Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, FL, USA Photograph by Fred Lohrer/Archbold Biological Station   Eastern North America: Southeastern United States Temperate Coniferous Forests   1,500 square miles (3,900 square kilometers) -- about the size of Delaware Critical/Endangered

· Dry "Islands" in a Subtropical "Sea"
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Dry "Islands" in a Subtropical "Sea"

During recent ice ages, this area was originally islands when sea levels were higher. Today the Florida Sand Pine Scrub ecoregion is home to plants and animals that have adapted to living in somewhat harsh conditions on isolated ridges of sand. This isolation has led, over thousands of years, to the evolution of many endemic species. (Humans often create isolated patches of habitat by breaking up larger patches with roads, urban development, clearcutting of forests, and other means. This kind of isolation is usually harmful to species because they do not have thousands of years to adapt to the changes.)

Special Features

Only plants and animals adapted to sandy, dry conditions can survive in this tough habitat. Trees often appear to be more like shrubs, growing to be only 15 to 40 feet (4.5 to12 meters) tall. Examples include sand pine, Florida rosemary, and live ("evergreen") oaks.

	Unlike most birds, Florida scrub-jays work together to raise offspring, with some birds breeding and others simply helping raise the young.

Wild Side

Partially because scrub areas are so small and isolated from each other, evolution has created many species that are adapted to the unique conditions within each isolated area. As a result, about half of the plant and animal species in this ecoregion are endemic. The species best known in this area is the highly endangered Florida scrub-jay, a relative of the western scrub-jay, which is found west of the Mississippi River. In addition, many insects are restricted to single patches of scrub here. The Florida worm lizard, also restricted to this habitat, is legless and has no external eyes.

Cause for Concern

For many centuries, naturally occurring fires have maintained conditions that are suitable for the species that evolved here. But humans have suppressed these fires, which has allowed other species to move into this ecoregion and compete with the native ones. Furthermore, much of this ecoregion has been converted to citrus farms and housing developments. As a result, only about 10-15 percent of the original scrub habitat remains.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.