1 00:00:09,266 --> 00:00:10,283 Jacksonville, a 2 00:00:10,283 --> 00:00:14,666 great and growing city, is a major port, a military center 3 00:00:15,016 --> 00:00:18,133 and a focal point for railroads, banking and insurance. 4 00:00:21,050 --> 00:00:23,183 Within the city, There's a university. 5 00:00:24,383 --> 00:00:28,850 The university's mission is to serve the community of which it is a vital part 6 00:00:29,483 --> 00:00:33,267 and to make the life of the community richer and more meaningful 7 00:00:33,467 --> 00:00:36,433 in every way it can. 8 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,017 Geological evidence in the area indicates 9 00:00:40,333 --> 00:00:43,767 that where the university now stands, a sea coast 10 00:00:43,767 --> 00:00:52,334 stood some 30,000 years ago. 11 00:00:56,717 --> 00:01:00,017 With the passage of time and the recession of the sea, 12 00:01:00,650 --> 00:01:05,650 ecological conditions changed. 13 00:01:05,650 --> 00:01:10,034 Pelicans and gulls 14 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,251 followed the receding coastline. 15 00:01:13,251 --> 00:01:15,501 The shellfish died. 16 00:01:15,501 --> 00:01:18,317 The sea oats vanished. 17 00:01:18,584 --> 00:01:21,467 But the sea left behind an enduring legacy. 18 00:01:22,517 --> 00:01:26,184 The ocean currents pounding waves and ceaseless winds 19 00:01:26,384 --> 00:01:31,034 shaped the sands into flatlands and dunes. 20 00:01:31,617 --> 00:01:34,967 Historical records and local legends suggest 21 00:01:35,234 --> 00:01:41,268 that this area played an important role in the development of young Florida. 22 00:01:41,268 --> 00:01:44,084 When the earliest of the European settlers arrived, 23 00:01:44,368 --> 00:01:47,384 they were entranced with the wonderland of the new world. 24 00:01:49,251 --> 00:01:51,918 In time, the new settlers tamed the land 25 00:01:52,168 --> 00:01:55,318 and began using its natural resources for their own 26 00:01:55,318 --> 00:01:57,734 purposes. 27 00:01:58,318 --> 00:02:02,085 One such resource, which was of great value to the settlers, 28 00:02:02,301 --> 00:02:05,601 was Florida's natural timber. 29 00:02:05,601 --> 00:02:10,018 Before the white man came, the lowland swamp areas were extensive 30 00:02:10,018 --> 00:02:12,118 cypress forests. 31 00:02:12,118 --> 00:02:15,835 Logging activities during the 19th and 20th centuries 32 00:02:16,218 --> 00:02:19,435 largely decimated the original bald cypress, 33 00:02:20,485 --> 00:02:24,268 The longleaf pine that once dominated the pine flat woods 34 00:02:24,735 --> 00:02:27,052 is now rare. 35 00:02:28,618 --> 00:02:33,018 Today, a section of land is protected and preserved in its natural state 36 00:02:33,018 --> 00:02:36,652 as a part of the Florida State University system. 37 00:02:37,485 --> 00:02:41,568 The entire thousand acre campus of the University of North Florida 38 00:02:42,052 --> 00:02:44,835 is designated as a wildlife refuge. 39 00:02:45,885 --> 00:02:49,069 It may well become an island of natural beauty 40 00:02:49,069 --> 00:02:51,735 in years to come. 41 00:02:54,652 --> 00:02:55,735 Like all growing 42 00:02:55,735 --> 00:02:59,035 cities, Jacksonville has its growing pains, 43 00:03:00,085 --> 00:03:03,985 urban blight, crime, slums, poverty, 44 00:03:04,552 --> 00:03:07,935 crowding and pollution. 45 00:03:08,119 --> 00:03:12,536 The people of the University of North Florida have committed themselves 46 00:03:12,536 --> 00:03:16,619 and the university to preserving the wilderness of this land 47 00:03:16,969 --> 00:03:33,736 as a heritage for the future generations. 48 00:03:33,836 --> 00:03:36,886 There are several nature trails which wind their way 49 00:03:36,886 --> 00:03:39,836 through the various ecosystems on the campus. 50 00:03:40,903 --> 00:03:45,253 The trails serve the public not only as a recreational facility, 51 00:03:45,619 --> 00:03:48,553 but also as an educational resource. 52 00:03:49,403 --> 00:03:53,153 They are, in fact a living laboratory. 53 00:03:57,886 --> 00:03:59,303 The trails were chosen 54 00:03:59,303 --> 00:04:04,370 in such a way that five distinct ecological areas could be observed 55 00:04:04,370 --> 00:04:07,036 firsthand. 56 00:04:07,786 --> 00:04:11,086 This ecosystem is called the Pine Flat Woods. 57 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,870 When the campus was an ancient sea coast, 58 00:04:15,170 --> 00:04:18,436 some of it was entirely flat with no dunes. 59 00:04:19,670 --> 00:04:21,653 These areas were the bottoms 60 00:04:21,653 --> 00:04:24,737 of shallow lagoons. 61 00:04:26,803 --> 00:04:29,087 When the sea retreated, 62 00:04:29,087 --> 00:04:32,687 these sandy areas were left without the relief of the dunes. 63 00:04:34,103 --> 00:04:36,287 Since these areas are flat, 64 00:04:36,287 --> 00:04:38,570 rainwater does not run off quickly. 65 00:04:39,887 --> 00:04:42,803 As years past, just an ecosystem developed 66 00:04:43,003 --> 00:04:45,687 which today we call the pine flat woods. 67 00:04:46,904 --> 00:04:50,537 In some parts of the flat woods, bogs may develop 68 00:04:51,437 --> 00:04:53,637 and in dry seasons, 69 00:04:53,637 --> 00:04:56,720 fire may sweep the woods. 70 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:58,787 Any plant which survives in the flat 71 00:04:58,787 --> 00:05:00,987 woods must be fire tolerant. 72 00:05:02,054 --> 00:05:06,920 The dominant trees here are the slash pine and the longleaf pine 73 00:05:07,904 --> 00:05:10,554 pine flat woods are characterized 74 00:05:10,787 --> 00:05:16,037 by poorly drained soils with high acidity. 75 00:05:16,154 --> 00:05:19,971 Other plant life, which thrives here, has its own 76 00:05:19,971 --> 00:05:23,487 special beauty, such as the wild 77 00:05:23,487 --> 00:05:27,087 potato vine or morning glory. 78 00:05:27,087 --> 00:05:29,937 The orange milkwort, 79 00:05:29,937 --> 00:05:31,737 the violets 80 00:05:33,471 --> 00:05:36,771 and the common dog fennel. 81 00:05:36,954 --> 00:05:38,638 The pine flat woods 82 00:05:38,638 --> 00:05:41,338 today are used to grow slash pine, 83 00:05:41,904 --> 00:05:44,538 primarily for wood production 84 00:05:45,104 --> 00:05:47,721 as man's need for building materials 85 00:05:47,954 --> 00:05:51,438 and paper increases. 86 00:05:51,854 --> 00:05:54,288 In contrast to the pine flat woods, 87 00:05:54,654 --> 00:05:57,104 there are areas of the university campus 88 00:05:57,405 --> 00:06:00,955 which have substantial changes in elevation. 89 00:06:01,605 --> 00:06:03,988 These are the locations of the ancient 90 00:06:03,988 --> 00:06:12,438 dunes. 91 00:06:12,838 --> 00:06:16,255 Rain that falls on the top of the dunes or ridge 92 00:06:16,255 --> 00:06:19,738 areas soaks down through the soil quickly. 93 00:06:21,138 --> 00:06:23,755 The sloping contour of the land causes 94 00:06:23,755 --> 00:06:27,205 the water to drain off into the troughs on either side. 95 00:06:28,105 --> 00:06:30,588 Thus, the sand ridges are very dry 96 00:06:31,338 --> 00:06:35,538 and they are the next ecological area. 97 00:06:35,755 --> 00:06:39,955 The plants that live here can survive long dry periods 98 00:06:40,372 --> 00:06:44,505 and can take quick advantage of the water when it does fall. 99 00:06:45,239 --> 00:06:49,889 Since the sand ridges are dry and often hot, another force, 100 00:06:49,889 --> 00:06:54,955 which plays a prominent role in shaping this ecosystem is fire. 101 00:06:55,589 --> 00:06:58,789 The plants which survive here must be adapted 102 00:06:58,789 --> 00:07:02,839 to withstand periodic burning. 103 00:07:04,105 --> 00:07:06,955 Among the important trees which are found on the sand 104 00:07:06,955 --> 00:07:10,189 ridges are the longleaf pine and the turkey oak. 105 00:07:10,822 --> 00:07:14,422 The longleaf pine is a magnificent and valuable tree, 106 00:07:14,806 --> 00:07:16,972 sometimes attaining great size. 107 00:07:18,239 --> 00:07:20,639 Many of the most beautiful homes in the South, 108 00:07:21,139 --> 00:07:24,289 particularly the older ones, are built from its wood. 109 00:07:25,972 --> 00:07:27,389 The longleaf pine 110 00:07:27,389 --> 00:07:29,772 is also an important source of turpentine. 111 00:07:31,256 --> 00:07:34,706 The scars of ancient turpentine and slashes are found on 112 00:07:34,706 --> 00:07:37,406 some of the larger trees. 113 00:07:37,406 --> 00:07:41,173 Wole pots and pot shards once used for collecting 114 00:07:41,173 --> 00:07:44,356 the resin can also still be found on campus. 115 00:07:45,373 --> 00:07:49,073 The most abundant tree on the Sandridge is the turkey oak, 116 00:07:49,456 --> 00:07:52,706 also called the blackjack oak. 117 00:07:52,706 --> 00:07:55,856 While these trees are well adapted to survive and flourish 118 00:07:55,856 --> 00:08:00,373 in this difficult habitat, a rather small and somewhat scrubby, 119 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,673 they have little commercial value 120 00:08:03,673 --> 00:08:06,056 and are often regarded as weed trees 121 00:08:06,506 --> 00:08:10,123 by those who look at the forest from a commercial point of view. 122 00:08:11,573 --> 00:08:14,506 It becomes difficult to remember this when their leaves 123 00:08:14,506 --> 00:08:20,690 turn in the late fall, since the ridge is high and dry. 124 00:08:21,173 --> 00:08:23,240 It is highly suitable for development. 125 00:08:24,657 --> 00:08:26,323 It is also well suited to the 126 00:08:26,323 --> 00:08:29,807 cultivation of citrus in the warmer parts of the state. 127 00:08:31,307 --> 00:08:33,673 For these reasons, and because it has few 128 00:08:33,673 --> 00:08:38,473 defenders, the Sand Sandridge ecosystem is probably the most rapidly 129 00:08:38,473 --> 00:08:42,440 disappearing ecosystem in Florida. 130 00:08:44,457 --> 00:08:48,024 In the area of the campus where fire does not penetrate, 131 00:08:48,557 --> 00:08:51,524 such as the troughs between the ancient dunes. 132 00:08:52,074 --> 00:08:54,590 We find an entirely different ecosystem 133 00:08:55,124 --> 00:08:58,040 the river bottom swamp. 134 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,174 Here we find trees which are shade 135 00:09:00,207 --> 00:09:03,057 tolerant and not fire resistant, 136 00:09:03,524 --> 00:09:06,924 such as the red maple and the bald cypress. 137 00:09:08,207 --> 00:09:11,774 The swamp is flooded or wet most of the year, 138 00:09:11,774 --> 00:09:16,641 resembling the bottom of a slowly moving river. 139 00:09:20,124 --> 00:09:21,741 The river bottom swamp 140 00:09:21,741 --> 00:09:26,474 is the nearest thing we have on campus to a climax type community. 141 00:09:28,374 --> 00:09:30,224 It is not quite a climax type 142 00:09:30,224 --> 00:09:34,908 community now because some 60 years ago it was logged 143 00:09:35,241 --> 00:09:40,724 and the mature trees were removed, particularly the great bald cypress 144 00:09:49,874 --> 00:09:51,858 a few of them were spared 145 00:09:51,858 --> 00:09:55,791 because they were unsuitable for lumber. 146 00:09:55,791 --> 00:10:01,041 They towered over the swamp as mute reminders of the hundreds of such trees 147 00:10:01,641 --> 00:10:04,941 which once existed. 148 00:10:05,358 --> 00:10:08,775 The younger bald cypress trees will someday attain 149 00:10:08,775 --> 00:10:13,041 an equal size and stature, but no man living now 150 00:10:13,275 --> 00:10:15,908 will see that day. 151 00:10:17,025 --> 00:10:19,908 Busses and lichens abound in this environment. 152 00:10:20,392 --> 00:10:24,375 Tree, moss and lichen add a splash of color to the tree trunks. 153 00:10:25,158 --> 00:10:29,008 Flowers such as the White aster and the Primrose 154 00:10:29,008 --> 00:10:32,608 willow, compete with the red maple, which blazes 155 00:10:32,608 --> 00:10:35,308 twice a year. 156 00:10:35,908 --> 00:10:38,625 River bottoms Swamps were prime targets 157 00:10:38,625 --> 00:10:41,725 for development into farmland by early settlers. 158 00:10:42,825 --> 00:10:47,575 Much of Florida's original swamps were drained and these ecosystems 159 00:10:47,575 --> 00:10:49,409 were destroyed. 160 00:10:49,409 --> 00:10:53,609 Remaining wetlands are now protected by state and federal laws. 161 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,659 Nature is subtle in her design 162 00:10:56,659 --> 00:11:09,959 and her ecosystems are fragile. 163 00:11:09,959 --> 00:11:13,526 Between the river bottoms swamp and the high sand rich area 164 00:11:13,876 --> 00:11:17,609 is a narrow band of vegetation known as the transition swamp. 165 00:11:18,776 --> 00:11:19,159 In this 166 00:11:19,159 --> 00:11:22,159 system, there is a larger variety of plant life 167 00:11:22,426 --> 00:11:26,192 than in any of the other ecosystems on campus. 168 00:11:26,959 --> 00:11:30,943 Stresses such as fire, flooding or drought occur 169 00:11:30,943 --> 00:11:33,709 less frequently than in other ecosystems. 170 00:11:34,726 --> 00:11:38,576 Since these stresses are rare, transition swamps devote 171 00:11:38,576 --> 00:11:42,143 most of their energies to self maintenance and survival. 172 00:11:43,226 --> 00:11:47,209 The thick canopy of vegetation and plentiful moisture 173 00:11:47,476 --> 00:11:50,993 combined with rich organic soil, create a system 174 00:11:50,993 --> 00:11:54,259 of high productivity. 175 00:11:54,259 --> 00:11:58,343 Examples of this thriving community are the loblolly bay. 176 00:11:59,693 --> 00:12:02,143 The spider wards, 177 00:12:02,726 --> 00:12:07,010 the tar flower, broom sage 178 00:12:07,376 --> 00:12:17,243 and many kinds of ferns. 179 00:12:18,026 --> 00:12:22,727 The last ecological area on campus is possibly the most beautiful. 180 00:12:23,293 --> 00:12:25,943 It is the Heidrick Hammock, 181 00:12:25,943 --> 00:12:30,593 the Natural Community living in this area is adapted to frequent flooding, 182 00:12:30,777 --> 00:12:33,710 which subsides after a long period of drainage. 183 00:12:34,610 --> 00:12:36,943 The hydroponic system 184 00:12:36,943 --> 00:12:40,727 constitutes much of the natural drainage system of the campus 185 00:12:42,044 --> 00:12:44,094 all around these ecosystems. 186 00:12:44,094 --> 00:12:46,694 Communities of wildlife live and die. 187 00:13:29,177 --> 00:13:29,778 Depending on 188 00:13:29,778 --> 00:13:34,078 which of the ecosystems interests you the most and depending on 189 00:13:34,078 --> 00:13:38,444 how far you wish to walk, you may choose among three nature trails. 190 00:13:39,194 --> 00:13:43,078 All three are self guiding with signposts at every crossroad. 191 00:13:43,428 --> 00:13:46,228 So you will not lose your way. 192 00:13:46,228 --> 00:13:49,994 The red maple boardwalk was especially constructed for handicapped people 193 00:13:50,628 --> 00:13:53,278 and for those who prefer a solid wooden walkway 194 00:13:53,478 --> 00:13:56,245 to a path in the woods. 195 00:13:56,395 --> 00:13:59,478 The boardwalk takes you through the heart of a river bottom swamp 196 00:14:00,028 --> 00:14:02,328 and requires about 20 minutes to walk. 197 00:14:04,045 --> 00:14:06,895 Look for the rare green fly orchid. 198 00:14:06,895 --> 00:14:10,078 This orchid grows farther north than most other orchids 199 00:14:10,528 --> 00:14:13,095 because it can withstand freezing temperatures 200 00:14:14,961 --> 00:14:16,761 for the more adventuresome. 201 00:14:16,761 --> 00:14:19,762 There are two nature trails on well-marked path. 202 00:14:20,745 --> 00:14:21,378 The blueberry 203 00:14:21,378 --> 00:14:25,845 trail takes you through a transitions swamp, a river bottom swamp 204 00:14:26,512 --> 00:14:29,478 across a sandy ridge and back home 205 00:14:29,695 --> 00:14:33,678 through another transition area and along a Heidrich hammock. 206 00:14:34,845 --> 00:14:36,895 The trail is one and a half miles long 207 00:14:37,245 --> 00:14:40,545 and takes about 45 minutes. 208 00:14:40,545 --> 00:14:43,695 The longest trail is the Goldenrod Trail, 209 00:14:43,695 --> 00:14:45,745 which is about two and a half miles long. 210 00:14:47,179 --> 00:14:49,879 Those who take this trail will experience 211 00:14:49,879 --> 00:14:52,845 several samples of the five ecosystems. 212 00:14:53,479 --> 00:14:55,945 They will penetrate deep into the preserve 213 00:14:56,579 --> 00:15:01,045 and are most likely to observe wildlife. 214 00:15:01,729 --> 00:15:04,645 Remember that the campus is a wildlife sanctuary 215 00:15:04,846 --> 00:15:07,996 and that any disturbance of life, either plant 216 00:15:07,996 --> 00:15:10,546 or animal, is expressly forbidden. 217 00:15:11,479 --> 00:15:14,029 Leave nothing behind but your cares. 218 00:15:14,962 --> 00:15:17,929 Take nothing away but tranquility 219 00:15:18,296 --> 00:16:08,230 and inspiration.