Florida scrub
Coordinates: 28°00′N 81°45′W / 28°N 81.75°W
| Florida scrub | |
|---|---|
 Juniper Prairie Wilderness, Ocala National Forest |
|
 |
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| Ecology | |
| Biome | Temperate coniferous forest |
| Borders | Southeastern conifer forests |
| Bird species | 173[1] |
| Mammal species | 43[1] |
| Geography | |
| Area | 3,900 km2 (1,500 sq mi) |
| Country | United States (Florida) |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Critical/Endangered[2] |
| Global 200 | No[3] |
| Habitat loss | 33.498%[1] |
| Protected | 34.94%[1] |
Florida scrub is an endangered temperate coniferous forest ecoregion of the state of Florida in the United States.[4] It is found on coastal and inland sand ridges and is characterized by a xeromorphic plant community dominated by shrubs and dwarf oaks. Scrub soils, a type of entisol, are derived from quartz and are low in organic matter, silt, and clay.[5] Because the low-nutrient sandy soils do not retain moisture, the ecosystem is effectively an arid one. Wildfires infrequently occur in the Florida scrub. Most of the annual rainfall (about 135 cm/53 in) falls in summer. It is endangered by residential, commercial and agricultural development, with the largest remaining block in and around the Ocala National Forest. Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge also holds a high proportion of remaining scrub habitat, while the Archbold Biological Station near Lake Placid contains about 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi) of scrub habitat and sponsors biological research on it.
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[edit] Flora and fauna
The flora and fauna have a high level of endemism including an estimated 40 species of plants, 4 vertebrates and at least 46 species of arthropod found nowhere else.
[edit] Flora
Clumps of Sand Pines (Pinus clausa) constitute the canopy.[5] Common plant species include Sand Live Oak (Quercus geminata), Myrtle Oak (Quercus myrtifolia), Sandhill Oak (Quercus inopina), Chapman Oak (Quercus chapmanii), Florida Rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides),[2] Scrub Palmetto (Sabal etonia), Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens), Garberia heterophylla, Fetterbush Lyonia (Lyonia lucida), Rusty Staggerbush (Lyonia ferruginea), Cup Lichens (Cladonia spp.),[6] Scrub Holly (Ilex opaca var. arenicola), Scrub Olive (Osmanthus megacarpa), Scrub Pawpaw (Asimina obovata), Silk Bay (Persea humilis), Adam's Needle (Yucca filamentosa), and Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa).[7]
Endangered plants of the Florida scrub include Florida golden aster (Chrysopsis floridana), Ashe's Savory (Calamintha ashei), Pygmy Fringetree (Chionanthus pygmaeus), Sandlace (Polygonella myriophylla), Scrub Plum (Prunus geniculata), Short-leaved False Rosemary (Conradina brevifolia), Etonia Rosemary (Conradina etonia), Yellow Scrub Balm (Dicerandra christmanii), Scrub Beargrass (Nolina brittoniana), Scrub Blazingstar (Liatris ohlingerae), Scrub Lupine (Lupinus aridorum), and Scrub Morning Glory (Bonamia grandiflora).[8]
[edit] Fauna
Notable animals of the Florida Scrub include the Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), Florida Mouse (Podomys floridanus), Sand Skink (Neoseps reynoldsi), Bluetail Mole Skink (Eumeces egregius lividus), Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi), and Florida Worm Lizard (Rhineura floridana).[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J. et al (2010). Molnar, J. L.. ed. The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520262560. http://www.nature.org/ourscience/sciencefeatures/conservation-atlas-1.xml.
- ^ a b Dinerstein, E.; A. Weakley, R. Noss, R. Snodgrass, and K. Wolfe. "Florida sand pine scrub (NA0513)". WWF Full Reports. World Wide Fund for Nature. http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0513_full.html. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ Olson, David M.; Eric Dinerstein (2002). "The Global 200: Priority Ecoregions for Global Conservation" (PDF). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89: 199–224. http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/WWFBinaryitem4810.pdf.
- ^ a b "Florida sand pine scrub (NA0513)". WildWorld Ecoregion Profiles. National Geographic Society. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0513.html. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ a b "Florida Scrub". The Croc Docs. Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. http://crocdoc.ifas.ufl.edu/publications/msrpmap/floridascrub/. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ "Florida Peninsula Inland Scrub". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchSystemUid=ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.723253. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ "Plants of the Florida Scrub". The Florida Scrub. Floridata. http://www.floridata.com/tracks/scrub/PlantGal/menu_p.cfm. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ "Endangered Plants of the Scrub". The Florida Scrub. Floridata. http://www.floridata.com/tracks/scrub/endangered/menu_end.cfm. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- Deyrup, Nancy D.; Wilson, Charlotte B. (2000). "Discovering Florida Scrub: Exploring science in a native ecosystem". Archbold Biological Station. http://www.archbold-station.org/discoveringflscrub/. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
[edit] External links
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