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.