ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE OF FLORIDA ARE DEFINED BY THE STATE’S GEOLOGY ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE OF FLORIDA ARE 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 OVERLAID BY SAND LIMESTONE OVERLAID BY SAND

Limestone at surface near spring.

Mining limestone Mining limestone in south Florida.

SEA LEVEL CHANGES, WATER LOCKED IN GLACIERS DURING ‘ICE AGES’

DURING INTERGLACIAL PERIODS, GLACIERS MELTING AND SEA LEVELS RISING

20,000 YBP, SEA LEVELS 400 FEET LOWER FLORIDA TWICE ITS PRESENT SIZE GULF COAST CONNECTION 20,000 YBP, SEA LEVELS 400 FEET LOWER FLORIDA TWICE ITS PRESENT SIZE GULF 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 Relief

A 17-foot rise in sea level has major impact on Florida.

Rising sea levels are already killing cabbage palms and other coastal trees at Waccasassa Bay State 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 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 SPECIES END OF PLEISTOCENE, 10,000-12,000 YBP MOST LARGE MAMMALS EXTINCT MOST LARGE MAMMALS EXTINCT EARLY PLEISTOCENE: 300 MAMMAL SPECIES END OF PLEISTOCENE, 10,000-12,000 YBP MOST LARGE MAMMALS EXTINCT MOST LARGE MAMMALS EXTINCT

FACTORS INFLUENCING FLORIDA’S FAUNA  LATITUDE  LONG, NARROW SHAPE  HUMID CLIMATE  PENINSULA  HISTORIC CHANGE IN SIZE AND SHAPE

Peninsula Effect Species diversity of breeding land birds in Florida

Reptiles and Amphibians: 108 species in north Florida, 48 of which are not found in south Florida Mammals: 53 native terrestrial species in north Florida, 10 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. Peninsula Peninsula Surrounded by subtropical oceans - warm, humid climate. warm, humid climate. 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

PALEO-INDIANS: 10,000 YEARS OR MORE AGRICULTURE: 800 YEARS AGO MAJOR IMPACTS BEGAN WITH EUROPEAN COLONIZATION: LATE 1700’S

NE FLORIDA: TIMBER AND AGRICULTURE

CENTRAL FL: CONVERSION TO CITRUS

SOUTHERN FL: WATER CONTROL AGRICULTURAL LANDS SOUTHERN FL: WATER CONTROL AGRICULTURAL LANDS

COASTAL AREAS: PRIME REAL ESTATE

What’s coming: FL 2005 vs 2060 growth projections.