My favorite fieldtrip this semester was our last one to
Brooker Creek Preserve. I liked it because it was farther away from urban
development and there were several miles of trail that we could walk on.
The Preserve had a many different community types consisting of forested wetlands, oak hammocks, pine flatwoods and cypress domes. Brooker Creek, connected to Lake Tarpon, creates a floodplain swamp and part of the trail was flooded during our hike.
The Preserve had a many different community types consisting of forested wetlands, oak hammocks, pine flatwoods and cypress domes. Brooker Creek, connected to Lake Tarpon, creates a floodplain swamp and part of the trail was flooded during our hike.
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| Pygmy Rattlesnake |
The swamp environment is well suited to cold-blooded Reptilia.
Snakes were basking in the sun everywhere during our trip. I saw four different
species of snake two of which, a Pygmy Rattlesnake and a Cottonmouth were
highly poisonous. We also spotted an alligator sunning itself on the banks of
Brooker Creek, another reptile well suited to the tannin stained waters of a
swamp.
Field Biology of Florida has been a great class and given me a deeper appreciation of the treasures in our own backyard.
- Derek Hopkins
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