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Endangered and Threatened Species of Orange County LbNA #50599 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Sep 25, 2009
Location:
City:Orlando
County:Orange
State:Florida
Boxes:5
Planted by:Moo Poo
Found by: Not yet found!
Last found:N/A
Last edited:Sep 25, 2009
ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPEICES OF ORANGE COUNTY, FL SERIES 2

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Created by: Moo Poo
Placed by: Moo Poo
Stamp: Hand-carved
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Note: Bring bug repellent and a camera!

This is an extension of my Endangered Animals of Florida Series. I had originally wanted to do an Endangered and Threatened Species of Florida Series. However, when I saw the list (especially the plants list), I thought that I was probably taking on too much. So, I changed the title to only include the endangered animals of Florida. As I was working on this series, I realized that some of my favorite creatures and plants (like the gopher tortoise, the Florida scrub jay, and the Scrub Lupine) were being left out. Since I live in Orange County (currently), I thought I would go ahead and make the Endangered and Threatened Species of Orange County, FL Series so that I could carve some of my favorites. The endangered animals of Orange County have been excluded because I have already carved them for the Endangered Animals of Florida Series.
I required that I planted my boxes in areas where a letterboxer has a chance to actually see the endangered/threatened species, or at least experience their unique habitats. Well, I quickly discovered that Central Florida has grown so much, that those habitats are limited to just two parks in Orange County. Because I want everyone to have a chance to get all of these boxes, I decided to go ahead and just put them in the two parks. Enjoy!


Beautiful Pawpaw (Deeringothamnus pulchellus)
Endangered
The small size of this species makes it easy to miss in its native habitat. It is a low-growing, deciduous, aromatic shrub or subshrub rarely grows more than 30 cm tall. Solitary white flowers arise from new leaf axils each season from March to May, and are fragrant. This species blooms only after fire or another disturbance.
This species is found in grassy flatwoods, road edges, xeric, mesic, and hydric flatwoods and pinelands in poorly drained soils. A Florida endemic that is known only from 2 small disjunct populations: Charlotte and Lee counties (19 occurrences), and Orange County (4 occurrences). Only five of the sites are on protected land. Around 5000 individuals are found at 28 sites from Lee and Charlotte Counties, and one from Orange County.
The rate of residential and agricultural development is very high where this species occurs. The principal cause of decline is habitat destruction for residential development, horticulture, tropical fruit production, and grazing. The exclusion of fire has also contributed to the decline of Beautiful Pawpaw.

Britton’s Beargrass (Nolina brittoniana)
Endangered
Britton’s beargrass is a perennial herb with long, stiff leaves in a grass-like clump rising from a bulbous stem. Young leaves erect; older leaves up to 6 feet long and 0.5 inches wide, spreading on the ground. Spanish bayonets (yucca) are often confused with Britton’s beargrass.
The range of Britton’s beargrass is from the south end of Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands County north to Marion County and northern Lake County. It may still occur in western Orange County and in the northwest corner of Osceola County where specimens were collected in 1958 but remaining habitat is being rapidly destroyed. More than 90% of Britton’s beargrass habitat has been lost to agriculture and development. About 100 populations remain, with half of these occurring on 10 conservation areas. Conservation land acquisition underway by the state of Florida and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should adequately conserve this species in Highlands and Polk Counties. Current acquisition plans may not adequately protect it in outlying portions of its range (such as Lake County and Orange County).

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
Threatened
A cold-blooded reptile that is extremely long-lived; estimates for wild tortoises range from 40 - 60 years, while tortoises in captivity can live more than 100 years. Gopher tortoises occur in upland habitats throughout the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, with most being found in north-central Florida and southern Georgia.
The gopher tortoise is an obligate burrower with many adaptations for digging. The limbs are very stout and strong, with wide flat claws. The front legs are protected with small scales. The shell of the tortoise (and all turtles) is an outgrowth of the skeleton and is their major means of protection. Gopher tortoises are primarily herbivorous, although they will eat bones from dead animals, presumably to get calcium. Their primary food sources are low-growing grasses and herbs. They will eat the pads, fruits, and flowers of prickly pear cactus.
Without a doubt, the burrow is the most important feature of gopher tortoise biology. In east-central Florida, burrows average 15 ft long and 6 ft deep. Having a burrow provides many advantages for the tortoise, such as protection from predators, fire, and the weather. The burrow has a fairly constant environment that is not too hot, too cold, too humid, or too dry. This is very important for a cold-blooded animal that is at the mercy of the elements. The open sandy area in front of the burrow, called the apron, is often used by the female tortoises for a nest site. Each tortoise will dig and use several burrows within its home range. In east-central Florida studies, males used an average of 17 burrows, but some males only used eight burrows and some males used as many as 35 burrows. Generally, females don't use as many burrows as males. Sometimes, more than one tortoise will be in a burrow at the same time. Gopher tortoises are often called wildlife landlords because their burrows are essential to the lives and well-being of many other wildlife species. These animals that take advantage of the tortoise's burrow, but neither help nor harm the tortoise, are called commensals. Over 300 species of invertebrates have been documented using tortoise burrows. Vertebrate commensals include frogs, other turtles, juvenile tortoises, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, many small mammals, and even some birds such as the Florida scrub-jay and burrowing owl. Several of the commensals are legally protected species, which adds to the tremendous value that the tortoise burrow has in the ecosystem.
Today, the greatest threat to the survival of the gopher tortoise is habitat destruction. Tortoises can not live if they do not have undeveloped land with plenty of food and room to dig their burrows. Another less obvious threat that is related to development is land fragmentation. Buildings, roads, borrow pits, landfills, parking lots, and all other kinds of facilities break the natural habitat into pieces, resulting in fewer large parcels of land. It is difficult for a tortoise to go about its business without coming into contact with humans, or worse yet, their automobiles. Road mortality is believed to be one of the greatest causes of adult tortoise deaths.
Another factor that has negatively influenced tortoise populations, as well as many other species of native wildlife, is the introduction of exotic plants and animals. Vegetation, such as Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, and melaleuca have been brought to Florida by humans, either purposely or by accident. They often are successful in our warm weather and good growing conditions, and soon take over much of the habitat that would normally belong to our native plants. Non-native animals such as feral pigs, cats, dogs, and exotic lizards also take a toll on wildlife by killing individuals, eating eggs and young, and competing with native species for resources.

Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coeruluscens)
Threatened
It is the only species of bird endemic to the U.S. state of Florida. Because of this, it is heavily sought by birders who travel from across the country to observe this unique species.
Florida scrub jays occur from the Florida panhandle through central Florida. Florida scrub jays previously occupied most of the counties of peninsular Florida, they are currently found from Flagler, Marion, and Citrus counties in the north to Collier, Glades, and Palm Beach counties in the south. The estimated population is between 7,000 to 11,000 individuals.
The Florida scrub-jay is found only in Florida Scrub habitat, an ecosystem found only in central Florida. It is characterized by nutrient-poor soil, occasional drought and frequent wildfires. Because of this somewhat harsh weather pattern, it is host to a small assortment of very specific plants, including sand pines, sand live oak, myrtle oak, Chapman's oak, scrub oak, and various other hardy plants such as cacti. They will not generally nest in heavily forested areas.
The major cause of the decline of the Florida scrub-jay has been habitat destruction by humans. The decline probably began in the mid-1800s when scrub was cleared for towns, citrus groves, and cleared pastures. The destruction of scrub accelerated throughout the 1900s, especially after 1950, for the development of air fields, phosphate mines, pine plantations, military installations, super highways, mobile home parks, shopping malls, rocket-launch complexes, tourist resorts, golf courses, and theme parks. Fire suppression accompanying human settlement further reduced usable habitat throughout the species' original range. In recent years, environmental groups within the state have made a strong effort at preserving Florida's remaining scrub through controlled burns and even clearing out areas of large trees to increase the size of a scrub habitat.
An inquisitive and intelligent species, the most striking attribute of the Florida Scrub Jay's behavior is its remarkable tameness. As such, scrub-jays willingly take food from human hands. Unfortunately, this tameness is dangerous to the well-being of the species. Florida scrub-jays fed by humans will reproduce earlier in the year than those that do not. However, fledgling scrub jays feed primarily on caterpillars present in the late spring and summer; if they hatch too early in the year when the caterpillars are not available, this can lead to their malnutrition or starvation. Accordingly, it is illegal under Florida law to feed a scrub-jay.
Another attempt to conserve the bird is an ongoing campaign to name the Florida Scrub Jay the new state bird of Florida. The main argument for changing the state bird is that the current state bird (Northern mockingbird) is the state bird of several other states, while the scrub jay is exclusive to Florida.

Audubon’s Crested Caracara (Polyborus plancus audubinii)
Threatened
The long neck, long yellow legs, and massive gray-blue bill of the caracara make its appearance unique among the raptors. The Northern Caracara is a resident in Cuba, northern South America (south to northern Brazil and Peru) and most of Central America and Mexico, just reaching the southernmost parts of the United States, including Florida, where it is resident but listed as threatened. South of the US border, it is generally common.
The state of Florida is home to a relict population of Northern Caracaras that dates to the last glacial period. At that point in time, Florida and the rest of the Gulf Coast was covered in an oak savanna. As temperatures increased, the savanna between Florida and Texas disappeared. Caracaras were able to survive in the prairies of central Florida as well as in the marshes along the St. Johns River.
Their historical range on the modern-day Florida peninsula included Okeechobee, Osceola, Highlands, Glades, Polk, Indian River, St. Lucie, Hardee, Desoto, Brevard, Collier, and Martin counties. They are currently most common in DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee and Osceola counties. It has been spotted in Orange county.
The caracara's decline, as described in historic literature, is primarily due to habitat loss, especially its dry prairie habitat, which had been destroyed or modified for agriculture and residential development.