NATURE TRAILS

To get the most out of your walk, take your time and use your senses. There is more than meets the eye when you make the effort to really experience nature!

Indian River 7 Nature Trail Sightings Lagoon Loop Indian River Lagoon Watch for manatees and dolphins as Length: 1 mile you pass by the Indian River Lagoon. Walking Time: 1 hour 5 Look along the edge of the 6 swamps for burrows and I-SPY Trail 8 the crabs inside. Length: 1/3 mile Don’t forget to look up to view the Walking Time: 20 QR Code guided many birds utilizing the mangrove minutes out and back walk swamp habitat for resting and Scan the QR codes in nesting. Trail closes daily at 4 pm the designated spots (Sundays at 3 pm) along the trail to learn CAUTION: more about our 4 nature area and the For your safety, the trail 9 will be closed during /animals living inclement weather. here. If you happen to be on Join Florida the trail during a storm, 10 Oceanographic and please find the nearest enjoy free admission all shelter and remain there year! Today’s admission until it clears. 3 Racoon Scat receipt can be applied Snake Skin Please Note: to your new Annual Summer is high season Membership; stop 11 Keep an eye for mosquitoes along our by Admissions or call out for clues trail, so insect repellent 772-225-0505 x108. 2 to identify the is highly recommended. Indian River animals that (Please do not spray Lagoon Loop live in this repellent near exhibits). I-SPY Trail coastal habitat. 12 Fiddler Crab Hole

# QR code locations 1 Tropical Hammock Please help us keep this XYou natural area natural. Mangrove Swamp Are Here w Stay on the path. End of Trail Shelter w No smoking on the nature trail. Please turn around. Ais Indian Encampment w Properly dispose of trash in the available receptacles. FLOOR Bagging Area w Leave the trail as you found it. w Be respectful of local wildlife as Observation Deck Visitors Center & Pavilions you are a visitor in their habitat.

PLEASE NOTE: Outdoor programs and activities may expose visitors to certain risks inherent in natural areas. Florida Oceanographic’s directors, employees and volunteers are not responsible for damages, injuries or loss of property which may occur during normal activities and programs at the Coastal Center. 11/2019 As you explore the nature trails, use the signage along the way to help you discover and identify the unique plants and animals found in the barrier island system. Here are some common to look for:

Species common to the Species common to the Species found in the Tropical Hammock Mangrove Swamp transition areas between Plants Plants Tropical Hammocks and Mangrove Swamps • Cabbage Palm Sabal palmetto– • Red Mangrove (#2) Rhizophora Florida’s state tree mangle Plants • Live Oak • Black Mangrove (#2) Avicennia germinans • Pond Apple • Gumbo Limbo Bursera simaruba • White Mangrove (#2) Laguncularia • Giant Leather Fern Acrostichum • American Beautyberry Callicarpa racemosa danaeifolium Americana • Buttonwood (#8) Conocarpus erectus Animals Animals Epiphytes (Air Plants) • Fiddler Crab Uca sp. • Mangrove Tree Crab (#4) Aratus • Spanish Moss Tillandsia usneoides • Osprey (#3) Pandion haliaetus • Resurrection Fern Polypodium pisoni polypodioides • River Otter Lutra canadensis • Butterfly Orchid tampensis • White Ibis (#3) Eudocimus albus • Great Blue Heron (#3) Ardea herodias Animals • Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver • Bobcat Lynx rufus Gasteracantha cancriformis • Raccoon Procyon lotor • Marsh Rabbit Sylvilagus palustris Resurrection Ferns grow on the bark of live oaks. • Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus During dry periods, the fern will turn brown, curl • Corn Snake Elaphe guttata guttata up and appear dead. After a rainfall, the fronds • Green Anole Anolis carolinensis will unroll, become green and produce spores.

Native vs. Exotic-Invasive Species (#10) NATIVE species are species naturally found growing and thriving in a certain region. In Florida, we consider native plants and animals those that have been in the State since the Spanish explorers arrived. EXOTIC species are not native to a region. And INVASIVE species grow aggressively in an area, which can stifle the growth of preexisting and native plants.

Exotic-invasive species displace native species and can affect community functions of plants and animals. Invasive plant removal is a constant and crucial process to help protect native habitats. Brazilian Pepper and Australian Pine Australian Pine are two prominent exotic-invasive Brazilian Pepper Casuarina equisetifolia species found in South Florida. Schinus terebinthifolius

Please visit the Gift Shop to find great books and field guides on local species.

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