FLORIDA’S BEACHESAND SHORES

Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionBureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems3900 Commonwealth BoulevardTallahassee, Florida 32399-3000

Written by: Phil FloodIllustrations by: Christine R. Foster

This booklet was developed as part of theDepartment of Environmental Protection’sc o mmi t me n t t o f u r t h e r e nv i r o n me n t a lEducat ion act ivi t ies within the State ofFlorida. The Department wishes to thankthose individuals which assisted with itsdeve l opmen t , and i n pa r t i cu l a r, t hoseagencies which have provided funding foritsprintinganddistribution.

TOPARENTSANDTEACHERS:

Everyone enjoys visiting Florida's beaches, howeverfew recognize the complex interaction of factors whichaffect this ever changing environment. Wind and wavesare continually altering the shape of the shoreline anddunes.These in turn influence the coastal habitat and theresident plant and animal species. All of these areaffected insomewaybyhumanactions.

This booklet is intended to enrich the student'sknowledge of Florida's sandy beaches and surroundingcoastal environment. It attempts to present the issuesaffecting the beach and dune system in an interestingandcreativeway.Through the informationandactivitiespresented in this booklet, the author hopes to instill anawareness in students of our coastal environment andoffer suggestions towards protecting the naturalresourcesassociatedwithFlorida'sbeaches.

Ananswerkey is locatedonpage20of thisbooklet.

FLORIDA

DEPA

RTME

NT

O

O

FEN

VIRNMEN

NTAL P OR TECTI O

FLORIDA’S BEACHESAND SHORES

PUBLICBEACH

ACCESS

2

DEP

Over the years people have been attracted to Florida's coast. They aredrawn there by plentiful sea life and a pleasant climate. Many peoplelive, work and play at the coast.

Where do we find sandy beaches?Sandy beaches are found along ________energy shores.

3

vary throughout theSedimentsstate. Most beaches contain quartz

sand brought to the coast by riversdraining the Appalachian mountains.

Many beaches also contain shellsand shell fragments

Florida's coastline spans over 1,260 miles. Only Alaska has morecoastline. The coast has and shorelines.

shorelines are where sandy beaches are found. Inareas, wind and waves work (or sands) within and

along the beach. Florida has about 825 miles ofshoreline. In areas, wave action is low. This is where wefind salt marshes and mangrove forests.

high energy low energyHigh energy highenergy sediment

high energylow energy

Pelican

Waves are constantly working the sand within the systemby (the loss of sand) or (the build up of sand).Sand washes onto the beach from (underwater sandridges) found within the (water close to shore). Duringstorms, sand is eroded from the beach to the

erosion accretionsandbars

nearshoresandbars.

The beach and dune system is a dynamic (or changing) environment.Together, the beach and dunes are subject to change from wind, waves,tides and storms.

The build up of sand on the beach is called__________________.

Beach NearshoreSandbar

Dunes

SandDune

Beach Water

Laughing Gull

Snowy Plover

Gopher Tortoise

Nesting Marine TurtleGhost Crab

4

Wind plays an important role in the creation of sand dunes. Sea oatsare one of the most important dune plants. They and other dunevegetation trap and hold wind blown sand with their leaves and rootsto form dunes. Dunes serve as reservoirs (storage places) for sand.They replace sand lost from the beach by due to storms.erosion

How do Sea oats help to form and stabilize (keep stable) sanddunes?They help by trapping and holding the sand in place with their________ and ___________.

Sea Oat Seeds

Sea Oats

Least Tern

Red Winged Blackbird

Indigo Snake

Roots

Beach Mouse

Scrub Jay

Six-Lined Racerunner

5

Here plants andshrubby due tospray.

Mature trees and vegetation areprotected from salt spray.

Vegetation is important to a healthy dune system. It stabilizes sand andprovides a (place to live) for coastal animals. Plants andanimals originating along the coast are to the system. Less than35% of dune vegetation remains undisturbed due todevelopment (building) along Florida's coast.

habitatnative

native

Here are some common native plants found in the coastalenvironment and their vegetation zones.

FOREST ZONE

SCRUB

Live OakRed Bay

Cabbage Palm

Yaupon

6

Beach Morning-glory Pioneer ZoneBeach CordgrassRed BayInkberry Scrub ZoneSea OatsFlorida LantanaLive Oak Forest ZoneYaupon

Like the pioneers were the first tosettle the west, these are the firstplants on the beach and the dunesthey help to form.

Trees are low andsea winds and saltI

PIONEER ZONEZONE

InkberrySawPalmetto

SeaGrape

FloridaLantana

BeachMorning-glory

Sea Lavender

Sea Oats

BeachElder

Beach Bean

BitterPanicum

BeachCordgrass Seashore

Saltgrass

Black Skimmer with Chick

American Oystercatcher

7

Draw a line to connect each plant to its vegetation zone.

6

13

12

11

10

14

1

2

8

Many animals depend on the beaches and dunes for all or part of their lives.Beaches are used by resident (they live here) and migratory (visiting)shorebirds for resting, foraging (eating) and nesting. Marine turtles comeashore in the summer to nest on the beach. Beach mice inhabit (or live in)the dunes feeding on seeds from dune vegetation.

How many common or rare animal species, shown inearlier pages of this book, can you name in this picture?

1. 6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Laughing Gull

4

5

78

9

9

Over 30 animals considered rare within the state inhabitthe beach and nearby . There are also a number ofcommon ones.

habitats

3

Unfortunately, our attraction tothe coast can harm the beachand dune system.

When crossing a dune always usea dune walkover if possible.

by foottraffic

10

The

const ructi on of housesand buildi

ngs

Itooclose to thebeach can damagethe

dune

s.Coastal vegetation can beweake

ned

Ior damaged from vehiclesand Itrampling

(not native) species suchas Australian Pine also damage

the coastal environment bydisplacing (taking the place of)

vegetation.vegetation stabilizes the dunesand provides to coastalanimals.

Exotic

native Native

habitat

1. Whycan’t the beachMouse find anySea Oats?___________________________

_____________

AnAustralian Pineis an example ofan _________

species.

2.

By using the_________ _______________.

Dune Walkover

Australian Pine

11

3. How could theowner oft h

eIfootpr i nts i n thepicturehavehe

lped

I to preserve thecoastal vegetation

?

Although walking across a dune seems harmless, vegetation may bedamaged, creating a path to the beach. This path lures others to use it,making the path grow wider and deeper with use. In time the dune maydisappear or erode as vegetation stabilizing it is damaged by foot traffic.

Loss of a healthy dune can cause the beach to become narrow ordisappear. When this happens the natural protection from waves andstorms is lost. Often and (shore protectionstructures) are built to protect buildings and properties from damage fromwaves and storm waters.

seawalls revetments

Draw an arrow to point the best way to leave the beach.

12

Seawall

Revetment

BEFORE STORM

AFTER STORM

Natural disturbances and major storms can cause great harm tobeaches and dunes. Buildings and property can also be threatened.

When the fragile dune system is damaged, (the loss ofsand) may begin. This threatens the of plants andanimals. Natural protection from storms as well as the beach weall enjoy may be lost.

erosionhabitat

13

Sand beforestorm erosion

Marineturtles or

their hatchlingsshould not be

disturbed.

and should not beallowed to roamthe

be

ach.

Dogsand cats may disturb shore

bird

sUsedune walkovers to avo

id

damaging thecoastal vegetation

.

14

When visiting the beach

Ialways remember:

Stayclear of nestingand resting birdson the beach.

Takehome all empty cans,

wrappers, and other litter youmay have brought.

15

In this circle draw whatyou would do to help thebeach.

BIRDNESTING

AREA

KEEP OUT

N E A R S H O R E

16

1 5

2 6

3

7

4

8

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS1. Sand is also known as __________________.2. The shallow water adjacent to the beach is the3. ________ rest, forage and nest on coastal beaches.4. The beach and dune system provides natural _________ fromstorms.

DOWN5. Buildings too close to the beach can damage the ________.6. During storms, the loss of sand from the beach is known as

____________.7. Beach and dune systems are found along high energy ___.8. Always use dune ____ to avoid damaging the vegetation.

nearshore.

Laughing Gull

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanderling

Willet

American Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Brown Pelican

Black Skimmer

17

See if you can find these hiddennames. Names may be backwards,

down, across or diagonal

SKIMMER PELICANTURNSTONE DUNLINSANDERLING PLOVERSANDPIPER WILLETTERN GULLOYSTERCATCHER

SHOREBIRD WORD SEARCH

YUGAPI

SSIN

KIMMERKYEU

KPG

DJNSKTSDLOT

ONEL

TSDSR

PLPOE

OLI

WD

SEPWN

L

WSPNSMTE

SNRUTDUND

LODEEARUN

VERBNFNIA

KCYWPLLPS

AIOKIEEAB

STTEVA

LYNPLING

GLCRFS

EVSIFLIP

UEPHEA

PICYDME

OACLGN NRET

MIVH

DJGKTC

KNLD

ASR

S T

BEACH

See if you can help the Smiths find their way on thedune walkover to the beach.18

PARKING

19

AccretionCoastDune Walkover

ErosionExoticHabitatHigh Energy Shoreline

Low Energy Shoreline

NativeNearshoreRevetment

SandbarsSeawall

Sediment

- the build up of sand- beach or shoreline

- wooden walkway built over dunes to protectvegetation from trampling by foot traffic

- the loss of sand- plants and animals that are not native to Florida- a place where plants and animals live

- where wind and waves work the sand tocreate beaches.

- where wave action is low, resulting inlittle or no sandy beaches

- plants and animals naturally found in Florida- the water close to shore- a shore protection structure made of large rocks to

protect buildings and property from the damage from waves andstorm waters

- underwater sand ridges- a concrete or steel wall used as a shore protection

structure- sands, shell, silt, any grainy material moved by

currents or waves

Glossary of WordsRelating to the Coast

high

accretion

leaves and roots

Beach Morning-gloryBeach CordgrassSea OatsFlorida Lantana

InkberryYaupon

Red BayLive Oak

1. Least Tern2. Laughing gull3. Snowy Plover4. Pelican5. American Oystercatcher6. Red-winged Blackbird7. Black Skimmer with chicks8. Scrub Jay9. Ghost Crab10. Beach Mouse11. Six-lined Racerunner12. Gopher Tortoise13. Nesting Marine Turtle14. Indigo Snake

1. The Australian Pines have taken the Sea Oats place.2. exotic3. dune walkover

The arrow should point toward the dune walkover.

Pioneer Zone

Scrub Zone

Forest Zone

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 7

Pages 8 and 9

Page 11

Page 12

Page 16

Page 17

Dune Walkover Maze

Page 1820

Shorebird Word Search

YUGAPI

ONEL

TSDSR

PLP

OE

OLI

WD

SEP

WN

L

WSP

NSMTE

SNRUTDUND

LODEEARUN

VERBNFNIA

KCYWPLLPS

AI

OKIEEAB

STTEVA

LYNPLING

GLCRFS

EVSIFLIP

UEPHEA

PICYDME

OACLGN NRET

MI

VH

DJ

GKTC

KNLD

ASR

S T

SSI

N

KI

MMERKYEU

KP

G

DJNSKTSDLOT

Crossword Puzzle

N E A R S H O R E

S E D I M E N TU

ES O

R

S

IH O R

O

EE B I R D S

REVOKL

AW

ON

LINES

CTORP T I O N

H

Answer Key

For additional information about Florida's beaches and shorescontact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,Division of Water Resource Management, Bureau of Beaches and CoastalSystems, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard,Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000.

Your local library may also contain books about the coastal environment. Somebooks to look for include:

Bannan, Jan G. . Carolrhoda Books, Inc. 1989.

Glaser, Michael. . Knickerbocker Publishing. 1986.

Jennings, Terry. . Children's Press. 1989.

Kirkpatrick, Rena. . Raintree Publishers. 1985.

Lye, Keith. . Silver Burdett. 1988.

Maling, Anita. .Carolrhoda Books. 1985.

Parker, Steve. . Knopf. 1989.

VanMeter, V.B. . Florida Power and Light Company.1983.

Wharton, Anthony. . Watts/Bookwright Press. 1987.

Sand Dunes

The Nature of the Seashore

Sea and Seashore

Look at Shore Life

Coasts

Where the Waves Break: Life at the Edge of the Sea

Seashore

Florida’s Sea Turtles

Discovering Sea Birds

21

Books to Read

Here are some things you can do to help the beach.

-ParticipateAdopt-A-Shore

in coastal clean up activities throughprograms such as .

-Assistwith dune planting activities in your community.

-Sharethis booklet with your friends and parents.