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The Sunshine State
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The Sunshine State |
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LadySofia Member
since 2000-05-16
Posts 238FL., USA 
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When the ancient super continent of Pangaea began to break apart around 200 million years ago, new continents were created as the Atlantic Ocean started to form. Rock from what is today known as western Africa was stranded on the western side and became part of Florida’s lowermost, or basement, rock. Over the next 125 million years, parts, or all, of Florida were alternately below or above sea level, and land-derived sediments such as clay, quartz sands, and marine sediments were likewise alternately deposited. From 75-25 million years ago, the majority of Florida was submerged as a shallow marine environment teeming with all walks of life. Organisms such as corals, bryozoans, mollusks, and foraminifera, deposited calcareous skeletal parts, which over time settled to the sea floor, compacting and cementing to form the limestone of the Florida Platform. Between about 25-2 million years ago, an overall drop in sea level, due to seawater being stored as ice in Antarctica, left much of Florida above water, exposing the limestone to the elements. Over the past 2 million years the earth has experienced several glacial expansions and retreats, sometimes as much as 500 feet, drastically transforming and reshaping the extent of the Florida coastline. About 150,000 years ago, a shallow sea covered most of the Florida peninsula. When the sea level began to drop during the last ice age, around 10,000 b.c.e., coral reefs were exposed to air and died off. Their hard skeletons remained, leaving limestone deposits, which over the following years degenerated and formed into a soil capable of supporting plant life. The Florida Keys are remnants of this, comprised of more than 100 reefs and oolithic limestone islands, or barrier islands, which average less than 10 feet above sea level. Barrier islands are sedimentary islands separated from the mainland by bays and lagoons. Most of Florida’s barrier islands were a result of the last ice age, when the peninsula’s gently sloping coastlines were cut off from the mainland and left as offshore sandbars. As sea levels continued their rise, these sandbars migrated inward. Sand located on the seaward side of the island was washed over and deposited on the inward side, primarily during turbulent storms, forming habitats so diverse and unique as found no where else. This tractor-tread-like motion continued until about 4-5,000 years ago, when the sea levels began to stabilize. Barrier islands are still very dynamic, always shifting, migrating, and changing with the tides and the shifting of the tectonic plates. Coral reefs are completely unique within the Florida coastline and the Caribbean. Although corals occur throughout the world’s oceans (one well renown is the Great Barrier Reef near the Australian coastline), reef-building species are strictly found in clear, sub-tropical, sunlit waters- the conditions found in most of southern Florida. The reefs located there are those of what scientists call the “fringing” variety, which grow outward from a coastline, generally following closely to the land in shallow waters, thus absorbing the shock from incoming waves. Found within, around, and upon the reef comprised of the millions of years of limestone deposits are foraminifera, mollusks, bryozoans, and ploychaete worms, whose skeletons were ground by wave motion and cemented by biological and chemical processes into the solid limestone they have made their homes. Many varieties of marine invertebrates are mistaken for plants, such as the fascinating yet deadly sea anemones, and the beautiful and diverse sponges, (of the Phylum Cnidaria-Hydrozoans, jellyfishes, corals and sea anemones). Through the biological process called photosynthesis, most plants manufacture their own food from inorganic materials, but those found in the Cnidaria phylum obtain their energy by ingesting and metabolizing plants or animals. A sea anemone, coral, or sponge may be as immobile as any seaweed, but due to their biological processes and the nature of their reproductive organs and developmental patterns, they are considered an animal. Continual destruction of the “fringing” reef environment could be hazardous to habitats onshore during violent storms, including our own, and would also make innumerable native species located there to become extinct, for most are only found in those reefs and no where else in the world. Karst topography, an irregular landscape shaped over millions of years by the dissolving of calcium-carbonate rocks, like that of Florida’s limestone bedrock by groundwater, is characterized by subterranean caverns and channels, sinkholes, underground drainage systems, and “disappearing” streams that detour underground, reappearing miles away as springs. Located in the state of Florida are nearly 8,000 lakes of 10 acres or more, 1,700 rivers and creeks, 300 springs, and an abundance of marshes and swamps within the state’s boundaries that contain in all more than 4,000 square miles of water. Florida’s highest point of elevation is 345 feet, located in the Western Highlands of the northern panhandle. In northernmost Florida extending downward nearly to Lake Okeechobee, a ridge of discontinuous uplands run the peninsula, comprised of older deposits than the rest of Florida. South of Okeechobee, elevations are generally less than 26 feet above sea level. Changes in ground elevation are relatively small yet very ecologically significant, with varying levels supporting vastly different flora and fauna. The formation of the Everglades began only about 5,000 years ago, during a time of rising sea levels. An increase in rainfall resulted in the flooding of flat, poorly drained, and low-lying southern Florida. Upland flora, including pine trees, could not tolerate standing surface water, and marsh flora took their place. Characteristic to wetland habitat, peat began to accumulate and irregularities in surface topography were smoothed over, contributing to the flat terrain of the Everglades today. Located in the swamp and marsh of the Everglades are the shy and sometimes elusive American Alligators, Alligator mississippiensis, and the rehabilitated Crocodiles, Crocodylus acutus, both remaining links to 65 million years into the past. The patient Great Blue Herons, Ardea herodias, await until they spy a fish then spear their dinner with a fluid grace, and differ greatly from the strange, Flamingo-like Roseate Spoonbills, Ajaia ajaja, whose beaks are shaped like flat spoons evolved to comb mud flats for marine invertebrates. Both of which are common residents to the Florida wetlands, and can also be found throughout the peninsula. Many species now found in Florida are feral, or non-native, species, like the imported Asiatic Tokay Geckos, Gecko gecko, and Iguanas, Iguana iguana. Species like the Cuban Brown Anole, Anolis sagrei sagrei, has been in Florida for 50 years or more, contributing to the decline in the native Green Anole, Anolis carolinensis, but in retrospect, introduced geckos (by well-meaning Florida homeowners) like the Indo-Pacific or House Gecko, Hemidactylus garnoti, the Tokay Gecko, as well as the Cuban Ashy Gecko, Sphaerodactylus elegans, and the Central American Yellow-headed Gecko, Gonatodes fuscus, do not seem to have a negative impact, as their mainly crepuscular (active around dawn or dusk) habits give them a more widely varied diet and allow for competition. Groups of varying species, like the imported Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus, and the House Gecko can be seen under lights upon buildings sharing the same habitats, their territorial barking echoing through the night. The Reef Gecko, Sphaerodactylus notatus, is perhaps the only native gecko, and is found in extreme southeastern Florida and the Keys. As there was never a land bridge between Florida and the Caribbean, the origin of much tropical flora and fauna is still a matter of speculation. Some scientists agree that some species arrived on natural rafts of floating debris. I will be giving you an in-depth look into my habitat I call home, and into my neighbors’ worlds, the fauna and flora that have cut out a niche for themselves in this Sunshine State. "The smallest feline is a masterpiece." Leonardo Da Vinci [This message has been edited by LadySofia (edited 12-07-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Amanda Piatt - All Rights Reserved | |||
Allan Riverwood
since 2001-01-04
Posts 3502Winnipeg |
One critique - The way you wrote the names using binomial nomenclature, I feel that you could have done it differently. It's my understanding that proper form is to italicize the words. Also, you could have put the binomial name in italics, and the common name for them in brackets next to it. For example: Gecko, (Sphaerodactylus elegans) would look better this way Sphaerodactylus elegans (Gecko). That's all I feel the need to comment on, the rest of it is very informative. Figures, I take a break from my homework, and this is what I happen to read in PIP.  Thanks for the guide to Florida. ~Allan |
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LadySofia Member
since 2000-05-16
Posts 238FL., USA |
Actually when I originally wrote it, not only were they in italics but the English name was boldfaced and linked to a picture or virtual note. I really don't know how to make my font that way here so I didn't bother I'm glad you liked it, and my bad about the homework thing...lol^_^ LadySofia "The smallest feline is a masterpiece." |
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Allan Riverwood
since 2001-01-04
Posts 3502Winnipeg |
Oh! Well here's a link you should take a peek at - /pip/qview/html.htm It'll clear up some questions you have about using HTML code in these forums. It's not too confusing, easy to remember how to do your favourite codes.  |
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LadySofia Member
since 2000-05-16
Posts 238FL., USA |
Thank you very much! I'll get right to work. ^_^ LadySofia [This message has been edited by LadySofia (edited 12-05-2001).] |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
This is very in-depth and informative. You have done an excellent job representing our state |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I'll be back to read this in further detail, but I feel like I'm ready for a trip back...only visited once, but I think I'm ready to go again, and with this as a travel guide, I'll appreciate all that much more... |
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