EMERSON POINT. COASTAL UPLAND.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SITE:

Flat area with sparse trees but dense grasses. No soil evident at surface. Pavement and road next to area.

SOIL DESCRIPTION:
Coarse, sandy soil with some larger sand particles.

HUMAN ACTIVITY:
Dog-walking / cycling / walking / bird-watching / canoeing / conservation activity (guy cleaning the road & moving stuff with tractor)

QUADRAT SAMPLING:
Size = 3m x 3m Quadrat Number: Q1 Plant Identified: grasses (3 different species) shrubs (4 species) trees (1 species) climbing plants (1 species) short plants (3 species) tall plant (1 species) Q2 trees (2 species) grasses (3 species) shrubs (3 species) short plants (2 species) Q3 shrubs (3 species) trees (2 species) tall plants (3 species) short plants (3 species) grasses (4 species) Percentage cover is approximate. Tree species include: cabbage palm, saw palmetto Short plants include: Black-eyed Susan, Late Bonniset, ferns Percentage Cover: 40% 35% 10% 5% 5% 5% 40% 30% 20% 10% 30% 25% 20% 10% 25%

BIRD SURVEY:
Birds spotted in/around the pond, adjacent to the plant-diversity-sampling sites.

Bird Species: Duck Egret Heron Vulture 7 2 1 2

Number:

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES:
Ecosystem Service: Air quality regulation Climate regulation Water regulation What provides this service and how? Intake of carbon dioxide by plants Greenhouse gas sequestration Vegetation cover allowing infiltration, preventing runoff Erosion regulation Binding of soil by plant roots Maintenance of biodiversity Variety of grasses and trees Recreation and tourism Cycling, birdwatching, walking; often passed by vehicles on way to the car park at the end of the point Social relations Bird watching, families Science and education Different ecosystem in relatively close proximity to other habitats allowing comparison Soil formation Limited soil formation due to decay of plant matter little soil formation as soil well drained, very sandy Primary production Growth of vegetation Nutrient cycling Uptake of nutrients by plants, use of nutrients, input to soil by vegetation Photosynthesis (production of atmospheric Grasses and trees oxygen) Provision of habitats Invertebrates, snakes Protection from Sun s UV rays Shading from trees, increased near to ground due to dense undergrowth Pollination and seed dispersal Dispersal of seeds and pollen from vegetation

ANY OTHER DATA COLLECTED:

Private Beaches all along the coast in the more urbanised areas, so Emerson Point is one of the truly public access beaches. Accessible to all. Osprey stand and nesting point to attract rare birds. Popular with the retired generation. Wood Duck nesting boxes provided on the small lagoon. Wood Ducks nest in summer, high up in the boxes, as there is a decreasing number of nest holes in trees etc with urbanisation of Florida. Safe away from predators. When they hatch they fall into the lagoon. Attraction to the area. Rarely seen. Area really popular with bird watchers and artificial measures have been put in place to attract a greater number of visitors.