Pine tree seedlings. Planting, growth. UF/IFAS Photo by Dawn McKinstry
I get calls every year about planting pines, stand establishment, and related requests. I also get many calls from landowners who have planted pines recently (10 years or less) and are wondering what to do going forward. Ideally, they are from landowners that have well thought out plans and just need some assistance with the finer details or are experiencing some unexpected issues. Unfortunately, I do often get calls from landowners that are just at a loss and are planting or managing with no real plan for now or the future. These landowners have great goals and intentions, but they are new to forest ownership and the long-term nature of forest management comes as a bit of a surprise. I love helping these landowners out though because often I can catch them early and get them on the right track. Establishing a forest stand right from the beginning and managing it well in the early establishment phase is critical to success. Mistakes can often stick around and be felt a decade or more in forestry; it is just part of forest ownership and management.
In over a decade of forest management practice I cannot stress to landowners and forestry professionals the critical importance of getting initial planting and establishment right. This is not the time to have a vague plan or to cut costs or corners. What you do now may well haunt you and impact your goals and investment return for over 30 years. In row crop agriculture you can often make corrections year to year, but in forestry missing competition control or a thinning can impact growth for the entire rotation. Considering that on average a landowner will get to see two rotations of timber in their lifetime, the margin for mistakes and missed opportunities is very slim. This is why it is so important when establishing a forest or reforesting after a final harvest that the planting plan and early management plan be well thought out and executed.
Winter is forestry planting season, and it is in full swing right now. Peak planting is usually in the months of December and January, but forest planting usually runs from November to the end of February or first of March. This is the opposite of most other agricultural and plant establishment operations because trees are best planted while they are dormant. Winter is the best time because when trees are dormant, they focus energy on root growth, and thus a newly planted seedling will focus on establishing it’s root system and be ready to start growing in spring. You may be wondering about pines and evergreens since they keep their foliage, but this is true for them as well. Pines have a dormant period in winter that is induced by weather and the amount of low temperature chill hours. They do not lose their needles but continue to photosynthesize. They do not actively grow new foliage or start renewed growth until spring. This is why winter is the best time to plant both forest and urban trees of all types and why Florida celebrates Arbor Day on January 20th (check your local county information for your local celebrations).
If you are conducting reforestation operations this winter, as many are, now is a great time to update your forest management/stewardship plan. If you are planning to plant trees or reforest in the near future, or if you are planning to harvest timber soon, now is a great time to work on a reforestation and stand establishment plan. If you are not working with a consulting forester it is highly encouraged you work with one to help with your reforestation, planting, and forest management needs. These highly trained professionals are equipped to help you make the best forest management decisions and can assist with locating contractors and forestry service providers. Using a consulting forester makes reforestation and management much easier for a landowner and results in better outcomes. Use of a consultant is not required though, so if you are a do-it-yourself landowner you will want to make sure all your ducks are in a row well before planting time comes around. The key to that is a good planting and stand establishment plan. UF IFAS has a great new EDIS publication out and available for landowners on planting southern pines in Florida. You can access the article here FOR385/FR456: Planting Southern Pines in Florida (ufl.edu) . For those who aren’t aware; recovering forests in the Hurricane Michael impact zone has become one of the largest reforestation and recover projects in the state’s history. If we get those reforestation efforts right now; it will pay big dividends for our landowners and communities in the future. The same goes for normal year to year reforestation efforts across the state as well.
A good reforestation or tree planting plan has several components. The core components are: type of regeneration natural vs. artificial, site and stand preparation, seedling establishment/planting, survival and early stand assessment, and early management of vegetation and fertility. For this article we will focus on artificial regeneration, which is when nursery grown seedlings are planted on the site. This is by far the most prevalent method, and it provides the most control over density and seedling quality. This also allows the use of genetically improved seed stock, which can greatly enhance forest productivity and value at end of rotation. Most pine planted in the southern United States now uses genetically improved seed stock. This is the result of decades of careful selection, testing, and deployment; much like agricultural crops like corn, cotton, etc. A landowner planting trees today has access to some of the best site preparation and reforestation seedling stock ever available, and taking advantage of it pays huge dividends. Here are the steps you can take as a landowner to get your plan outlined.
Determine the timeline for reforestation and plan accordingly.
Determine the species, density, seed source, genetic improvement level, and nursery availability of your desired seedlings.
Determine the site preparation required to ensure planting success
Determine the planting method; reserve planting labor and seedlings required to accomplish planting
Have planting contractor and nursery logistics coordinated for day of planting
Establish a follow up survival assessment period and have a plan to correct a full or partial planting failure.
Follow up on monitoring your stand and have plans for control of competing vegetation and other early stand treatments.
The work does not stop once you have the trees planted and the young stand is established. One of the biggest mistakes made in forest management is a “Plant Them and Forget Them” approach to timber management. This is a near guarantee to have issues especially in Florida with its fast vegetative growth, heavy competing vegetation, and propensity to hurricanes and wildfires.
Once you have your stand established by executing your reforestation plan; you want to move into forest management and stewardship for the long haul. This means you will need a Forest Management or Forest Stewardship plan to get a handle on what your young forest needs going forward. The plan is usually written to cover a 5-to-10-year period and then it is reassessed and revised.
A landowner with 20 acres or more can enroll in the Forest Stewardship Program through the Florida Forest Service and receive a Forest Stewardship Plan written by the county forester or a consultant. Forest Landowners with 160 acres or more are encouraged to use a private consultant to develop a plan. Landowners that use a consultant can receive funding through the program to help cover the cost of the plan. For more details and to enroll in the Forest Stewardship Program contact your county forester and follow this link Forest Stewardship Program / Programs for Landowners / For Landowners / Forest & Wildfire / Home – Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (fdacs.gov) . Once you have your plan and complete the program you get a great Stewardship Forest sign to advertise your commitment to being a good land steward.
Tractors planting rows of trees. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.
The old adage “Fail to plan, Plan to fail” unfortunately often holds true for reforestation and forest management. Failed planting operations and missed opportunities can cost a landowner significantly. To ensure the success of your reforestation efforts and early timber management; get a plan and have one for the long haul. When planned out well, tree planting operations usually go smoothly and are successful. Followed up with a good forest management plan this covers the critical early establishment period and will ensure a successful forest management operation. Getting a plan together is a minimal cost compared to a failed planting or reduced growth and yield. Using a private consulting forester of your choice and working together with a forestry professional can get you off to the long-range project that is timber management. If you are planning on planting trees now or in the future; plan well and follow up. Years from now you will enjoy seeing your goals and objectives come together.
The land of the wet and muddy – that’s what lot of folks call the salt marsh. If you have ever experienced walking through one you know why they call it that. Salt marshes are wetlands that are dominated by grasses and are partially flooded with salt water during high tide; some portions of the marsh are still flooded at low tide. The grasses that grow there are halophytes (salt tolerant). Their diversity is low, but abundance is high.
Salt marshes are wetlands dominated by grass.
Photo: Molly O’Connor
Salt marshes grow on the protected side of the island – the bay side – and even there they do better in protective coves and inlets off of the main shoreline. They are not big fans of high wave energy. The grasses that live there are spaced in zones. Smooth cordgrass (Spartina) is more water and salt tolerant than black needlerush (Juncus) and is found along the marsh edge close to the shore of the bay itself. Black needlerush dominates the upper marsh closer to the maritime forest and tertiary dunes.
If you approach the marsh from the dune/forest side, you will encounter a dense field of needlerush. As you step into it you will experience soupy layers of black mud and detritus. Your feet sink and, if you do not have on secured shoes, you will lose them. You will get the odor of rotten eggs as you walk. This is hydrogen sulfide released by bacteria who are decomposing the leaf litter, and other organic matter, that is trapped and collected with the rising and falling tide. There is not a lot of wildlife in this area. The mud is deep, and the food sources are few. You will notice small white snails on the needlerush blades. These are marsh periwinkles. During high tide they move up the grass blades to avoid predators, at low tide they come down to feed on the organic material on the exposed mud.
Eventually you find small creeks heading towards the bay. Here the water is murky and the bottom still very muddy. Scattered amongst the needlerush are mounds of high dry ground covered in salt bush (Baccharis) where some animals can move around much better. Raccoons frequently these small “islands” seeking the numerous fish and shellfish that can be found in the creeks. Ribbed mussels can be found attached the base of the needlerush and are a particular favorite of the raccoons. Juvenile blue crabs can be found scavenging food sources in the creeks, juvenile mullet is common, as are small killifish and mollies. These can provide food for wading birds like the great blue heron who has widespread feet that resist sinking in the mud and allow them to hunt. Sometimes oysters and crown conchs are found in the creeks. Oysters do not move and cement to each other forming clumps. They filter feed in the water column collecting organic material and improving the water clarity – unless you walk through and sir up the mud and silt.
A creek within a salt marsh on Santa Rosa Island. The water here is saline, particularly during high tide. Photo: Rick O’Connor
These small creeks become wider and deeper as you approach the bay. In places the bottom becomes sandier, and all of this allows other species to forage. The above mentioned are still present. Oyster clumps become more numerous because they are not covered by the silt of the upper marsh. In the sandier areas flounder can be found feeding on the small fish and shrimp that reside here. This part of the marsh can be an important nursery for many open estuarine species. A variety of shrimp are found here, crabs, and juvenile fish as well. With more sand it is easier for herons to walk and hunt.
This little blue heron is stalking prey in a Gulf coast salt marsh.
Photo: Molly O’Connor
There are also a few reptiles found here. The American alligator can be found at times, but are more common in the open lagoons. The Gulf salt marsh snake (Nerodia) resides here. They are nocturnal and rarely seen. But in the spring when breeding is going on, they can be encountered during daylight hours. These are none venomous snakes.
The nonvenomous Gulf Salt marsh Snake.
Photo: Molly O’Connor
Interestingly the venomous cottonmouth can be found here. This is an interesting story. The cottonmouth is associated with freshwater. It is not surprising, or uncommon, to find them near the freshwater ponds we have discussed already. By they do not have the lachrymal glands found in sea turtles and terrapins that allow them to swallow seawater, excrete the salt through glands in their eyes, and use this as a freshwater source. It appears that the cottonmouth needs freshwater for drinking. Despite this they are being encountered more often in more saline areas. One barrier island near Cedar Key, Seahorse Key, supports a large population of cottonmouths. It has been stated there may be more per square meter there than anywhere in Florida – and there is no source of freshwater. Researchers from the University of Florida have found they drink from pools of freshwater that form after heavy rains and are very opportunistic when it comes to selecting prey – including other cottonmouths. The species found on Seahorse Key is Agkistrodon conanti (Florida Cottonmouth). The eastern cottonmouth (A. piscivorous) is the one most common in and around our freshwater systems. It would be interesting to determine which species is living on our barrier islands, and how they use the landscape. Though I have never seen them swimming in the larger creeks of the marsh, I have seen them basking along its edges many times. I am sure they use this saline environment.
This cottonmouth is basking in a salt marsh on Perdido Key.
Photo: Jen Aicher
Another unique marsh reptile is the turtle known as the diamondback terrapin. This is the only resident estuarine turtle in the United States. They are related to the freshwater pond turtles people frequently see but prefer the more saline marshes of these islands. They feed primarily on shellfish and have a preference for the marsh periwinkle snails that climb the grass blades.
River otters have been found swimming in these large creeks searching for food. They seem to like both fish and shellfish. Redfish can be found in the wider deeper creeks. The mullet and flounder found here are larger.
Hermit crabs are abundant here. These are crabs whose abdomens are not covered by shell. So, they must seek abandoned mollusk snails to “hide their rears”. They will select any shell but seem to prefer oyster drill and moon snail shells – possibly because they are more abundant. Oyster drills are snails who use their serrated tooth (a radula) for “drilling” into oyster and consuming them. Crown conchs and ribbed mussels are abundant here.
The shell of the oyster drill.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
These larger creeks sometimes feed directly into the bay, but sometimes they feed into a large open lagoon. These lagoons are full of fish. Mullet, redfish, flounder, stingrays, pinfish, and – if deep enough – even small sharks can be found here. Wading birds, like herons and egrets, and common along the shorelines and diving birds, like osprey and pelicans, are found here. The shoreline near the grasses still has small juvenile fish. The sandy beaches can support the hunting of raccoons and armadillo tracks are common. The alligator encounters I have had are more common here and we often see the heads of terrapins. The river otters I have seen here are usually along the edges.
The open lagoon of the salt marsh. Photo credit: Erik Lovestrand, UF IFAS
Another unique marsh critter is the fiddler crab. Though found throughout the marsh, they seem to be more abundant where there is more sand. Related to the ghost crab of the Gulf side, these small crabs dig burrows down to the water table. When the tide is high, they plug their burrows with mud and sand, then wait. When low tide arrives they emerge in the thousands to scavenge the shoreline for organic material in the sand – forming these round balls of sand as they are cleaning it that I call “coco-puffs”.
All large creeks and lagoons are connected to the open bays of the northern Gulf of Mexico where seagrass meadows form. As you walk the north shores of panhandle barrier islands you find sandy beaches often loosely covered by a variety of grasses. Walking inland you again return to either the tertiary dunes or maritime forest and may be another salt marsh. You have now experienced the primary habitats, and wildlife found within, on our barrier islands. But there are new concerns that could alter the ecology of these systems. One of those are invasive species. We will discuss this one in Part 8.
For some the forest is a scary place; for some it is a magical one; and for others it is spiritual. For wildlife it is a popular place. There are many places to shelter and plenty of food. Though the forest of our barrier islands is not as dense and dark as those of the west coast of the United States or the mountains of Appalachia, it is very wooded provides the same needs. Much of the wildlife on our islands call this part home. Even if they forge in the dunes, or on the beach, it is the forest where they reside.
Forest do exist on barrier islands and provide excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
I have hiked through many of these maritime forests. The northern terminus of the Florida Trail ends at the edge of a maritime forest on Santa Rosa Island. They are populated by many of the same species of trees you would find in inland forest. Pine, Oak, and Magnolia are all common. In some locations they short and twist their branches in all sorts of patterns to avoid direct exposure to the salt spray from the Gulf. Those more protected from the spray by large dune fields grow quite tall. Small rolling dunes of quartz sand can still be found on the forest floor, as can palms and palmettos, holly trees, and species of shrubs found in the dune fields themselves. All of these provide good shelter, and some provide food. And, as with the American southwest, these xeric conditions support cactus – there are plenty of cactus in the tertiary dunes and maritime forest of our islands. Covered toed shows are recommended when hiking here.
Due to wind and salt spray many of the trees on barrier islands grow in interesting twists and bends.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
Though not common, within these forest there are small ponds of freshwater. Back in the 1950s there was an attempt to build a pompano hatchery within the forest of Santa Rosa Island. It failed because the water they chose to use (groundwater) was fresher than they thought it would be. Visiting the site today you will find the grow out ponds the farmers dug, full of freshwater. Near Ft. Pickens, on the west end of Santa Rosa Island, there are moats the soldiers dug to protect the fort from attack. These too are filled with freshwater. Between these and the naturally occurring ones, there is habitat for fish. The few samples I have collected over the years have yielded live bearers, like mosquitofish and mollies, and as well members of the killifish family. There could be others, but I have not explored this enough.
This holding pond was dug to grow pompano in an attempt to farm them at the beach. They provide habitat for both fish and wildlife on the islands.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
It is also good habitat to support frogs. I have seen southern leopard frogs and southern toads, and have heard spring peepers on the islands, but I have not conducted formal surveys to determine what other species might exist. There are inland species that do well in dry sandy soils, and you would think would do well on barrier islands if they could reach them. Maybe some have, again – we need to conduct a good survey. I am not aware of any salamanders on these islands, but again I have not looked for them.
The leopard frog are found on barrier islands.
This is the realm of the reptile. As with the deserts of the American southwest, reptiles do very well in dry xeric conditions. Snakes and lizards seem to be the most abundant. Six lined racerunners are quite common, as are other species of skinks (if you look for them in hiding places). The horned toad was once common in all sandy environments in Pensacola, but then were only found on the barrier islands, and now are hard to find there. They are reported to still be found on Santa Rosa Island though I have not seen one in years. One of my colleagues recently saw one on Perdido Key – so, they are still around.
Six lined skinks are island lizards well adapted for the hot conditions out there.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
With snakes, the southern black racers and their close cousins the eastern coachwhip are very common here. I have found garter and ribbon snakes. I have seen the rough green snake in the maritime forest, usually in the branches. I have found both the cottonmouth and the banded water snake near the freshwater ponds. The denser forested areas have a lot of leaf litter on the floor that could support the eastern coral snake. Though I have never seen one on the islands, they could be – they are very secretive. One of the more common snakes – found in all habitats of the barrier island – is the eastern rattlesnake. Encounters with impressive creature is rare. Most of mine have been near the campgrounds and after hurricanes when the National Seashore was closed. When FIRST opened to the public, you see them, then they just disappear.
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is a classic serpent found in xeric habitats like barrier islands and deserts. They can be found in all habitats on barrier islands.
Photo: Bob Pitts
Alligators are known to haunt the freshwater ponds; I have seen them near the old pompano hatchery. I have seen photographs of them crossing the island, swimming across the intracoastal waterway, and even swimming in the Gulf! But sightings and encounters on our end of the panhandle are rare.
Though not in the maritime forest, these tracks show that the American alligator is a resident of many of our barrier islands.
Photo: Caroline Harper
Birds have no problem reaching barrier islands and they love forested areas. There are numerous species of songbirds (passerines). I have seen cardinals, blue jays, mockingbirds, and more. Many of the ones you find just across the intracoastal can be found here. Mourning doves are quite common in all habitats. The forested areas are where you encounter the raptors. I have seen osprey, bald eagles, and great horned owls all nesting here. Within the pines of the forest, you often see the great blue herons nesting. There are other occasional aquatic birds visiting the ponds, including ducks. Duck hunting still happens in the winter on some islands. These barrier islands are popular places to conduct the Audubon Christmas Bird Counts.
If look closely, there are blue herons in the tops of these maritime pine trees.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
And there are plenty of mammals. Though more crepuscular or nocturnal, you often find their tracks in the sand in the morning, and occasional see them. Raccoons and armadillos are abundant, not only in the forested areas, but all island habitats. Skunks were once very common in the maritime forest. I remember days camping at Ft. Pickens when they would approach you eating lunch knowing you were going to leave you food and move away! We encountered them frequently while hiking and saw them inside some of the fortifications. Then… in 2004… Hurricane Ivan rolled over Santa Rosa Island. A study conducted by LSU suggested the entire west end of the island may have rolled over 300 feet north that night. Since then, I have not seen a skunk. They may still be out there, but I have not seen one.
The round entrance of this burrow indicates that is the home of a mammal. most likely an armadillo, but there are others who burrow.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
In recent years there have been more encounters with river otters. They may have always been there but recently more tracks, and more encounters with live animals have occurred. There are squirrels and mice, out there. I have seen deer, fox, and coyotes on the islands. I have heard there are black bears. I have never seen one, nor their tracks, but know they have been encountered a lot recently in coastal Santa Rosa County and also know they are good swimmers. So, these reports could be true. I have looked for bats at dusk and have not seen them, but I am sure they are around. Especially near the forts and old live oak trees.
This is a ‘slide” made by otters using one of the old fish hatchery ponds. Otters are being seen more often by folks visiting the islands.
Time in these maritime forest will yield a lot of wildlife encounters. This is most likely the most diverse location on these islands. I would encourage you to dawn some good hiking boots (waterproof if you can), long pants (the green briar and cactus can be bad), a pair of binoculars, sun protection and water, and explore these amazing forests. Many of them within our state and national parks provide trails for easier access.
We have once last habitat to explore – and that would be the salt marsh. This will be Part 7.
The author exploring the maritime forest of Santa Rosa Island.
The open sandy beach is one of the hardest habitats to live in on a barrier island. There is no where to hide and almost nothing to eat. Add to this the direct wind and waves from the Gulf of Mexico and you have a barren landscape with continuous climate and ocean energy. But creatures do live here.
The beach is void of plant life and takes a well adapted animal to reside here.
Phot: Rick O’Connor
Before we go further let’s define a few terms. The beach is actually the dry sandy portion of this environment. The area where the sand squeaks as you walk through it, the place where you set your chairs, umbrellas, and lunch for your day at the beach. The berm is the harder packed sand near the waters edge. The place where you like walk when you walk the beach (it’s easier) and the waves wash over every few seconds. Living in these two would be very different. Second, we will define resident and transient. A resident is a creature who actually resides there. A transient is just passing through but lives somewhere else.
As you look across the beach you will notice there is NO WHERE to hide from the elements… except beneath the sand. One of the more common creatures who lives beneath the is the ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata). This crustacean digs burrows down to the water table where they can keep their gills wet and this can be as deep as four feet. On these flat beaches they are easy target for predators. They have several ways to deal with the problem. (1) Their compound eyes are on stalks above their head to give them a wider, and longer, range of view. (2) They are white in color and blend in with the quartz sand well. (3) They are more active at night, nocturnal. (4) They are very fast.
The trick to speed is to break contact with the ground. If you were to ask someone “what is the fastest way to get to Los Angeles?” They would answer “flying”, and this would be correct. Birds are some of the fastest creatures around. They fly. They lift off the ground and do not touch again until they reach their destination. It does not get any better than that. Cheetahs are very fast as well. But if you watch them in slow motion, you will see they are basically leaping from one point to the next. They touch the ground very few times over a certain distance. They are trying to fly but cannot. If look at video of a human, or centipede, or slug. Not sot good. Crabs are crustaceans and by definition they have 10 legs. When they move across the surface, they usually use eight of those (two being their claws). The same is true for the ghost crabs. But when they decide to run, they only run on three of them. They raise the other five above their heads. This means fewer legs touching the sand which means they are faster.
The common ghost crab. Photo: Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences
Food is another issue. Due to direct high wind (filled with salt), plants do not grow on the beach. Hence the classic food chain (plant – herbivore – carnivore) cannot exist. So, what do ghost crabs eat? They are scavengers. They emerge from their burrows, usually at night, to seek what dead creatures the tide may have washed in. Post storms are particularly good feeding times. Surf fishermen along the Gulf beach often catch hardhead catfish and, not liking them, often toss them on the beach to die. In the evening the ghost crabs will drag these to the entrance of their burrows where they feast for quite a while. They eventually clean to fish to the bone leaving their “hard head” (the skull). When you look at the skull from underneath it appears to be Jesus on the crucifix. These skulls are often collected and sold in novelty stores as “crucifix fish”.
The bones in the skull of the hardhead catfish resemble the crucifixion of Christ and are sold as “crucifix fish”.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
Another prize for ghost crabs are sea turtle eggs. Sea turtles are obvious transients to the beach environment, coming here only during nesting season. The females usually approach the beach close to where they were born at night. She will labor her way across the beach to the first dune line, though some will lay theirs in the open beach area. She could spend several hours digging a hole three to five feet deep. Loggerhead Sea Turtles (the most common on our beaches) simply dig a hole. The Green Sea Turtle will use her flippers to dig a form for her body before digging the nest. She will deposit about 100 eggs before burying them and returning to the Gulf. Ghost crabs, and other beach transients like coyotes, fox, and raccoons, will find and raid these nests.
Tracks left by a nesting Green Sea Turtle. Courtesy of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
The wrack (a line of debris that includes seaweed, shells, and other flotsam from the Gulf) offers a variety of food for ghost crabs. Another who is often found scavenging the wrack are shore birds. There are numerous species of terns, gulls, pipers, and plovers that will pick through the wrack for food.
The berm is a tougher place to make home. You are in the surf zone and must deal with breaking waves every few seconds. As you might expect, there are no plants here, and very few animals. Those that do reside here bury in the sand knowing that the surf will most likely expose them and could carry them to another location. The two most common animals in this zone are the mole crab and the coquina.
The mole crab is often called a “sand flea”.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
The mole crab (Emerita talpoida) is also known by surf fishermen as the “sand flea”. It is a small oval shaped crab that has a hard paddle like telson to dig into the wet sand tail first. With its head exposed it will extend antenna that are covered with small hair-like structures designed to collect plankton from the water that covers it when the waves come in. The surf often exposes them, but they flip over and dig back in very quickly.
The coquina (Donax variabilis) is a small clam that comes in a variety of colors (hence it’s species name). Like all clams, it has a fleshy foot which it uses to quickly dig into the wet sand covering most of its body. Like the mole crab, it exposes its head into the surf extending two fleshy tubes called siphons that draw water into the clam where it can collect planktonic food.
Coquina are a common burrowing clam found along our beaches.
Photo: Flickr
Predators do exist here, but they are not residents. They would include transient fish that come close to shore waiting for the surf to wash these small animals into the Gulf. One of the more common is the Florida Pompano. Surf fishermen like to use “sand flea” baskets, dragging them through the sand near the waters edge to capture the mole crabs for bait seeking these tasty fish. Others would include an assortment of shorebirds like sand pipers and plovers who run to the wet sand when the surf recedes back into the Gulf probing for the mole crabs and coquina, then quickly running back towards the beach when the surf returns.
A variety of shorebirds utilize the wrack. Photo: Rick O’Connor
The diversity of life in the beach-berm zone is not high, but this is a tough place to make a living. Ghost crabs, mole crabs, and coquina clams have all adapted to living here and have done quite well. But more wildlife prefers the dunes. It is a little easier there and the next stop in Part 5 of this series.
The classic model of ecological succession begins with new land. This could be new land formed by a sand bar, or a new landscape formed after a volcanic eruption, but new land none the less. Then the pioneer community begins. Based on the model, the plants need to be first, herbivores cannot survive unless there are plants already present. When we teach students about maintaining aquaria, we actually begin with the bacteria community needed to breakdown the organic waste from the plants and animals when they arrive. So, some would say “begin there”. As the pioneer plant communities form, the pioneer herbivores arrive. This would be followed by more advanced communities of plants and then more advanced communities of animals, until you reach the climax community.
Beach
The open beach is how most barrier island ecosystems begin awaiting the arrival of the pioneer community.
Phot: Rick O’Connor
But science understands that it is more complicated than that. Each new member of the community would make chemical and physical changes to the environment that could allow new species to thrive while other existing ones die off. Then those would make changes as well and the process is ALWAYS changing. That there is never a true climax community, change is happening all of the time. Then there was the case of Mt. St. Helens.
St. Helens erupted in 1980 destroying 229 square miles of habitat. This new landscape gave ecologists an opportunity to witness ecological succession firsthand. Like everyone, they expected the pioneer plant community to arrive first, and so on. But in some areas, it was the carnivores that arrived first, completely against the classic model. These carnivores apparently survived the blast and began to wonder the new landscape. How did they survive? They survived by feeding on each other. But eventually the pioneer plants did arrive, all creatures “got in line” and the world was good once again. The interesting thing was it did not happen the way they thought it would. It also shows the resiliency of life.
Mt. St. Helens destroyed almost 300 square miles and produced new habitat.
Photo: University of Washington.
So, how did this process unfold on our barrier islands? I do not know. You would guess that it unfolded the way the model suggests – pioneer plants first, pioneer animals, more complex plants, more complex animals, barrier island ecosystem. But as we have seen, there are several ways it could have started.
What we do know is that the animals who made it to the islands had to do so by either swimming, flying, or walking. For those who reached our islands on foot – beach mice, ants, etc. this must have happened at a time when the island was still connected to the mainland.
The Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse is one of four Florida Panhandle Species classified as endangered or threatened. Beach mice provide important ecological roles promoting the health of our coastal dunes and beaches. Photo provided by Jeff Tabbert
For the swimmers, short swims like Indian Pass could be achieved by several species. Deer and other small mammals may have been able to do this. I have seen bears swim and assume coyotes could make short swims. As the island continued to move with the tide and currents, the distance to the island would have increased. The pass across the mouth of our estuaries, or across the intracoastal waterway, is now daunting for many of these swimmers – but not all. I have seen eastern diamondback rattlesnakes swim across the ICW and have heard bears can still make this trip. For the flyers, these distances do not seem to be an issue. They easily, and often, do so.
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake swimming in intracoastal waterway near Ft. McRee in Pensacola.
Photo: Sue Saffron
If you imagine the early days of an island being low elevated sand, the new wildlife arrivals would face a daunting landscape. Burrowers, such as ghost crabs, could easily make a living here. Their burrows protect them from the elements and being scavengers, they would feed on anything the Gulf washed ashore – something they still do. Sea turtles and shorebirds could easily use the sand bars for nesting, and probably preferred it due to the few predators around. But eventually, the pioneer plants would become more established, allowing selected herbivores (who could survive in low elevation sand) to move in. Next the dunes would form, providing new habitat (read part 2 of this series). Additional herbivores, if they could reach the island, could now become established and at some point, the carnivores would enter the picture.
The line of seaweed and debris along the surf zone is called wrack. Photo: Rick O’Connor
There would initially be a finite amount of space for inhabitation and competition for that space and its resources would be high. Some would be more adapted to the environment than others, or physically stronger, or have a higher reproductive rate, to give them an edge over the others and the island wildlife community would begin. This community would include such things as insects, worms, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The marsh habitat would include aquatic species such as snails, clams, crabs, shrimp, and fish. All would have had to be able to reach the island, find a suitable habitat for their needs, find suitable food, and out compete others who had made the trip across as well. I was asked once as a college student – “who is a rhinoceros’s greatest competition?” It was an oral exam, and I was very nervous. My mind began reeling in all directions trying to think of what a rhino would have to compete for and WHO would be their greatest competitor. And then, with a little discussion from my professors, it dawned on me. Their greatest competitor would be another rhino. The other rhino would be seeking the same resources, habitat, and mates as the original one. Your first problem is with your own kind. And so, it would be for barrier island wildlife.
The bizarre looking armadillo enjoys a walk on the beach.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
With the arrival of humans, with their bridges and boats, additional creatures would be able to reach the islands and play a role in the competition, but that is another story, and we will discuss this more down the road. In Part 4 we will look at the species that have inhabited the beaches of our barrier islands.
