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Daily Bucket: Florida's Ecology [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-04-02

Florida’s unique ecology is shaped by its geology.

The Daily Bucket is a regular series from the Backyard Science group. Here we talk about Mother Nature in all her glory, especially the parts that live nearby. So let us know (as close as you are comfortable) where you are and what's going on around you. What's the weather like? Seen any interesting plants, bugs or critters? Are there birds at your feeders? Deer, foxes or snakies in your yard? Seen any cool rocks or geological features? Post your observations and notes here. And photos. We like photos. :)

For most of its history, Florida was at the bottom of a warm, shallow sea, and ocean sediments from marine creatures were built up to form layers of limestone.

Fossilized coral reef

About 25 million years ago, tectonic forces lifted Florida above sea level. Rainwater seeping through sandy soil encountered the limestone below, forming caves, sinkholes, springs, and underground aquifers. As an ancient sea floor, Florida is very flat, with much of the land just above sea level and the highest elevations only 300 feet.

Florida Caverns, one of the rare above-water limestone caves

The Gulf Stream brings warm water along Florida’s east coast, and humid winds from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic create a subtropical climate, so Florida has a dry season from November to March and a rainy season from April to October. At the beginning of the rainy season, lightning strikes often cause wildfires that help maintain the fire-adapted habitats.

New growth after a fire

Because of the sandy soil and flat terrain, even small changes in elevation can affect water availability, influencing local plant and animal life, so Florida has several ecological zones that vary with latitude and elevation.

The shores along the coast are warm and shallow, with many inlets and bays. The west coast along the Gulf of Mexico has a broad continental shelf, while the east coast drops off quickly into the Atlantic. Barrier islands called “keys” run parallel to the coast, protecting the mainland from storms.

Shallow shoreline

Dolphin

Mangrove swamps line much of Florida’s shoreline. Their tangled roots trap sand and sediment, gradually forming new land and islands. These areas serve as crucial nurseries for young marine fish and invertebrates.

Mangroves

Fiddler Crab

Freshwater ponds cover nearly 5,000 square miles of Florida. They support aquatic plants, fish, turtles, and waterbirds, and the springs feeding these ponds and rivers provide warm-water refuges for Manatees and other wildlife in winter.

Freshwater lake

Manatee

Wetlands, including marshes and swamps, form where the water table meets the surface. These were often drained away by humans for development, but now they are legally protected for their role in filtering rainwater. Wetlands also provide habitats for much of the state’s wildlife.

Wetlands

Alligator

Pine flatwoods form on slightly higher, drier ground, and are dominated by pine trees and palmetto undergrowth. The open sunny area provides habitat for many species. This used to be the most extensive habitat type in Florida; today, most of it has been developed by humans.

Pine/Palmetto flatwoods

Sandhill Crane

Hardwood hammocks occur on slightly higher elevated areas within swamps and flatwoods, supporting different species including oak-palmetto forests and, in southern Florida, tropical trees like Gumbo Limbo.

Gumbo Limbo Tree

Tree Snail

And now it’s your turn: what’s up in your neck of the woods?

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