Take a guided tour of Leon County s biologically diverse communities
Peter Goren
Leon County and the surrounding areas are some of the most biologically diverse in the country. Each biodiverse ecosystem includes several indicator species, those plants or animals that reflect the biotic or abiotic conditions of a given environment.
These indicator species help us identify specific ecosystem and natural communities. In addition, they can provide us with information on the impacts of pollutants and/or physical damage to an ecosystem and give us insight concerning how well an ecosystem is being managed or restored.
One example of an animal indicator species is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, typically found in mature pine forests with open understory maintained by frequent burning. One of the local areas where Red-cockaded Woodpeckers can be found is being managed by the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy in northern Leon County.