What swims below the surface?
Protozoa
Frogs and Turtles
Protozoa
Microscope organisms form the base of the aquatic food chain. To observe, just place a drop of pond water (collected next to some algae) on a microscope slide and view under a microscope as low power as 40X and you'll see a wide variety of single-cell critters living out their lives!
Fish
Frogs and Turtles
Protozoa
Since the Gardens are fed by the Florida Aquifer, all fish have been transplanted here, but still represent a balanced ecosystem. Looking carefully, you'll see tiny "gambusia" mosquito fish that eat mosquito larvae, native bream and bass, maybe a catfish, and many colorful koi.
Frogs and Turtles
Frogs and Turtles
Frogs and Turtles
Bull frogs breed during the summer and lay thousands of eggs...many become food for various fish before hatching. Young frogs may take 3 years to lose their tadpole tails. Painted turtles bask in the sun for hours, allowing them to absorb vitamin D which is vital for bone and organ health.