Cypress strands form where high water level and sufficient flow generate a depression channel. Soils in Big Cypress Swamp are mostly derived from Tamiami limestone and quartz sands. Many authors do not attempt to discriminate between the two taxa, partly because of controversy over their taxonomic status and partly because of the difficulty of distinguishing them in the field. Throughout this writeup, where baldcypress and pondcypress have not been differentiated by the authors or where the information is applicable to both taxa, the term cypress will be used. Other species of Tillandsia are more common in central and southern Florida.
Cypress swamps play a unique role in animal ecology.
They do do not have a distinct fauna, sharing many species with adjacent plant comunities. Benthic invertebrates form the base of the food chain. A high diversity of invertebrates has been recorded for cypress domes and dwarf cypress savannas. Bird densities are higher in cypress swamps in winter than during breeding season, largely due to the presence of wintering birds that breed elsewhere. Most mammals occurring in cypress swamps occupy ecotones.