Introduction. 2
The rich biodiversity in the Florida panhandle 3
The rich natural history 4
Other regions rich in biodiversity.... 5
Plants 5
Restoration activities in the Florida panhandle 6
Conservation efforts. 6
What next? 7
Works Cited. 8
Biodiversity in the panhandle
Introduction
The Florida Panhandle borders Alabama to the west, Georgia to the North and the Mexico Gulf to the south. The panhandle lies on a strip of land that measures approximately 320 kilometers by 160 kilometers (Blaustein et al. 784). This place is highly-regarded in the world because of its rich biodiversity. Few places can compete with the Panhandle in terms of the organisms and biodiversity in general. Most experts argue that the biodiversity of this strip is extraordinary. Because of this big role the panhandle plays in the world of biodiversity, there is a need to study and analyze it. This paper explains the various ways in which the biodiversity in the Florida Panhandle in the United States of America has been substantial in handling diversity of animals in the region. Additionally, the paper seeks to investigate the various advantages brought about by this project based on the economic outcomes in the United States of America.
Species in the Panhandle
There are several areas in America that have diverse species, contributing to the habitat and biodiversity in the region. The Southwest, Everglades and the Southern Appalachian Mountains are some of the areas that have rich biodiversity (Blaustein et al. 785). Despite this, these places comprise of about 75 percent of the species that can be found in the Gulf Coast. Tropical areas such as the Southern Mexico have a high number of species. Research shows that the central part of Florida Panhandle has the highest biodiversity species that exist. These species are mostly found along the Apalachicola River. The number of species in this region decreases as one moves towards the eastern region. Research indicates that there are more than 788 native vertebrates and 2000 native plants in this region. As such, very few places in the entire world can compete with the Florida Panhandle in terms of biodiversity. Considering the fact that this number does not include species from neighboring areas, the importance of this place cannot be understated. Because of this, the region should be treated with a lot of care because of its significance.
The Rich Biodiversity in the Florida Panhandle
The Rich Natural History
There is no doubt that the Florida panhandle is among the best biodiverse regions. In both Canada and United States, no area has more species of organisms than the Florida Panhandle. According to Bruce Means, an ecologist, the panhandle has 27 species of frogs, 42 species of snakes and 23 species of turtles. This is more than any other place in the world. Apart from this, the panhandle has 28 species of salamanders, over 300 species of birds and more than 2500 species of plants. Without doubt, this reflects the high diversity of habitat in the region (Simon et al. 172).
Several explanations have been given for the Florida panhandle’s natural history. According to Steve Herrington (an aquatic ecologist in TNC), the natural habitat is closely linked with the changes in sea level. He argues that the Panhandle Rivers were connected to North America’s mainland during the Pleistocene Epoch. This was unlike the peninsular Florida that was at times not connected to the mainland. This period which spanned from 2.6 years to 11700 years ago was characterized by biotas which were close to the modern ones. During such a period, several episodes of ice ages and global cooling took place. The temperatures of the world were covered during the cool periods by glaciers and uncovered in warmer interglacial periods. Because of this, there was a refuge for the species whenever there was a rise in the sea levels. Of all the rivers in the panhandle, the Apalachicola River has diversity that is most remarkable. This river supports freshwater fish, which accounts for more than 90 species. The river also supports more amphibians, reptiles and mussels when compared to other rivers. Despite being less diverse other river systems in the panhandle have numerous species (Simon et al. 175). Apalachicola stands out because of its notable species that include fireback crayfish, Apalachicola rosemary, fat three-ridge mussels, Florida torreya trees and shoal bass. There is evidence that the high diversity is related to biogeographical patterns during the Pleistocene Epoch.
Other Regions Rich in Biodiversity
Apart from the Apalachicola River, the panhandle’s Gulf Coast also has a variety of species. In the United States of America, the Florida panhandle is the most diverse coasts biologically. To the west of the region, there is wave energy which builds a barrier among the fauna. Florida’s Big Bend is considered as having the largest sea-grass beds and is entirely encompassed by lands that are publicly owned. The diverse marine ecosystems at the phylum mean that most of the region’s biological lineages are marine.
Plants
The panhandle is rich in longleaf-pine savannas, with dramatic habitats. A good example of this is how the seepage bogs rival the rain forests in terms of diversity. Although they are the least appreciated biodiversity repositories, longleaf-pine ecosystems play a big role in maintaining he balance in the ecosystem (Smith, 396). At one point in time, the longleaf-pine habitats accounted for up to 60 percent of the landscape. This is no longer the case because they have been reduced to up to less than 2 percent. As such, the Florida panhandle plays a significant role in protecting its species of plants
The Apalachicola Lowlands is another biodiverse habitat in the Florida panhandle The Apalachicola Bay is considered by experts as the most productive bay biologically in the Northern hemisphere. Over time, upstream water diversions and drought have impacted the bay. Human activities also mean that the habitat is consistently being destructed. There is need, therefore, for proper mechanisms to be put in place to facilitate the continuity of this habitat. The future of the panhandle depends on development agendas, public policy and restoration and conservation efforts (Smith, 396). Without these, the habitat will be destroyed, killing biodiversity.
Restoration Activities in the Florida Panhandle
The major conservation activity in the panhandle is as regards to the longleaf-pine habitat. Major commitments from the government and scientific advances have been introduced to ensure that the species is not extinct. The historical value of this habitat cannot be understated. Timber harvesting in the panhandle has become a major source of concern. There is need to restore the critical ground cover and the wiregrass (Knight et al. 117)
Conservation Efforts
The support by the existing government to conserve the Florida panhandle cannot go unnoticed. There have been a lot of overarching initiatives from the federal and state governments to ensure that the habitat is protected. This is because of the role that the Florida panhandle plays in continuing and promoting biodiversity in America and the world in general. Despite the fact that there are environmental problems that are significant (such as agricultural waste and invasive species in some parts), the government has reiterated its plans to ensure the panhandle is protected from any form of eternal and human interference. In the last decade, for instance, the State of Florida has purchased lands to restore and protect natural areas for the purposes of conservation. On its part, the national government has set aside large areas to complement the initiatives of the state government (Jameson et al. 43). This has resulted in protecting a comparatively large amount of land to ensure riverine resources are protected from problems that may result from human land practices.
The government of Florida has a program (Florida Forever) which oversees the purchasing of land for the purpose of conserving biodiversity. This program has been incorporated in the fiscal planning, meaning that it receives funding from the government. This program was launched in the year 2008, and its implementation is expected to go on until the year 2020. Further initiatives include the Northwest Florida Greenway, which seeks to extend the biodiversity corridor which connects Eglin Air Force Base and Apalachicola National Forest. This project was as a result of a cooperative understanding between the federal and state offices. Importantly, this greenway will create a corridor of conservation lands and wilderness which stretch from Alabama to Florida’s Big Bend. The conservation lands are expected to harbor various species of fauna and flora, protect water resources, allow ecological adaptations by facilitating rainfall and sea level, provide storm buffers among many other purposes (Friend et al. 98). Effectively, this will promote natural and cultural heritage in the sector of diversity.
What Next?
Apart from the greenway plan, there are other efforts o extend the highways across the panhandle. Such extensions are a major source of concern as they would potentially undercut the scope of the greenway. This undermines recovery of sensitive species. The greenway and the highway extension have contradicting agendas, implementation of which will mean that one will be ignored. Despite this, it is high time that the authorities should realize the significance of the Florida panhandle to the business of the state. As such, the greenway ought to be given the priority.
Conclusion
The above discussion addresses biodiversity in the Florida panhandle. As already argued, this place is incomparable to any other spot in terms of biodiversity. Its historical and biological significance to both the state and federal government cannot be understated. It has acted as a research center for most researchers. In addition to this, the panhandle has acted as a tourist attraction site. The plans by the state government to conserve the panhandle are the clearest indication of its significance in the region. All in all, the panhandle should be treated with a lot of care.
Works Cited
Peer Reviewed Journals
Blaustein, Richard J. "Biodiversity Hotspot: The Florida Panhandle." BioScience: 784. Print.
Simon, Troy N., and Joseph Travis. "The Contribution of Man-made Ditches to the Regional Stream Biodiversity of the New River Watershed in the Florida Panhandle." Hydrobiologia: 163-177. Print.
Smith, Gerald L., and Melanie Darst. "A New Species of Hymenocallis (Amaryllidaceae) in the Florida Panhandle." Novon: 396. Print.
Books
Friend, Sandra, and Kathy Wolf. North Florida & the Florida Panhandle. 2nd ed. Woodstock, VT.: Countryman, 2012. Print.
Jameson, Smith. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Draft Phase II Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Review. Atlanta? Ga.: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?, 2012. Print.
Knight, Gary R. Atlas of Florida's Natural Heritage: Biodiversity, Landscapes, Stewardship, and Opportunities. Tallahassee, Fla.: Institute of Science and Public Affairs, Florida State U, 2011. Print.
Lantz, Peggy Sias, and Wendy Hale. The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida. 2nd ed. Sarasota, Fla.: Pineapple, 2006. Print.
