For anyone with an interest in the ecosystem of the Everglades, this book is a must read. It is pricey but I haven't found any other book that gives such a complete overview of how the Everglades came to be, how they are now, and what the future may hold for them. ( )

Per JKelly: Outstanding overview of ecology of Everglades. Read before going and will better understand the ecological dynamics of the area.

Text edited by T. Lodge 1-14-08:

Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 1566706149, Paperback) The second edition of a bestseller, The Everglades Handbook: Understanding the Ecosystem continues to provide a wealth of information on the entire ecosystem of the Everglades. Offering the essentials of what the ecosystem is and how it works, the Handbook benefits those addressing issues such as Everglades restoration, water management, wildlife management, and water quality problems in urban and agricultural planning. With an emphasis on natural history, the text is unified around themes of biogeography and ecosystem functions of the plant and animal communities. It presents current and historical geology, discussions of human impacts, ecosystem degradation, and planned restoration.

What's new in the Second Edition:

* An added chapter on the Big Cypress Swamp

* An added chapter on Lake Okeechobee and its headwaters

* An added synthesis chapter that diagrams ecological succession and food webs

* Greatly expanded explanations of Everglades geology, including related coastal processes

* Added species lists and new information emerging from ongoing Everglades science in every chapter.

* A completely revised final chapter on human impacts - including the history of Native American occupation - and ecosystem restoration.