Florida scrub

Florida Scrub is an endangered ecosystem of the state of Florida, USA. It is found on coastal and inland sand ridges and is characterized by a plant community dominated by shrubs, dwarf oaks and sand pines. Its soils are low in nutrients and it has a high frequency of wildfire. Most of the annual rainfall (of about 135 cm) falls in summer. Because the low-nutrient sandy soils do not retain moisture, the ecosystem is effectively an arid one. It is endangered by residential, commercial and agricultural development, with the largest remaining block in and around the Ocala National Forest. The Lake Wales Ridge also holds a high proportion of remaining scrub habitat, while the Archbold Biological Station near Lake Placid contains about 20 square kilometres of scrub habitat and sponsors biological research on it.

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. Notable animals of the Florida Scrub include the Florida Scrub Jay, Florida Mouse, Sand Skink, Bluetail Mole Skink and Florida Scrub Lizard.

References

* Deyrup, Nancy D.; & Wilson, Charlotte B. (2000). "Discovering Florida Scrub: Exploring science in a native ecosystem". Archbold Biological Station: Lake Placid, Florida. [http://www.archbold-station.org/discoveringflscrub/ ] Accessed 5 March 2007

External links

* [http://www.archbold-station.org/discoveringflscrub/intro/intro.html An introduction to Florida Scrub]