Grant’s Gazelle (*Gazella granti*) (*Nanger granti*) White rump, straight horns and black facial patches. Beautiful dramatic evening lighting.

Hartebeest (AKA Kongoni) (*Alcelaphus buselaphus*) This is a very rare finding because this animal is facing imminent extinction. A five party group of them was grazing in the Maasai Mara.

Roan antelope (*Hippotragus equinus*). One of the largest of the antelope with a roan color or a reddish-brown coat.

Wildebeest (*Connabaetes taurines*). We have previously posted on this species of antelope and the Great Migration.

Along with the general mix of the population, the antelope species have an important and sometimes grim role in the African landscape. They are the object of the predators. We have already reviewed the predators of this region. Check out our blog site that describes the wild dogs of Africa.

References:

* Uganda antelope

** What is an ungulate?

*** African Animal Tracks

#antelope #Gazelle #Bushbuck #Waterbuck #Gerenuk, #Dik-dik #Kudu #Wildebeest #Oryx #Impala #Africa #Botswana #Okavango #Kenya #Maasai Mara #horns #hoof #ungulates

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January 7, 2023

African Itinerary and Campsites

The cover picture is sunset at the Savute safari lodge. It was our first camp site of the trip.

To give you a sense of location, distance and time this post provides maps, lodging, accommodations, and transport details

This map shows the scope of the trip:

Here is a map of the big picture locating the campsites of the African continent

Africa Camp sites were:

Savute Safari Lodge on the Savute Channel and water hole Linyanti, Botswana,
Camp Okavango on the remote Nxaragha Island on the edge of Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Chobe Game Lodge in the Chobe National Park on the Chobe River, Botswana
Sweetwaters Reserve, private 24,000-acre sanctuary, Kenya
Samburu Game Reserve, Kenya
Kichwa Tembo Camp in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

All of our accommodations were in “tents”. These were substantial secure structures with partial masonry walls and floors and included lavatories and toilets, electricity, beds with nets, flaps over screens that open to panoramic views of the wilderness and walking paths. The camp sites had a central hotel like area that included meeting and dining areas, full service bar, and observation decks,

We stayed two to four nights at each camp site. We took as many as four “game drive” trips from the central camp with a private driver/guide to see the surrounding countryside and wildlife. The vehicles were open sided with covered or convertible tops. In the afternoon there was always a civilized picnic from the parked car, parked in a cleared spot in the bush, with coffee, tea, mixed drinks or wine along with baked snacks. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were served buffet style at the camp site dining lodge.

Although the camps were fenced, animals were able to pass through the camp. Walking guests were always accompanied by staff in the twilight as they went to or from the central lodge. The animals were diverse and not threatening. On every walk in camp I saw small hippo, dic-dic, antelope, baboon, warthog or impala. Many of these were visible throughout camp during the day or night.

This fawn wasn’t shy and scampered along the elevated board walk providing photo opportunities.

Detailed map showing the relationship of the two locations and travel from Okavango to the Massai Mara

The travel distance between the two target areas is about 1500 miles by air. We flew from Okavango delta to Chobe by bush plane and then drove to Livingston and continued to Nairobi by jet. From Nairobi to the Sweetwater lodge we went by private car. From Sweetwater we flew to Kichwa Tembo.

The bush planes were modern single engine aircraft with a passenger capacity from 12 to 20 people. These bush planes did have a luggage weight limit of 30 pounds, however, it was not severely enforced. There were no scales and some passengers did have hard suitcases. I would not recommend pushing the regulations. There is no real need to take more as the weather is relatively constant and there are laundry options at all of the lodges.

There are other travel options such as automobile which were greater in duration and have additional risks. Driving from the Okavango to Massai Mara takes two days to cross Botswana Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya. Considering the condition of the roads, questionable accommodations, and cost differential I don’t thing that it is advisable.

Aerial: Are there roads in Okavango? The green is actually vegetation over the marshlands

Aerial: Nairobi to Moremi road. Yes, those are elephants crossing the road.

Road: Outsides of cities were lined by huts, stalls, standing people and motorcycles.

For more information, all of the camp sites and lodges have their own websites. They are reasonably accurate. If you consult the national websites they provide excellent detailed information. When we were in Zambia and Kenya no-one checked for yellow fever vaccination. There were no significant insects seen on our travel throughout our trip. We did wear long pants and shirts and hats for insect and sun protection. Most of our clothing was purchased from REI or Eddie Bauer. There was no internet service. Emergency communication services was available for guests through the business offices at most camp sites.

All of our travel arrangements were done through Nature Expedition International agency. I provided an agenda, list of desired observations and time schedule. The agent then shopped the trip to providers and agencies to build a trip. This included camp sites, accommodations and transportation. All meals were included. We arranged all of our in and out of Africa flights. These flights could be cancelled with full refund up to 24 hours prior to departure. We purchased travel insurance through Berkshire Hathaway Travel and did not include the cost of the flights.

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#Okavango #Kenya # travel #Savute Safari Lodge #Camp Okavango #Chobe Game Lodge #Sweetwaters Reserve #Samburu Game Reserve #Kichwa Tembo Camp

November 9, 2022

Wild Africa – A Trip In the Plan for 30 Years

An overview:

The previous posting on Africa showed the photographic preparation for the trip. This posting is an introduction to the upcoming blogs which will feature the animal and plant wildlife in more detail. This photo safari was planned for thirty years. It has been postponed three times. At last, this was the opportunity to go. Botswana and Kenya are the two countries we visited in sub-Saharan Africa. The reasons to go there were their diversity of wildlife, ecosystems, and safety. The month of August was selected to be timely to see the greatest density of animals in the most clement season. It was also an opportunity to look for the similarities and differences of the comparable African and US locations. Here are thoughts, impressions and recounting of the two weeks of experience there.

The title sunset image is typical of the African sky. The beautiful sunset red comes from sand and minerals of the desert suspended in the air and refracted by the light. These same sands which are blown across the Atlantic Ocean color our Floridian sunsets too.

This lengthy monologue is only a rudimentary description of a very large subject. It is intended to help understand and appreciate the reasons for these features seen on this expedition and to summarize the complexities of the climate, geology, the flow of water on the land, the interdependency of species and some similarities to areas in the USA. The two major eco systems were marshlands and savanna. In Botswana the wetlands of the Okavango delta were the focal point. In Kenya the savanna of the Maasai Mara section of the Serengeti was of greatest interest. The Okavango delta ecosystem has some similarities to the wetlands found in the Southwest Florida Everglades National and State Park systems. The Maasai Mara is more like the grasslands of Montana where, 250 years ago, buffalo, antelope, elk, and wolf roamed in their own great migration.

Climate and Geology:

The Okavango delta is 19 degrees south of the Equator. The Florida Everglades are 19 degrees north of the equator. They receive approximately the same amount of energy from the sun. The marshlands of the Okavango delta and the Florida Everglades are both essentially inland dispersions of fresh water. The Okavango is a unique feature of the Kalahari Desert. This delta is deep in the interior of the land mass and the climate is continental. Unlike the Everglades, it does not have the moderating exposure to a neighboring ocean. It has a soil basis of sand that averages 200 feet deep. On top of that is a soil of a few inches depth with mixtures of soil brought by wind, flood, and a thin organic compost. The average elevation is 3100 ft. The delta has three biome types that include savanna, woodlands, and swamp. The Okavango River supply is derived from the confluence of the Cubango and Cuito rivers in Angola. The annual flow reaches the delta between March and June with maximum flow in July. Additionally, there is seasonal 18-inch rainfall in the Okavango from November to February which adds to water shed.

Floridian Everglades are at sea level and are founded on petrified sea bottom called sedimentary rock with a high calcium carbonate basis called limestone. The Florida Everglades topsoil is an average 17-foot-thick layer of marl (calcitic mud), peat and muck. The Everglades are subtropical wetlands whose freshwater system begins near Orlando in the Kissimmee River. The average annual rainfall is 60 inches. The Everglades have a maritime weather with tropical storms and moderation of climate. Climatically, there are no hurricanes in the Okavango and in the Everglades there is no drought.

In support of the science of plate tectonics. The Americas and Africa were one land mass 200 million years ago.

The concept of moving plates of the crust of the earth suggests that at a distant time in the past the assembly of the plates separated into the various land bodies. The shapes of the land mass fragments seen today can be manipulated as puzzle pieces into a larger land mass that fits together quite well. This particular assembly is called Pangea. If this is how the continents formed then there is a strong relationship between the eastern geology of the Americas and the western African geology. This fit is not entirely perfect, however, when considering the length of time for the division to transpire it is remarkably good. This has been supported by substantial evidence of rock formations that span the continents.The science is based on continental fit, matching rocks, fossils, corals, mountains, glacial striations, magnetic lineages and direct measurement of the movement.

Plate tectonics

Comparison of ecosystems:

Water and Land:

About 98% of the water that goes into the Okavango delta is eventually lost through evaporation and transpiration. Transpiration results when water moves through the plant and evaporates from leaves and flowers. Despite the subtropical sun generating intense evaporation, the delta’s water is fresh, not salty. I was surprised by this because non circulating ponds of water in the middle parts of the islands have very high chemical and salt concentrations. This chemical concentration occurs in thousands of islands. The reason the water is fresh is that trees on the edges of the islands create a barrier of natural filters between the inner part of the islands and the floodplain. The second reason is a process of transpiration caused by trees. Water flows into the delta and carries with it silica and soluble minerals like sodium carbonate. As the water is lost from the trees, the silica and salts remain to build islands. The center of the islands concentrates the accumulated salt and as a result the vegetation dies from dehydration leaving a central bare white mineral spot. Termites facilitate island formation when they build nests of organic material, fungus, soil and water. These mounds of soil and nutrients promote tree and other plant growth. When the seasonal water rises the termites build skyward forming islands. Eventually the nest is abandoned to form a new colony. The mound then collapses from animal invasion and erosion. Termites are the keystone species of the Okavango. Without them the delta would be like the desert. Water would be lost, and life would be less dense and less diverse.The Okavango has no palm trees and pines are also nearly absent.

Pond in center of a large island in the Okavango delta. Salt has accumulated in the water causing the trees to dehydrate and die.

Okavango Savana, for centuries built from sedimentation and termite mound building. Trees in the center of the island died from dehydration caused by salt accumulation. Grass is a monocot and is salt tolerant. The termites moved out and the mound is vacant.

Intermittently flooded lowland in the high water season of the Okavango delta

Freely flowing fresh water in a branch of the Okavango river. The plant is Pampas grass (*Miscanthus juncos*).

The vegetation in Florida also plays an important role. The ocean barrier to salt invasion are mangroves which are salt tolerant. These mangroves are key to prevention of back flow of the salty ocean and hold the soil preventing erosion. Some fresh water flow does reach the ocean creating a relative partial positive pressure. The soils of the Everglades are rich in nitrates and farmers increase the nitrogen of a large portion of the Everglades. This has resulted in an overgrowth of a complex of bacteria species which feeds on the nitrates and deplete the nutrient value of the topsoil. The Everglades have no Acacia trees and lots of mosquitos.

The Kenyan savanna is climatically and geologically very different from the Okavango savanna. Kenya is at the Equator. It is a mile high in altitude and the soil is volcanic in origin. It is more like the area around Denver CO. It is surrounded by hills and mountains and has two rivers flowing through it. The major river flow is the Mara. The other is the Talek. It is part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem spanning Tanzania and Kenya and has been geologically very active with ancient and recent rock formations. It is in the Great Rift Valley. It is in this valley that the million-year-old petrified remains of very early hominoids have been found.

High planes savanna of the Maasai Mara portion of the Serengeti plane. Mt Kenya is on the right horizon.

River cut into the Mara plane providing water to the vegetation and wildlife. This is a spot where the Wildebeests would cross during their migration. They would climb the banks of the river during a stampede. The animals are subject to the risks of death from the crocodiles that ply the river during the crossing.

Igneous rock formation on exposed hill side in the western Mt Kenya highlands.

The plants and animals are widely different in speciation in these three areas but they have similar behavior. This may be the result of adaptation to similar geologic and weather conditions. The apex predators of all locations are big cats. All have eagles, egrets, large carnivorous reptiles and cats and lots of grass.

Human impact:

The effect of the behavior of large numbers of modern people on the Florida ecosystem is dramatically different from the African locations. The Everglades water flow is highly engineered and not necessarily for the best. Southward flow of the Florida delta is interfered by highways and farms to the point that it does not meet the sea as it original did. The Okavango delta also does not meet the sea. In Africa the observed locations have relatively low populations and have been benignly neglected or protected from hunting, industrialization, mining or drilling and farming so that the plants and animals have survived basically unchanged for centuries or even millennia.

Romancing Wild Africa:

We went to see the animal life of Africa and did not go to see the cities, towns, or villages. We did not have much contact with the people of the areas we visited. Africa is a huge, populous, resource rich continent with a history that dates to the origin of most species. There is great wealth and great poverty. Too many people have nothing. They live an impoverished stone age existence in the space age. I acknowledge that many of these are desperately poor and politically persecuted to enslavement and/or death. The NGOs, like CARE, work to help many but must be careful to manage their limited resources. They also try not to support the migrant people in camps to a better level than the local people. The native residents also live by subsistence on gardening, raising a few cattle, contract farm working, tourism, and crafts. Some also engage in a variety of illegal endeavors such as poaching and grazing their animals on park land. You can read the newspapers for details of other antisocial behaviors such as intertribal warfare, abduction, extortion, theft, civil insurrection etc. Desperate people do desperate things.

The wilderness of the savanna of Africa is nothing like anything in eastern US. There is no sense of luxury to the plants or the soil. Much of the topsoil is sand deposited by wind and water. The stark beige color varies little by the source of volcanic mineralization. The organic content is not a rich loam of plant breakdown. It is thin and the organic content is from the sparse droppings from animals or the occasional bush or more rarely from a tree. Animal droppings are recycled by the life on the planes and provide an episodic line of trees from incompletely digested seeds. The brilliant emerald green plants, startling blue sky and the breathtaking color of twilight is such a relief from the monotony.

Next:

We will look in greater detail at the findings of this two-week photo expedition in the following blogs. They will focus more on species than locations.

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#Africa #Okavango #Botswana #Kenya #Everglades #transpiration #Maasai Mara #salt #tectonics #transpiration #evaporation #Tanzania #marsh land #savanna

November 8, 2022

Category: Travel

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