ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY


 NO. 1 NORTH FLORIDA COASTAL STRAND


OCCURRENCE

The North Florida Coastal Strand ecological community occurs along the
Atlantic Ocean north of Indian River County and along the Gulf of Mexico west
of Alligator Point in Franklin County. Individual communities are generally
large in size, being narrow and long, parallel to the coastal beaches. Small,
isolated communities can also be found along some bays or sounds. This
community generally encompasses the area affected by salt spray from the
ocean, Gulf and salt water bays.

DESCRIPTION

This community occurs on nearly level to strongly sloping land. It is easily
identified by its location adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
and by plants that are adapted to or influenced by the salty environment.
Small areas of hammock may occur on the more inland parts of the community.

1. Soil

 The soils are nearly level to strongly sloping, deep, mostly well to
 excessively drained with some being moderately well drained or somewhat
 poorly drained. They are coarse textured throughout. Representative
 soils included: Canaveral, Corolla, Fripp, Newhan and Palm Beach. In
 Escambia County, it is the areas mapped as coastal dune land and beach.
 Appendix A contains information on correlation of soil series with the
 appropriate ecological community.

2. Vegetation

 The natural vegetation of this community is low-growing grasses, vines,
 and herbaceous plants with few trees or large shrubs. These trees and
 shrubs often occur in stunted form due to the action of the wind. The
 natural forces of wind, salt, and blowing sand make plant establishment
 difficult on the foredunes. Plants which do establish here are well
 adapted to disturbance and are pioneer species. The backdunes will often
 have vegetation similar to the Sand Pine Scrub and the Wetland Hardwood
 Hammock ecological communities. Plants which characterize this community
 are:

 TREES Cabbage palm, Sabal palmetto; Sand live oak, Quercus
 virginiana var. maritima; Live oak, _Quercus virginiana

 SHRUBS Marshelder, Iva imbricata; Sawpalmetto, Serenoa repenss; Spanish
 bayonet, Yucca aloifolia; Yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria; Red
 bay, Persea borbonia