Exploring the Diverse Ecosystems of New Jersey

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New Jersey, also known as “The Garden State”, is a small state located in the northeast region of the United States. It contains a variety of land ranging from mountains and ridges to beaches. There are multiple types of ecosystems that inhabit these areas such as forests and wetlands. These ecosystems provide vital economic and ecosystem services to the state and its environment. Ocean County, New Jersey is located in the coastal (eastern) section of the state, and is made up of flat land and beaches. In fact, when most people think of Ocean County, its shore and beaches is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But, because of its location, Ocean County is home to many different ecosystems- both terrestrial and marine. Of all of the …show more content…

Like Ocean County, south Florida has marshes, estuaries, rivers, streams, and uplands. However, since its climate is warm year round, the plant and animal life that inhabit these ecosystems are different. One of the major ecosystems found in south Florida is the Florida Everglades. It is an expansive, grassy, freshwater marsh and forms one of the largest and most complex ecosystems in North America.
Within the Florida Everglades, there are estuaries, prairies, lakes, rivers, and streams. Prairies surround the sawgrass marshes, which then give was to mangrove swamps. These ecosystems provide a home to almost 70 threatened or endangered species and is the only place where alligators and crocodiles are found together. In addition to housing many animal species, the Florida Everglades contain a wide variety of plant life and vegetation.
Another ecosystem that can be found in south Florida is the South Florida Pine Rocklands, which is a terrestrial ecosystem. The South Florida Slash Pine is the characteristic tress of this area. However, it contains more than 150 species of trees and shrubs, some of which are exclusive to that area. The Pine Rocklands also inhabit a variety of animal species including deer, the endangered Schaus butterfly, and mangrove

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