* ________________ occurs in low energy shore areas of brackish (bay) water.
 * Beach dune is wind deposited) undulating beachfront vegetated with _______________
 * ____________ have multilayered roots which enable them to stabilize dunes. 
 * _____ are found along shorelines subject to high energy waves where ridges of sand build up.
 * Taking the brunt of storm surge, __________ are essential for protection of inland natural 
 	communities.
 * The  deep siliceous (silica/quartz) sands drain rapidly, creating decidedly ______________conditions.
 * ______________ consist of open canopy forest of widely spaced pine trees with a dense ground cover 
	of herbs and shrubs. 
 * Without burning, _____________  succeed into hardwood dominated forests. 
 * ___________ are maintained by severe fires that burn them to the ground every 20 to 60 years.
 * ____________ areas are often recharge areas where rainfall can refill underground aquifers - 
	from which we get most of our drinking water.
 *  A _____________ consists of live oak and other hardwoods and was most prized for  building 
	sites by early settlers.
 *  North Bay County, and much of the Panhandle, was once covered by this system ____________________
	but it has been replaced by one crop (one tree type) pine plantations of sand pine.
 * A pine plantation is a valuable diverse ecosystem.   True or False?

Ecosystems of Bay County 
(For the Lecture Class Only)  Distance Learning does not do the field ecology.

Estuarine Marsh occurs in low energy shore areas of brackish (bay) water. Tidal fluctuation is the most
important ecological factor in tidal marsh communities - determining which grasses grow where. In 
shallow areas black needlerush occurs, and in deeper areas smooth cordgrass will grow.  Many marine 
organisms use tidal marshes part or all of their lives.  Among them: shrimp, blue crab, oysters, sharks, 
grouper, snapper, mullet, etc. 

Habitats imperiled in Florida because of rarity*
*Beach dune is wind deposited) undulating beachfront vegetated with salt tolerant pioneer species - 
especially sea oats.  Sea oats have multilayered roots which enable them to stabilize dunes. Beach 
dune communities are found along shorelines subject to high energy waves where ridges of sand 
build up.  These are very dynamic communities - actually mobile.  Taking the brunt of storm surge, 
intact beach dunes are essential for protection of inland natural communities. The deep siliceous 
(silica/quartz) sands drain rapidly, creating decidedly xeric (arid) conditions.

*Pine Flatwoods consist of open canopy forest of widely spaced pine trees with little or no understory, 
but a dense ground cover of herbs and shrubs.  Species: longleaf pine, saw palmetto, dwarf wax myrtle.  
Without relatively frequent fires (3-8 years), flatwoods succeed into hardwood dominated forests. 
Too frequent fires, however, eliminate pine recruitment (baby pines) and the area would go to prairie.  
30 to 50% of Florida's upland was mesic flatwoods before human settlement.  However, few undisturbed areas still exist.

*Scrub is a fire maintained community almost exclusive to Florida and is home to several listed species.  
They usually have a heavy growth of sand pine and a thick undergrowth of scrub oaks and other shrubs, 
rosemary and lichens.  The loose sands drain rapidly, creating very xeric conditions and can become 
very hot.  In these desertlike conditions, plants have small tough leaves to conserve water or have none 
as in the case of the native cactus. Scrubs are maintained by severe fires that burn them to the ground 
every 20 to 60 years.  Pines then grow up from seeds and oaks shrubs resprout from their undamaged 
roots.  Scrub areas are often recharge areas where rainfall can refill underground aquifers from which we 
get most of our drinking water.


*Hammock    Coastal Upland habitat on stabilized dune, fire rare, consists of live oak and other hardwoods.  
Prized as building sites by early settlers for the shade and breezes it provides.In residential areas of 
Panama City, this habitat is not being renewed because lawn maintenance prevents new trees to sprout. 
 As trees age they are not being replaced.

*Sandhill     Dry upland with deep sand, frequent fire (every 2-5 years), longleaf pine and or turkey oak with 
wiregrass understory.  North Bay County, and much of the Panhandle, was once covered by this system, 
but it has been replaced by one crop (one tree type) pine plantations of sand pine.