The Endangered Ecosystems of Florida

The Sandhills

To begin, what is an Ecosystem?

It is an Environment within which many Species,

 both Plant (flora) and Animal, (fauna)

maintain a way of daily life, unconsciously

 interdependent upon one another and

the area that they inhabit together.

Florida's Sandhill Ecosystem is primarily in

the North and Central part of the state.

Our home in the Ocala National Forest is

 in this Ecosystem, where fires are a part of the

natural environment, whether manmade by the

 Forest Department or by Nature in Lightning.

The most important factor in the success

of this Ecosystem is fire, the presence

of it maintains a healthy growth of the

indigenous plant life, the absence of it causes

the area to become one of Oak domination

and invasive non native plants.

The Longleaf Pine, American Turkey Oak and

Wiregrass are the primary plants found here.

The resident animal species include the

Gopher Tortoise, Red Cockaded Woodpecker,

Striped Newts and the Fox Squirrel.

Places to learn more:

APT

Sandhill Fire Reduction Affects Amphibians

CNRS

Effects of Fire Regime on Habitat

UF

Effects of Fire on Wildlife Habitat

The Sandhills

USFS

Restoring Longleaf Pine Wiregrass Ecosystems

Walking with the Alligators

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Last edited January 02, 2009

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