ecosystems and wildlife of florida are defined by the state’s geology ecosystems and wildlife of...
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ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE OF FLORIDA ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE OF FLORIDA
ARE DEFINED BY THE STATE’S GEOLOGYARE DEFINED BY THE STATE’S GEOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE OF FLORIDA ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE OF FLORIDA
ARE DEFINED BY THE STATE’S GEOLOGYARE DEFINED BY THE STATE’S GEOLOGY
FLORIDA SITS ON A PLATFORM OF LIMESTONE,
FOSSIL REMAINS OF CORAL REEFS
FLORIDA SITS ON A PLATFORM OF LIMESTONE,
FOSSIL REMAINS OF CORAL REEFS
LIMESTONE DISSOLVES OR COLLAPSES, CREATING SINKHOLES
LIMESTONE DISSOLVES OR COLLAPSES, CREATING SINKHOLES
LIMESTONE OVERLAID BYSAND
LIMESTONE OVERLAID BYSAND
Limestone at surface near spring.Limestone at surface near spring.
Mining limestoneMining limestone in south Florida.
SEA LEVEL CHANGES, WATER LOCKED IN GLACIERS DURING ‘ICE AGES’SEA LEVEL CHANGES, WATER LOCKED IN GLACIERS DURING ‘ICE AGES’
DURING INTERGLACIAL PERIODS, GLACIERS MELTING AND SEA LEVELS RISINGDURING INTERGLACIAL PERIODS, GLACIERS MELTING AND SEA LEVELS RISING
20,000 YBP, SEA LEVELS 400 FEET LOWER20,000 YBP, SEA LEVELS 400 FEET LOWER
FLORIDA TWICE ITS PRESENT SIZEFLORIDA TWICE ITS PRESENT SIZE
GULF COAST CONNECTIONGULF COAST CONNECTION
20,000 YBP, SEA LEVELS 400 FEET LOWER20,000 YBP, SEA LEVELS 400 FEET LOWER
FLORIDA TWICE ITS PRESENT SIZEFLORIDA TWICE ITS PRESENT SIZE
GULF COAST CONNECTIONGULF COAST CONNECTION
AT GLACIAL MINIMUM, FLORIDA
WAS A ONLY A CHAIN OF ISLANDS
AT GLACIAL MINIMUM, FLORIDA
WAS A ONLY A CHAIN OF ISLANDS
Global warming and rising sea
levels are a major threat to Florida.
Global warming and rising sea
levels are a major threat to Florida.
Topographic ReliefTopographic Relief
A 17-foot rise in sea level has major impact on Florida.A 17-foot rise in sea level has major impact on Florida.
Rising sea levels are already killing cabbage palms Rising sea levels are already killing cabbage palms and other coastal trees at Waccasassa Bay State and other coastal trees at Waccasassa Bay State Preserve, Levy County, FL.Preserve, Levy County, FL.
WILDLIFE OF FLORIDA
PLEISTOCENE
Many similarities to today
WILDLIFE OF FLORIDA
PLEISTOCENE
Many similarities to today
LANDSCAPE AND VEGETATION
Generally similar
LANDSCAPE AND VEGETATION
Generally similar
BIRD FAUNA SIMILARBIRD FAUNA SIMILAR
• Ibis• Grebes• Ducks • Raptors• Owls• Woodpeckers
• Ibis• Grebes• Ducks • Raptors• Owls• Woodpeckers
AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE FAUNA
ALMOST UNCHANGED
AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE FAUNA
ALMOST UNCHANGED
• Gopher tortoise
• Box turtle
• Soft-shelled turtles
• Snakes
• Lizards
• Gopher tortoise
• Box turtle
• Soft-shelled turtles
• Snakes
• Lizards
Mammal community was completely different. Tapir, llamas, giant ground sloth, mammoths.Mammal community was completely different. Tapir, llamas, giant ground sloth, mammoths.
Short-faced bear, glyptodonts, jaguar, horses, sabertooth cats.
Short-faced bear, glyptodonts, jaguar, horses, sabertooth cats.
EARLY PLEISTOCENE: 300 MAMMAL SPECIESEARLY PLEISTOCENE: 300 MAMMAL SPECIES
END OF PLEISTOCENE, 10,000-12,000 YBPEND OF PLEISTOCENE, 10,000-12,000 YBP
MOST LARGE MAMMALS EXTINCTMOST LARGE MAMMALS EXTINCT
EARLY PLEISTOCENE: 300 MAMMAL SPECIESEARLY PLEISTOCENE: 300 MAMMAL SPECIES
END OF PLEISTOCENE, 10,000-12,000 YBPEND OF PLEISTOCENE, 10,000-12,000 YBP
MOST LARGE MAMMALS EXTINCTMOST LARGE MAMMALS EXTINCT
FACTORS INFLUENCING FLORIDA’S FAUNAFACTORS INFLUENCING FLORIDA’S FAUNA
LATITUDELATITUDE
LONG, NARROW SHAPELONG, NARROW SHAPE
HUMID CLIMATEHUMID CLIMATE
PENINSULAPENINSULA
HISTORIC CHANGE IN SIZE AND SHAPEHISTORIC CHANGE IN SIZE AND SHAPE
Peninsula Effect Peninsula Effect
Species diversity of breeding land birds in Florida Species diversity of breeding land birds in Florida
Reptiles and Amphibians: Reptiles and Amphibians:
108 species in north Florida, 48 of which are 108 species in north Florida, 48 of which are not found in south Floridanot found in south Florida
Mammals:Mammals:
53 native terrestrial species in north Florida, 53 native terrestrial species in north Florida, 10 of which are not found in south Florida10 of which are not found in south Florida
• If latitude was the only determinant, If latitude was the only determinant, Florida would be a desert.Florida would be a desert.• If latitude was the only determinant, If latitude was the only determinant, Florida would be a desert.Florida would be a desert.
• PeninsulaPeninsula • PeninsulaPeninsula
• Surrounded by subtropical oceans - Surrounded by subtropical oceans - warm, humid climate.warm, humid climate.• Surrounded by subtropical oceans - Surrounded by subtropical oceans - warm, humid climate.warm, humid climate.
HIGH BIODIVERSITY: RAINFALL, TEMPERATURE,
TEMPERATE-TROPICAL CONNECTIONS
HIGH BIODIVERSITY: RAINFALL, TEMPERATURE,
TEMPERATE-TROPICAL CONNECTIONS
HUMAN-ALTERED LANDSCAPES HUMAN-ALTERED LANDSCAPES
PALEO-INDIANS: 10,000 YEARS OR PALEO-INDIANS: 10,000 YEARS OR MOREMORE
AGRICULTURE: 800 YEARS AGOAGRICULTURE: 800 YEARS AGO
MAJOR IMPACTS BEGAN WITHMAJOR IMPACTS BEGAN WITHEUROPEAN COLONIZATION: LATE EUROPEAN COLONIZATION: LATE 1700’S1700’S
NE FLORIDA: TIMBER AND AGRICULTURE NE FLORIDA: TIMBER AND AGRICULTURE
CENTRAL FL: CONVERSION TO CITRUS CENTRAL FL: CONVERSION TO CITRUS
SOUTHERN FL: WATER CONTROL
AGRICULTURAL LANDS
SOUTHERN FL: WATER CONTROL
AGRICULTURAL LANDS
COASTAL AREAS: PRIME REAL ESTATE COASTAL AREAS: PRIME REAL ESTATE
What’s coming: FL 2005 vs 2060 growth projections.What’s coming: FL 2005 vs 2060 growth projections.
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