Buffenbarger

Wells creek make up

 11/3/2015

Hillsborough River State Park

The purpose of this trip was to observe a variety of habitats in the Hillsborough River State Park, there was many ecosystems including pine flat woods, floodplain swamp, hardwood hammock, cypress swamp, and grass pond that allow for diverse plant and animal communities, as well as grasslands estuary/spring/aquifer habitats, the underground springs overflow and run together to form Hillsborough River. The river is feed by Crystal spring which leads to an estuary with Tampa Bay. The Hillsborough grew from the Green Swamp, its waters merging with those of Crystal Springs, before starting its path to the sea.

Its, here was where fish and shellfish were found in the quantities need to support large settlements. Around the river were mangroves, palm trees, sand-spurs, and other commonly known Florida plants.  There were also a number of invasive animals and plants living within the park. During my tour with a Park Ranger I seen birds, turtles, alligators, bass, bream catfish and otters.  He furthered explain to me the 4 main importance factors of a spring is the flow, water clarity, aquatic vegetation fish and wildlife.

 The flow is the amount of water that discharges from a spring vent, is the primary feature of a spring system. Spring flow creates and maintains the spring run. Without adequate flow, the ecosystem and human use potential of a spring diminishes. The water clarity characteristic of a spring is clear water. High water clarity is a primary condition of the productive aquatic vegetation that supports spring ecosystems. Aquatic vegetation is dense, which provides habitat for many organisms, removes nutrients from the water, and improves water clarity by filtering many particles.  Springs are also known for their abundance and diversity of fish and wildlife and have very high fish diversity since they are home to both marine and freshwater species. Several springs also serve as warm water refuges for the endangered manatee in the winter. This  was a wonderful park very beautiful piece of nature and lots of history. I will return to this park as there is lots to see.