Costal Berm and Coastal Strand By Kristen Mayers

Terms to know: Coastal Upland– mesic or xeric communities restricted to barrier islands and near shore; woody or herbaceous vegetation Xeric- dry or low in moisture Mesic- moderate or well-balance supply of moisture Berm- a long narrow wedge of sand with the steep slope facing towards the sea A berm is a common feature on an exposed beach….

What is a Coastal Berm? Long narrow ridge of storm-deposited marine debris that is parallel to the shore Formed by a mixture of coarse shell fragments, coralline algae, and other coastal debris. -Defined by its substrate of coarse, calcareous, storm-deposited sediment forming long narrow ridges. -Occasionally occurring in a series with alternating swales

Distribution and Status Southern peninsula of Florida Florida Keys Poor Declining

Distinguishable features: Occurs on coarse calcareous sediment and not on limestone rock Elevation is higher than normal tide heights Occurs on shelly substrate rather than sandy Mixture of tropical herbs shrubs and trees Lacks a continuous canopy

Common Tree species: Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba) Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) Silver palm (Coccothrinax argentata) Blolly (Guapira discolor) Milkbark (Drypetes diversifolia) Sevenyear apple (Genipa clusiifolia) Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum)

Common Tree Species:

Common Short trees and tall shrubs Spanish stopper (Eugenia foetida) Hog plum (Ximenia americana) White indigoberry (Randia aculeata) Florida Keys blackbead (Pithecellobium keyense) Saffron plum (Sideroxylon celastrinum)

Tall shrubs and Short trees:

Short shrubs and Herb Species: Perfumed spiderlily (Hymenocallis latifolia) Bayleaf capertree (Capparis flexuosa) Buttonsage (Lantana involucrata) Rougeplant (Rivina humilis) Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) White mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa), Bay cedar (Suriana maritima) Bushy seaside oxeye (Borrichia frutescens)

Short Shrubs and Herb species: Top left to right: Perfumed spiderlily, , Buttonsage, Bottom: red mangrove, black mangrove, white mangrove

Rare Plant Species: Pride-of-big-pine (Strumpfia maritima) Joewood (Jacquinia keyensis) Wild dilly (Manilkara jaimiqui (Pictures from left to right) Pride-of-big-pine, joewood, wild dilly

Common animals Ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata) Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) Southeastern Beach Mice (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris) St. Andrews Beach Mice (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas ) Hawksbill Sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Loggerhead Sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Leatherback Sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Spotted Sandpipers (Actitis macularius) Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) Typical animals include those associated with a beach dune habitat such as the beach mouse, ghost crab and savannah sparrows.

Threats to Coastal Berm Invasion of exotic species Human encroachment and development Storm disturbance The invasive within this habitat are Brazilian Pepper, Latherleaf, Australian pine, Portia, and beach naupaka with the largest threat of all three is the Australian Pine.

Management Fire is not a management tool in this habitat because it is rare to non-existent. Removal of invasive exotics Berm repair Preservation of existing berm habitat Restriction of real estate along coastal upland communities

Places to visit Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park (Monroe County) Long Key State Park (Monroe County) Marquesas Long Beach in Key West National Wildlife Refuge (Monroe County)

Coastal Strand

What is a Coastal Strand? It is an evergreen shrub community growing on stabilized coastal dunes in the peninsula of Florida, often with a smooth canopy due to pruning by salt spray. They are important buffers for tropical storms and hurricanes

Distribution Found along Atlantic coast of Georgia and Florida Southwest Gulf Coast Florida Panhandle (once pass into Alabama and Mississippi become coastal grassland communities) In Florida, coastal strand is relatively continuous along the sandy portion of the Atlantic coast (all the way up into the Carolinas), patchily distributed on the southwest Gulf coast, on the Florida Panhandle coast but in Alabama and Mississippi becomes occupied by scrub or coastal grassland communities

Resources and Conditions Soil Deep well drained sand Alkaline Made of quarts sand combined with shell pieces

Resources and Conditions Cover Smooth canopy Shrubs are source of cover for wildlife Fire Little to no information Food Seagrapes, Prickly apple

Status Poor Declining Species within this habitat are globally vulnerable and subnationally imperiled G3/S2 The status of coastal strands is poor and declining mainly because of human encroachment, and invasive species. But I will talk about this in a moment.

Temperate Coastal Strand Plant species Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) Tough bully (Sideroxylon tenax) Red bay (Persea borbonia) Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Live oak (Quercus virginiana) Top: cabbage palm Bottom left to right: Saw palmetto, tough bully, red cedar

Tropical Coastal Strand Plants Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) Myrsine (Rapanea punctata) Buttonsage (Lantana involucrata) White indigoberry (Randia aculeata) Spanish stopper (Eugenia foetida) Wild lime (Zanthoxylum fagara) Florida Keys Blackhead (Pithecellobium keyense)

top left to right: Seagrape, Myrsine, buttonsage Bottom left to right: Spanish stopper, sea oats

Rare plant species Simpson's prickly apple (Harrisia simpsonii) Joewood (Jacquinia keyensis) Coastal vervain (Glandularia maritima) Atlantic coast Florida lantana (Lantana depressa var. floridana) Gulf coast Florida lantana (Lantana depressa var. sanibelensis).

Left to right: Joewood, Prickly apple

Animals found Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Southeastern Beach Mice (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris) St. Andrews Beach Mice (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis) Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas ) Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Eastern Indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi) Florida box turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri) Land Hermit Crab (Coenobita clypeatus) Piping plover(Charadrius melodus) Many of these species use this habitat as refuge during and after storms and hurricanes.

Obligate and/or Listed Animals Florida Scrub lizard, Eastern indigo Florida box turtle,

Threatened Animals Gopher tortoise, piping plover ( federally listed as threatened)

Endangered Animals Top: Beach mice, Beach mice Bottom: Green sea turtle, Leatherback sea turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle,

Threats Climate variability Conversion to housing and urban development Conversion to recreation areas Incompatible fire Recreational activities Invasive animals and plants Roads Light pollution Fire

Management Removal of invasive plants and animals Restrictions on recreational use Limitations on human development Restrictions on beach nourishment and dredging Awareness and Education on light pollution - Deposition of dredged materials for beach nourishment, dune restoration, and other purposes degrade these habitats and can directly impact these species, as can disturbance and predation by nuisance animals Piping plover have seen declines because their breeding sites are being disturbed by human recreation - conversion of Coastal Strand to golf courses remains a significant source of habitat loss.

Places to visit Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve – Guana site (formerly Guana River State Park, St. Johns County) Canaveral National Seashore (Volusia/Brevard County) Hollywood North Beach Regional Park (Broward County) Cayo Costa State Park (Lee County)

Questions?