Central Florida Wetlands and Forests

A Matrix of Life

Florida wetlands are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America, providing habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. Over 1,000 different plant species and 700 different animal species call the Florida wetlands home.

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is arguably the most iconic resident of Florida's wetlands - Photo by John Moran

The pine savannah habitat in Florida supports several rare and endangered animal species, including the Red-cockaded woodpecker - a keystone species in the longleaf pine ecosystem, Eastern indigo snake - the largest native snake species in North America and Florida scrubjay - the only bird endemic to Florida, meaning it cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Habitat fragmentation in Florida threatens the Florida scrub jay's already small population, placing it on the federal endangered species list.

Not all Forests are Equal

The conversion of longleaf pine forests to oak forests is altering the hydrology of Florida in a harmful way. Longleaf pine forests are adapted to frequent fires, which help to maintain open understory conditions and promote the growth of grasses and other plants that can help to increase water infiltration rates, which means that water can more easily penetrate the soil and replenish the groundwater supply.

However, when longleaf pine forests are replaced by oak forests, the water infiltration rate decreases, which can lead to decreased water availability and an increase of flooding events. Oak forests are typically denser and have a more closed canopy, which can intercept more rainfall and further reduce the amount of water that reaches the ground.

The floor of an oak forest is has much denser vegetation than a pine savannah.

How Leaves Affect Water Supply

Pine leaves and oak leaves have different physical characteristics that can affect water infiltration rates. Pine needles are typically smaller and more compact than oak leaves. This means that they take up less space and leave more room for water to seep into the soil. In addition, pine needles tend to decompose more slowly than oak leaves, which means that they can provide a longer-lasting source of organic matter which helps build up soil structure and increase water infiltration rates over time.

Oak leaves, on the other hand, tend to be larger and flatter than pine needles. They create a thicker layer of organic matter on the soil surface, which can impede water infiltration, especially if the leaves are compacted or matted down.

These changes in hydrology can have a variety of downstream effects on ecosystems and human communities in Florida. Reduced water infiltration can lead to decreased groundwater recharge and lower streamflow, which can impact the availability of water for agriculture, industry, and human consumption. These changes alter the the hydrology of an area, and disrupt natures ability to cycle nutrients and store carbon.

Botanist Dr. Francis Putz discusses how forests can affect water supply.

There is much less ground cover on the floor of a longleaf pine savannah; water is able to seep into the ground water more easily.