Kaelyn Jenkins
Brooker Creek
We visited Brooker Creek to learn about High Pine Grasslands and Pine Flat-woods. These communities were the most common ecosystem found in Florida but that all changed because of logging in the 1900s. These pine communities are fire dependent, so the park needs to have prescribed burns every now and again. Prescribed burns is when the park lights a section on fire purposely. This controlled burning can stimulate the germination of trees and reveal soil mineral layers which increases seedling vitality, therefore giving life back into the forest. Prescribed burns also help with opening up space and controlling diseases. These pine communities are actually very functional. They are perfect for protection, shelter, lumber, carbon storage, and source of fire.
A change in elevation in a ecosystem can make a huge difference. High pine grasslands can be found in high elevation. The grasslands have two forest layers where the ground layer and canopy is. Pine flat-woods are can be found, in the opposite areas of high pine grasslands, in low elevation areas. The pine flat-wood's canopy, shrub layer, and ground cover are the three forest layers.
You can tell if a community is thriving or not based on indicator and keystone species. You can't have a community intact without an indicator species. They are essential to an ecosystem. To survive species depend on keystone. An example of a keystone species is the golfer tortoise because the tunnels, abandoned or occupied, they build can be used as a dwelling for other creatures.
This ecosystem is greatly threatened by fires, people, droughts, and development
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