This section was designed to introduce the user to the forest ecosystems that exist to varying extents in the state of Florida. Coral reefs, inshore marine systems, mangroves, salt marshes, freshwater aquatic systems, and grassland ecosystems are not included in this section in order to maintain focus, but are of equal importance to those introduced here.
Wetlands are a major component of the Florida landscape.
Even today, after more than half of them have been lost, these ecosystems exemplify the way distinct plant communities can be interconnected and interdependent. Swamps , or forest wetlands, are widely distributed throughout the state. They fringe rivers, follow drainages and occupy small shallow ponds. Heads, galls, domes, bays, strands and hammocks are some of the swamp types that can be identified. Godfrey, R.K. 1988.