The Ecology and Geologic Role of Mangroves in Florida

Davis, John

The mangrove swamps of the low-lying coasts and islands of central and southern Florida were studied during five seasons to determine the ecology of these unique littoral swamps, and to obtain some idea of their importance as geologic agents in extending the coasts and forming islands in the shoal-water regions. Five coastal and insular regions of the peninsula were selected and a number of stations established in each for observations and experimental studies. The report is divided into two parts. The 'Ecology of the Mangroves' is concerned with the types of plant communities of the mangrove and associated vegetation, the successional relationships of some of these communities. 'The Geologic Role of the Mangroves' considers the accretions of sedimentary and cumulose soils in connection with the different agents that bring them about, and more significantly, the role of the different mangrove communities in forming soils at higher and higher levels. The most apparent succession of the mangrove communities consists of a pioneer Rhizophora, a mature Rhizophora consocies, an Avicennia salt-marsh associes, not always, flooded by salt or brackish water, a Conocarpus transition associes, seldom if ever flooded by water and a tropical or semitropical forest association, which is the actual climax of the region. Besides Rhizophora, the Tortugas Keys have a young swamp of Laguncularia around a pond on Bush Key, some young plants of Avicennia on Bush Key, and a few old ones on Garden Key. Conocarpus was established on both Garden Key and Bush Key. How these species got to the Tortugas and to many of the most isolated of the Florida Keys is not certain, but should be considered.

The Ecology and Geologic Role of Mangroves in Florida

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