Natural Communities

Morgan Wilbur

The most distinctive natural communities within the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area are the rivers themselves. The Aucilla River is a blackwater river that originates from artesian springs in Georgia and flows 111 km to the Gulf. The water becomes “black” from acidic swamp discharge and surface runoff below the headwaters. A product of the region’s karst topography, the river flows underground in places. Its final emergence on its way to the Gulf is Nutall Rise. The spring-fed Wacissa is a tributary of the Aucilla. The Wacissa supports abundant aquatic life, including alligators, turtles, water snakes, wading birds, and river otters. The limpkin, now absent from many of Florida’s rivers because of poor water quality, is still abundant on the Wacissa.

Major Natural Communities

Doug Alderson The Wonder of Springs “…each is a little ecological jewel in which geology and biology have created a masterwork of natural art.” -Archie Carr

• North Florida flatwoods
• Hardwood swamp
• Wetland hardwood hammock
• Hardwood hammock
• Cypress swamp
• Freshwater marsh
• Management