Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Bromeliad Habitats of South Florida
South Florida has a subtropical climate, with prononced wet and dry
seasons. A mixture of temperate and tropical plants and animals are found in a variety of communities. South Florida lies at, or just slightly above sea level, and changes in altitude of only a few feet can result in dramatic changes in plant communities. The everglades region is primarily a saw-grass marsh with slight elevations in its limestone rock foundation. These "hammocks" have communities of tropical hardwoods, which support many of Florida's native bromeliads. Bromeliads can also be found in sloughs (deeper and wetter areas) containing cypress swamps, in dwarf cypress domes among the praire ecosystem, or in the drier, upland pine flatwoods. Large areas of these unique areas are protected in southern Florida, but development and man made hydrological changes have threatened many of these areas not under public control. Epiphytic bromeliads have highly restricted habitat preferences based on their ability to absorb mineral nutrients from specific environments. Some species are only found where canopy and humidity conditions are just right. Bromeliads generally prefer moist habitats that are well lit, although they vary by species, and most are found near rivers, lakes and ponds. Bromeliads will rarely colonize all potential host plants within a habitat. Florida's species of Tillandsia are often found on oak and cypress trees, whose rough bark provides a suitable substrate for seedling attachment, as well as on hackberry trees. Hackberry and live oak trees have many spreading horizontal branches that provide a large area for epiphytic growth. Tillandsias prefer host trees that branch considerably, have a thick, rough bark with enough crevices to hold seeds, and do not produce chemicals (allelopathic substances) unfavorable for seedling growth. For example, seedlings are not able to develop on many tropical trees such as camphor because of the chemicals produced by the trees. http://www.freewebs.com/jacksbromeliads/ |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
If you build it, life will come: wildlife habitats | Gardening | |||
Pond Habitats | Ponds | |||
Pond Habitats | Ponds | |||
Pond Habitats | Ponds | |||
Pond Habitats | Ponds |