Natural Communities
Preserving the marshes and swamps on the Big Bend is critical
to the quality of surface water entering the marine environment.
Throughout the area are numerous freshwater springs, tidal creeks,
small depression ponds, and freshwater marshes. The greatest diversity
of natural communities is found on the Jena, Spring Creek, and
Tide Swamp Units. Scrub is primarily found on the Spring Creek
and Tide Swamp Units, with smaller patches on the Jena Unit.
On Jena numerous islands containing cabbage palm dot the salt
marsh.
Virtually all of the forested portions of Big Bend were logged.
The original longleaf pine was clear-cut and replaced with fast
growing slash, loblolly, and sand pine until state purchase. Cypress
stands logged during the first half of the century appear relatively
natural and undisturbed except for remnant stumps of large cypress
that once dominated the sites. Hardwoods logged more recently
are in early stages of succession and are characteristically dense
with little defined overstory.
