florida coastal ecosystems

04/22/23 Prepared by: Prof. Rodriguez 1

Florida Coastal Florida Coastal EcosystemsEcosystems


Florida GeographyFlorida Geography Florida spans 6.5 degrees of latitude Florida spans 6.5 degrees of latitude

with subtropical to temperate with subtropical to temperate climate zonesclimate zones

over 1350 miles of coastline,over 1350 miles of coastline, 1700 rivers, and 7800 lakes. 1700 rivers, and 7800 lakes. Diversity of habitats results in a Diversity of habitats results in a

great diversity of communities and great diversity of communities and speciesspecies


44% of the 668 vertebrate species 44% of the 668 vertebrate species that occur are declining; 146 are that occur are declining; 146 are classified as endangered, classified as endangered, threatened, or of special concernthreatened, or of special concern


Nearly 1/2 our wetlands,Nearly 1/2 our wetlands, 1/4 our forests, & most of our 1/4 our forests, & most of our

tropical hardwood hammocks,tropical hardwood hammocks, scrub, dry prairie & natural coastal scrub, dry prairie & natural coastal

habitat have been lost.habitat have been lost.


Coastal SystemsCoastal Systems Beaches, Dunes, & Barrier IslandsBeaches, Dunes, & Barrier Islands Nearly 750 miles of FL coastline is Nearly 750 miles of FL coastline is

sand.sand. Barrier islands consist of beaches & Barrier islands consist of beaches &

dunes on the ocean side dunes on the ocean side & tidal marshes on landward side & tidal marshes on landward side

with lagoons & estuaries separating with lagoons & estuaries separating them from the mainland.them from the mainland.


Many beach plants have adaptations Many beach plants have adaptations similar to desert plants to reduce water similar to desert plants to reduce water loss.loss.

Railroad vine & sea beans with sea Railroad vine & sea beans with sea oats growing up the angle of the dune.oats growing up the angle of the dune.

Prickly zone contains prickly pear cacti Prickly zone contains prickly pear cacti & Spanish bayonets with sea grape & Spanish bayonets with sea grape near the top of the dune.near the top of the dune.


The zone on high ground back from The zone on high ground back from the beach varies depending on the the beach varies depending on the climate area from tropical hardwood climate area from tropical hardwood hammocks in Palm Beach Countyhammocks in Palm Beach County

to live oak hammocks on Amelia to live oak hammocks on Amelia Island in Northeast Florida; Island in Northeast Florida;

to cabbage palm savanna in Ft. to cabbage palm savanna in Ft. Myers.Myers.


Animals dependent on beaches: Animals dependent on beaches: sea turtles sea turtles green, loggerhead, & leatherback nest on green, loggerhead, & leatherback nest on

FL);FL); shore birds (13 species including terns, shore birds (13 species including terns,

skimmers, & gulls nest on FL beaches); skimmers, & gulls nest on FL beaches); rodents (mice & rats); forested areas host rodents (mice & rats); forested areas host

black bear, panther, gray fox & land black bear, panther, gray fox & land crabs.crabs.


Salt MarshesSalt Marshes Thrive in low, intertidal areas with minimal Thrive in low, intertidal areas with minimal

wave action few or no mangroves.wave action few or no mangroves. salt marshes best developed inland from salt marshes best developed inland from

mangroves, south of Homestead.mangroves, south of Homestead. Hosts low diversity of organisms since Hosts low diversity of organisms since

conditions are rigorous (fluctuating water, conditions are rigorous (fluctuating water, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen), salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen), but large populations since food & cover is but large populations since food & cover is abundant).abundant).


Marsh dwellers include crabs, Marsh dwellers include crabs, mink, marsh rabbit, rats, mice, & mink, marsh rabbit, rats, mice, & 500 species of insects, shrimp, 500 species of insects, shrimp, oysters, fish, and birds including oysters, fish, and birds including osprey & bald eagle osprey & bald eagle

Mangrove SwampsMangrove Swamps Found in FL fringing Found in FL fringing

low energy low energy coastlines (little coastlines (little wave action) wave action) primarily in southern primarily in southern half of state.half of state.

Includes (from shore Includes (from shore to inland) red, black, to inland) red, black, white mangrove & white mangrove & buttonwoodbuttonwood



Red mangroveRed mangrove prop rootsprop roots

Black mangroveBlack mangrove fingerlike fingerlike

projections projections rootsroots



White mangroveWhite mangrove excrete salt which collects on excrete salt which collects on

leaves.leaves.

Buttonwood – dry land Buttonwood – dry land



Other animals associated Other animals associated with Mangroves with Mangroves

sponges, sea anemones, oysters, sponges, sea anemones, oysters, barnacles & other organisms barnacles & other organisms attach to the roots of mangroves & attach to the roots of mangroves & help recycle nutrients in the waterhelp recycle nutrients in the water

the branches provide homes for the branches provide homes for birds, crabs, etc.birds, crabs, etc.


Bays & EstuariesBays & Estuaries Occur where fertile silt & fresh Occur where fertile silt & fresh

water from rivers enter marine water from rivers enter marine waters to form brackish water.waters to form brackish water.

Rimmed by salt water marshes or Rimmed by salt water marshes or mangrove swampsmangrove swamps

May have areas of hard bottom, soft May have areas of hard bottom, soft bottom, & sea grass beds (stabilize bottom, & sea grass beds (stabilize soil, trap sediments) soil, trap sediments)

provide camouflage provide camouflage for immature for immature marine animals & marine animals & food for organisms food for organisms such as manatees; such as manatees;

serve as nursery & serve as nursery & breeding areas for breeding areas for many marine many marine speciesspecies



Coral ReefsCoral Reefs Only living tropical coral reefs in Only living tropical coral reefs in

continental U.S. found in FL Keyscontinental U.S. found in FL Keys coral animal has a tube-shaped coral animal has a tube-shaped

body with one end opened to form body with one end opened to form a mouth surrounded by tentacles.a mouth surrounded by tentacles.


Corals in the reef are Corals in the reef are interconnected -hard corals are interconnected -hard corals are colonial organisms that build colonial organisms that build limestone skeletons that form the limestone skeletons that form the reef; reef;

soft corals, sponges, calcareous soft corals, sponges, calcareous algae compete for space on the algae compete for space on the reef.reef.

photosynthetic algae photosynthetic algae live inside the reef live inside the reef building coral polyps building coral polyps in a mutualistic in a mutualistic relationship relationship

many other many other organisms, especially organisms, especially certain calcareous certain calcareous algae, add limestone algae, add limestone to the building reef.to the building reef.


Types of ReefsTypes of Reefs fringing reef - fringing reef -

close to land close to land mass with little or mass with little or no lagoonno lagoon

barrier reef - barrier reef - parallel to shore parallel to shore with wide, deep with wide, deep lagoon lagoon


AtollAtoll


•reefs that encircle a lagoon with no island patch


reefs - small groups of coral in lagoon


Coral ReefsCoral Reefs Habitats within fringing & barrier reefs, Habitats within fringing & barrier reefs,

& atolls:& atolls: 1. grooves, caves, crevices, channels & 1. grooves, caves, crevices, channels &

deep, cup-shaped holes (blue holes)deep, cup-shaped holes (blue holes) a. provide homes and hunting grounds a. provide homes and hunting grounds

for for many speciesmany species b. great biodiversity even though the b. great biodiversity even though the

system exists in nutrient poor waters;system exists in nutrient poor waters;

this is possible because this is possible because nutrients within the nutrients within the system are recycled with system are recycled with extremely efficiently; extremely efficiently;

over 300 common over 300 common species of reef fish are species of reef fish are found in Caribbean reefs found in Caribbean reefs along with a great along with a great diversity of diversity of invertebrates & algae.invertebrates & algae.



Coral: Global ConcernCoral: Global Concern Coral reefs are declining globally, Coral reefs are declining globally,

especially those near shallow and highly especially those near shallow and highly populated areas. populated areas.

About 10% of the earth's coral reefs About 10% of the earth's coral reefs have been seriously damage and a have been seriously damage and a higher percentage is threatened. higher percentage is threatened.

At this rate is likely lose most of the At this rate is likely lose most of the world's coral reef during the next world's coral reef during the next century.century.


Threats to CoralsThreats to Corals Natural events such as storms, Natural events such as storms, infestations by virus and infestations by virus and

predators, and predators, and changes in temperature have changes in temperature have

some impact on the reef, some impact on the reef, human activity the primary agent human activity the primary agent

of degradation. of degradation.


Other factors include:Other factors include: Coral extraction and over Coral extraction and over

harvesting, harvesting, boating activities (anchoring), boating activities (anchoring), as well as eutrophication, changes as well as eutrophication, changes

in sediment load, and pollutionin sediment load, and pollution


Lack of planning and management Lack of planning and management of coastal areas, including inland of coastal areas, including inland activities; activities;

Climatic changes, including changes Climatic changes, including changes in temperature and sea-level, in temperature and sea-level,

tropical storms and hurricanes, and tropical storms and hurricanes, and oceanic circulation. oceanic circulation.

Significance of Coral Reef Significance of Coral Reef EcosystemsEcosystems

Some of the Some of the benefits of coral benefits of coral reef ecosystems reef ecosystems are:are:

1. food production1. food production 2. tourism2. tourism 3. recreation3. recreation



4. aesthetics4. aesthetics 5. shoreline protection5. shoreline protection 6. Coral reef ecosystems are among 6. Coral reef ecosystems are among

the most biologically productive and the most biologically productive and diverse in the world; diverse in the world;

7. they also serve as indicators of 7. they also serve as indicators of environment health. environment health.


Why are reefs worth protecting?Why are reefs worth protecting?

1. support a great diversity of organisms1. support a great diversity of organisms 2. protect coastlines from erosion 2. protect coastlines from erosion

(reduce energy of incoming waves)(reduce energy of incoming waves) 3. remove CO3. remove CO22 from water to produce from water to produce

skeletons (of limestone = calcium skeletons (of limestone = calcium carbonate)carbonate)

4. source of food (fish, shellfish 4. source of food (fish, shellfish harvested from reef)harvested from reef)

florida coastal ecosystems

Documents

beaches dunes

sea grape

sea oats

beach plants

tropical hardwood hammocks

miles of fl coastline

fl beaches rodents mice

oak hammocks