Transcript Fabulous Florida Scrub!

The Fabulous Florida Scrub!
Wayside Shrine Trail
South Florida Community College
Scrub Locations
How This Happened…
• Glacial changes throughout the ages have
changed sea levels.
How This Happened…
• Glacial changes throughout the ages have
changed sea levels.
• Beach remnants and ancient sand dunes were
left behind as the sea levels receded.
How This Happened…
• Glacial changes throughout the ages have
changed sea levels.
• Beach remnants and ancient sand dunes were
left behind as the sea levels receded.
• Reproductive Isolation and Speciation
occurred in plants and animals that were
isolated by thousands of years of higher sea
levels. They evolved into distinct species.
How This Happened…
Endemic Fauna
Endemic Fuana
Endemic Fuana
Endemic Fuana
Endemic Fauna
Endemic Fauna
• The Florida Scrub jay, blue tail mole skink,
Florida mouse, and Florida Sand Skink are
found only in the scrub habitats of Central
Florida. Many are endangered. Habitat loss is
the number one cause of species extinction.
Remember, extinction is forever!
Evidence of Others!
Many different tracks can be seen. You can make sketches in
your eco-journals. Watch where you step!!!!
Powder Puff Lichen are seen all around the trail. The
plants and animals of the scrub are xerophytic.
It is a slow growing lichen that has adapted to the
harsh conditions by being able to absorb moisture from
the air . It has no roots!
Dixie Reindeer Lichen also has no roots and absorbs
moisture from the air.
When large mats of these lichen and others are present
a lack of burning in the area is indicated.
Scrub habitats are pyrogenic, or fire dependent.
There are many decomposers in the scrub.
The epiphyte surrounding this toad stool is another example of
a plant adapted to absorbing moisture from the air.
Many plants, like this prickly pear cactus, have
adaptations which prevent animals from eating
them.
They grow beautiful, yellow blooms between
the months of March and August.
Thick waxy leaves prevent water
loss.
Plants, trees, and shrubs flower at different times of
the year.
This beautiful Sandhill Wireweed Grass flowers March through
November.
BlueEye Grass
Many have a close symbiotic relationship with only a
few insects and animal pollinators. Feay’s Palafox
flowers March through November.
As you travel along the trail, make note of the many
special flowers and fruits you see!
This enchanting dwarf forest is being destroyed for
agricultural and housing developments
Many of you may have remnants of this
wonderful, natural resource in your own
backyard.
Take a moment to look at it’s beauty.
Many species have yet to be studied and may soon be
lost forever.
Wayside Shrine boxes, carved by Mollie Doctrow,
are representative of the plants they are near.
Each box contains information that will help you fill out your ecojournals. Sketch the leaves or better yet make rubbings of the
leaves to enhance the info in your journals!
Feel free to leave your observations in the visitors book
and be a part of scrub history!
http://mofac.org/wayside/
There are many resources for
download that can be used on the
trail. Take advantage of this local
treasure!
Picture and Text References
1, Scrub Location
•
http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Scrub-Jays/fsj_mit_guide-Fig-1.htm
2, Florida Sea Levels
•
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=wikipedia+florida+sea+levels+lake+wales+ridge&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IEAddress&rlz=1I7ADSA_en&tbm=isch&tbnid=AISRwvJ8KeanM:&imgrefurl=http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/guerry/GLY4155/sp35/Fgs35.HTM&docid=pfiFKimdMnQ6OM&w=480&h=491&ei=xcOFTp_MH8uj
tgf0ofQs&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=187&vpy=320&dur=125&hovh=227&hovw=222&tx=127&ty=140&page=1&tbnh=151&tbnw=148&start=0&ndsp=2
2&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0&biw=1600&bih=678
3, Formation of dunes
•
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=41577
4. Florida Scrub Mouse
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=florida+scrub+mouse+wikipedia&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IESearchBox&rlz=1I7ADSA_en&tbm=isch&tbnid=UiTcVFL3nzJCtM:&imgrefurl=http://nsbnews.net/category/cover/nsb-news-top100%3Fpage%3D5&docid=Ud_nUZAZv3qY7M&w=448&h=249&ei=0MiFTs3iFoWctwfL9MhH&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1134&vpy=205&dur=3650&hov
h=167&hovw=301&tx=171&ty=92&page=2&tbnh=101&tbnw=181&start=21&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:21&biw=1600&bih=678
5. Florida Scrub Lizard
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=florida+scrub+lizard&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IESearchBox&rlz=1I7ADSA_en&tbm=isch&tbnid=JYhSpvuPQ7QkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.wildherps.com/species/S.woodi.html&docid=0LHx8Dj1dUVt8M&w=600&h=400&ei=esmFTqWNI4_AtgeguLxF
&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=418&vpy=162&dur=6864&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=127&ty=109&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=217&start=0&ndsp=18&ved
=1t:429,r:1,s:0&biw=1600&bih=678
6. Sand Skink http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.archboldstation.org/station/assets/images/Sand_Skink_N_Ihasz.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.archboldstation.org/station/html/research/herpetology/effoffireonskinks.html&h=151&w=200&sz=17&tbnid=f3gVnh1nHMVqRM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=119&pre
v=/search%3Fq%3Dflorida%2Bsand%2Bskink%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=florida+sand+skink&docid=G9nf_a-QLFFVM&sa=X&ei=6TSgTorCJ4SUtwf6n8SSBQ&ved=0CDIQ9QEwBA
7. Blue-tailed mole skink
http://www.defendersblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bluetail-mole-skink-300x213.jpg
8. Prickly Pear Cactus
Picture and Text References
Slides 11-34 were taken on the Wayside Shrine
Trail by Dakota Hicks and Garrett Strickland.