Brooker Creek Preserve is a preserved wildland trail with ecosystems that include pine flatlands, hammock grasslands, and wetland swamps. The purpose of going to this preserve is to examine the different ecosystems that come with the change in altitude and other conditions that lead to differing flora and wildlife within the preserve. Our group went to Flatwoods trail, a flatwoods communities known for low-growing saw palmetto, abundant grasses, and flowering plants. We also went to the Blackwater Cutoff, a wetlands trail where bald cypress, black gum and button bush were more common.
The temperature was 86 degrees with a humidity of 58. It is 8,300 acres and the largest preserve in the county.
In flatland areas, there are prescribed fires every 3 to 5 years to encourage wiregrass growth and longleaf pine growth. Broom pines were also found in the prescribed burning areas of the preserve, and were probably 5 years old. On the other side of the prescribed burn flatlands was a great deal of oak trees creating a hammock cover.
Throughout our trip to Brooker Creek, the group was able to see a deer, mosquitoes, egrets, and a Short-Tailed Long King Snake.
Commonly seen plants include saw Saw Palmettos, Cyprus Trees, Azalea Trees, and Pine Oak. There were various types of mosses also seen along the trail.
We noticed that the water level was low in locations where the roots of trees were seen, and that water level increases in the summer. There was also a number of fallen trees, which are good for development in soggy areas.
Brooker Creek has been my favorite field trip yet in this Field Biology class. I particularly enjoyed the walk through the swamp water.
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