First Field Trip: Honeymoon Island

Our first field trip was conducted on the Osprey Trail at Honeymoon Island State Park, in the city of Dunedin, Florida. The weather conditions were fair for an average Florida day. The temperature was around 94 degrees Fahrenheit or 34 degrees Celsius, with minimal wind and about 20% cloud coverage. The environmentalist specialist, Dan Larremore, who was generous enough to be our guide gave us a brief but in depth history of Honeymoon Island and presented us with many species native and non-native to the island. Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island were once one island until a no named hurricane came through blowing the island into two separate islands. Just this year, sixteen million people have visited Honeymoon.  We encountered many species including Pine Flat wood trees which make up most of the island. In some areas where the soil is rich would be the Eco tone, which is where the Pine Flat Woods meet the mangroves. Along our walk we came across a Gopher turtle which is the turtle pictured below, who nest on the island. Mr. Larremore described the prescribed fire technique that helps fight off toxic plants and grow back the areas greener and healthier. The prescribed fires have very specific regulations before being able to be carried out. These regulations are carried out every five years and require high humidity, correct wind with an east component, and it must be carried out between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. We observed many plants on our walk through the Osprey trail. Lantana, which is flowery pleasing to the eye yet damaging to the environment. Dodder vine which is a native parasitic that taps into the plumbing of other plants and exchanges DNA. We also detected Hercules club which is medicinal and contains thorns on each stem, it’s leaves contain native citrus which when crunched up can help relieve a dental tooth ache for a period of time.