The Reptile Map

By: Irina Tabacila IntroductionFlorida’s diverse reptile species, from the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) to thegreen sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), play essential roles in the state’s ecosystems. Unfortunately,climate change threatens these species, affecting their habitats, behaviors, and even theirsurvival.Rising Temperatures and ReproductionFlorida’s warming climate has profound effects on reptile reproduction, especially for specieslike sea turtles, whose…

A keystone species is defined as a species that impacts its ecosystem proportionally more than the amount or presence of that species. Specifically, alligators are identified as a keystone species within the Everglades National Park of Florida. The Everglades National Park itself is over 1.5 million acres big and it is mostly composed of flooded…