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Description

Plants live in life zones they are best adapted to. In Florida water table is often the most important factor. In this ground level image they show up as layers, starting with (dryer to wetter) grasses, wetland plants, aquatic plants, open water and the reverse pattern repeating on the other side of open water. In the distant background are the uplands, where different trees also live in different zones. Animals like these sandhill cranes can of course move between the zones for their different needs. In this case they are in the resting “safe” zone. It’s safe because they can see over the grass and fly away if coyotes/bobcats come from the uplands and gators come from the open water.

Description

Plants live in life zones they are best adapted to. In Florida water table is often the most important factor. In this ground level image they show up as layers, starting with (dryer to wetter) grasses, wetland plants, aquatic plants, open water and the reverse pattern repeating on the other side of open water. In the distant background are the uplands, where different trees also live in different zones. Animals like these sandhill cranes can of course move between the zones for their different needs. In this case they are in the resting “safe” zone. It’s safe because they can see over the grass and fly away if coyotes/bobcats come from the uplands and gators come from the open water.