Wayside Shrine Trail South Florida Community College

The Fabulous Florida Scrub!

Scrub Locations

How This Happened…

• Glacial changes throughout the ages have changed sea levels.

How This Happened…

• Glacial changes throughout the ages have changed sea levels.

• Beach remnants and ancient sand dunes were left behind as the sea levels receded.

How This Happened…

• Glacial changes throughout the ages have changed sea levels.

• Beach remnants and ancient sand dunes were left behind as the sea levels receded.

• Reproductive Isolation and Speciation occurred in plants and animals that were isolated by thousands of years of higher sea levels. They evolved into distinct species.

How This Happened…

Endemic Fauna

Endemic Fuana

Endemic Fuana

Endemic Fuana

Endemic Fauna

Endemic Fauna

• The Florida Scrub jay, blue tail mole skink, Florida mouse, and Florida Sand Skink are found only in the scrub habitats of Central Florida. Many are endangered. Habitat loss is the number one cause of species extinction. Remember, extinction is forever!

Evidence of Others!

Many different tracks can be seen. You can make sketches in your eco-journals. Watch where you step!!!!

Powder Puff Lichen are seen all around the trail. The plants and animals of the scrub are xerophytic.

It is a slow growing lichen that has adapted to the harsh conditions by being able to absorb moisture from

the air . It has no roots!

Dixie Reindeer Lichen also has no roots and absorbs moisture from the air.

When large mats of these lichen and others are present a lack of burning in the area is indicated.

Scrub habitats are pyrogenic, or fire dependent.

There are many decomposers in the scrub.

The epiphyte surrounding this toad stool is another example of a plant adapted to absorbing moisture from the air.

Many plants, like this prickly pear cactus, have adaptations which prevent animals from eating

them.

They grow beautiful, yellow blooms between the months of March and August.

Thick waxy leaves prevent water loss.

Plants, trees, and shrubs flower at different times of the year.

This beautiful Sandhill Wireweed Grass flowers March through November.

BlueEye Grass

Many have a close symbiotic relationship with only a few insects and animal pollinators. Feay’s Palafox

flowers March through November.

As you travel along the trail, make note of the many special flowers and fruits you see!

This enchanting dwarf forest is being destroyed for agricultural and housing developments

Many of you may have remnants of this wonderful, natural resource in your own

backyard.

Take a moment to look at it’s beauty.

Many species have yet to be studied and may soon be lost forever.

Wayside Shrine boxes, carved by Mollie Doctrow, are representative of the plants they are near.

Each box contains information that will help you fill out your eco-journals. Sketch the leaves or better yet make rubbings of the

leaves to enhance the info in your journals!

Feel free to leave your observations in the visitors book and be a part of scrub history!

http://mofac.org/wayside/There are many resources for

download that can be used on the trail. Take advantage of this local

treasure!

Picture and Text References1, Scrub Location• http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Scrub-Jays/fsj_mit_guide-Fig-1.htm

2, Florida Sea Levels• http://www.google.com/imgres?q=wikipedia+florida+sea+levels+lake+wales+ridge&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-

Address&rlz=1I7ADSA_en&tbm=isch&tbnid=AISRwvJ8-KeanM:&imgrefurl=http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/guerry/GLY4155/sp35/Fgs35.HTM&docid=pfiFKimdMnQ6OM&w=480&h=491&ei=xcOFTp_MH8ujtgf0ofQs&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=187&vpy=320&dur=125&hovh=227&hovw=222&tx=127&ty=140&page=1&tbnh=151&tbnw=148&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0&biw=1600&bih=678

3, Formation of dunes• http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=41577

4. Florida Scrub Mousehttp://www.google.com/imgres?q=florida+scrub+mouse+wikipedia&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADSA_en&tbm=isch&tbnid=UiTcVFL3nzJCtM:&imgrefurl=http://nsbnews.net/category/cover/nsb-news-top-100%3Fpage%3D5&docid=Ud_nUZAZv3qY7M&w=448&h=249&ei=0MiFTs3iFoWctwfL9MhH&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1134&vpy=205&dur=3650&hovh=167&hovw=301&tx=171&ty=92&page=2&tbnh=101&tbnw=181&start=21&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:21&biw=1600&bih=678

5. Florida Scrub Lizardhttp://www.google.com/imgres?q=florida+scrub+lizard&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-

SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADSA_en&tbm=isch&tbnid=JYhS-pvuPQ7QkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.wildherps.com/species/S.woodi.html&docid=0LHx8Dj1dUVt8M&w=600&h=400&ei=esmFTqWNI4_AtgeguLxF&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=418&vpy=162&dur=6864&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=127&ty=109&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=217&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&biw=1600&bih=678

6. Sand Skink http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.archbold-station.org/station/assets/images/Sand_Skink_N_Ihasz.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.archbold-station.org/station/html/research/herpetology/effoffireonskinks.html&h=151&w=200&sz=17&tbnid=f3gVnh1nHMVqRM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=119&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dflorida%2Bsand%2Bskink%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=florida+sand+skink&docid=G9nf_a-QL-FFVM&sa=X&ei=6TSgTorCJ4SUtwf6n8SSBQ&ved=0CDIQ9QEwBA

7. Blue-tailed mole skinkhttp://www.defendersblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bluetail-mole-skink-300x213.jpg

8. Prickly Pear Cactushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Opuntia_fragilis.jpg

Picture and Text References

Slides 11-34 were taken on the Wayside Shrine Trail by Dakota Hicks and Garrett Strickland.