1. Coastal Interdunal Swale Presented by Marissa Rios

2. Breakdown Coastal: near a coast Interdunal: between sand dunes (ridges formed by wind, often on sea coast or in a desert) Swale: low tract of land, often moist or marshy

3. FNAI Exemplary site

4. What is it? Category ◦ Non-Forested Wetlands  Marshes Hydric, sandy soil Status ◦ G2 / S3

5. Anything else? Herbaceous or shrubby linear depressions between dune ridges on sandy barrier islands Varies from flooded to completely dry Also called ◦ Interdune area ◦ Transitional zone ◦ Marsh, moist grassland, dense shrub, damp flat

7. Where is it? Along sandy coastlines in Florida Gulf coast Northeast Atlantic coast south to Cape Canaveral

8. What grows here? Vegetation depends on local hydrology, substrate, and age of swale Moist grasslands may be dominated by ◦ Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) ◦ Sand cordgrass (Spartina bakeri) ◦ Saltmeadow cordgrass (S. patens) Damp sand flats will have a sparse cover of herbs such as ◦ Yellow hatpins (Syngonanthus flavidulus) ◦ Le Conte’s flatsedge (Cyperus lecontei) ◦ Engler’s bogbutton (Lachnocaulon engleri) In South Florida ◦ Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans)

9. Wetter areas: ◦ Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) ◦ Cattail (Typha spp.) ◦ Needle rush (Juncus roemarianus) Shallower areas: ◦ Umbrellasedge (Cyperus spp.) ◦ Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliniana) ◦ Spadeleaf (Centella asiatica) ◦ Broomsedges (Andropogon virginicus, A. glomeratus) Shrubby areas: ◦ Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) ◦ Coastal plain willow (Salix caroliniana), Atlantic coast ◦ Atlantic St. John’s Wort (Hypericum reductum), panhandle

10. Hairawn muhly Sand cordgrass Yellow hatpins Cattails Umbrellasedge

11. Broomsedge Spadeleaf Wax myrtle Atlantic St. John’s Wort Black mangrove (S. FL)

13. Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) Natural Estuarine Research Reserve

14. Similar to… Coastal grassland- stable sand substrate, farther inland Beach dune- coastal dune, can surround CIS CIS lack species tolerant of inundation such as ◦ Seaoats (Uniola paniculata) ◦ Gulf bluestem (Schizachyrium maritimum) ◦ Crimson bluestem (S. sanguineum)

15. What lives here? Mammals ◦ Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) ◦ Racooon (Procyon lotor) ◦ Beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus) Reptiles ◦ Salt marsh snake (Nerodia clarkii) ◦ *Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) ◦ Sea turtles  Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)  Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)  Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) Amphibians ◦ Limited information Birds ◦ Shorebirds and wading birds common  Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris)  Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)  Herons/egrets  Terns  Gulls, etc. ◦ Birds of prey may nest here  Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

16. Beach mouse Gopher tortoise Loggerhead sea turtle Osprey Clapper Rail

17. Why are they there? Standing water Sand for burrowing, movement Grasses/herbs/shrubs for cover (nesting, mating, feeding, etc.) Stopover for migratory birds

18. Natural Processes Often inundated by local rainfall Dynamic Hydrology depends on height and area of surrounding dunes Lower dune ridges are better protected from weathering  succession of herbaceous species, ends with woody species

19. Natural Processes, Cont. Storms may also level the dune, allowing it to be colonized by dune grassland community species such as spikerushes/spikesedges Sand delivered/removed by waves and wind  building and erosion Salt water intrusion and sand movement following storms sets back succession  halophytic species invade Succession naturally kept in order

20. What about management? Threats: Human encroachment/land conversion Salt water intrusion and sand burial may leave swales vulnerable to invasion by exotic species Torpedo grass (Panicum repens) Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) Australian pine (casuarina equisetifolia) Australian pine

21. Suggestions? Preservation Active management: ◦ Limit mechanical treatment, sensitive system Examples: ◦ FL DEP- Beach Erosion Control Program & more ◦ Other agencies/organizations have similar programs

22. FNAI Exemplary Sites Gulf Islands National Seashore (Okaloosa County) St. George Island State Park (Franklin County) Little Talbot Island State Park (Nassau County) Anastasia Island State Park (Flagler County) Cayo Costa State Park (Lee County) Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve-Keewaydin Island (Collier County)

23. FNAI Exemplary site

24. Questions?