temperate systems that have been studied 

 (Mattraw and Elder 1<380). 



3. Nutrient levels are higher in the 

 Aoalachicola wetlands than in most 

 comparable systems throuqhout the northern 

 hemisphere. The Aoalachicola wetlands 

 contribute significant quantities of 

 nutrients and organic matter to river and 

 bay areas. Regular seasonal flooding by 

 the currently free-flowing river is 

 necessary for mobilization of particulate 

 organic matter (POM) and nutrients out of 

 the floodplain (Mattraw and Elder 1980). 



4. The Apalachicola drainage system 

 includes a grouo of ecological regions 

 that contribute to soeciose and unique 

 plant associations. The flora comorises 

 117 plant species, of which 17 are 

 endangered, ?8 are threatened, and 30 are 

 rare. Nine species are narrowly endemic 

 while 71 are endemic to the general 

 Apalachicola area (Means 1977). 



5. The Apalachicola wetlands provide 

 habitat for rich faunal assemblages. The 

 basin receives biotic exchanges and input 

 from the Piedmont, the Atlantic Coastal 

 Plain, the Gulf Coastal "lain, and 

 peninsular Florida. The floodplain 

 forest, with over ^50 species of 

 vertebrates, is one of the most important 

 animal habitats o-f the Southeast (Means 

 1977). 



6. Of the drainages of the 

 Apalachicolan and West Floridian molluscan 



province (from the Escambia River to the 

 Suwannee River), the Apalachicola River 

 contains the largest total number of 

 species of freshwater gastropod and 

 bivalve mollusks. The river contains the 

 greatest proportion of endemics to the 

 total fauna in the province, with at least 

 six VZV9, and endangered soecies (two 

 Amblemids, four Unionids) (Heard 1977). 



7. The tri -river valley is 

 characterized by a rich fish fauna (ll^i 

 species) (Yerger 1977). The Apalachicola 

 basin contains more fish species (85) than 

 any other Florida river. Three species 

 ( Notropis cal litaenia , N_. zonistius , 

 Moxostoma sp. ) are restricted to the 

 Apalachicola River and its ma.ior 

 tributaries, while a fourth species (the 

 "handoaint" bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus) 



originated in the system. Existing 

 freshwater sport and commercial fisheries 

 are diverse and rich. The Apalachicola 

 River is the only river on the Florida 

 gulf coast that supports a striped bass 

 ( Morone saxatil is ) fishery (Livingston and 

 Joyce 1977). TlTis fishery is based on a 

 population that is endemic to the river 

 and considered a separate race from the 

 Atlantic coast striped bass. 



8. Excluding fishes, the 

 Apalachicola River system contains over 

 ?50 species of vertebrates. The highest 

 species density of amphibians and reptiles 

 in North America (north of Mexico) occurs 

 in the upper Aoalachicola basin (Means 

 1977). The abundant and diverse bird 

 fauna is concentrated in the floodplain 

 forests. Two species considered extinct, 

 the ivory-billed woodoecker ( Campephilus 

 principal is ) and Bachman's sparrow 

 ( Aimophi la aestivalis ), were last siqhted 

 in the Apalachicola system. These species 

 are part of a growing list of approxi- 

 mately fifty soecies of amphibians, 

 reptiles, birds, and mammals that are 

 considered endangered, threatened, rare, 

 of special concern, or of undetermined 

 status. 



^. The Apalachicola estuary, with 

 its barrier islands, represents a ma.ior 

 flyway for gulf migratory bird species. 

 The estuary has the highest density of 

 nesting osoreys ( Pandion haliaetus ) along 

 the northeast Florida gulf coast (Eichholz 



10. The Apalachicola Ray system is 

 one of the richest and least polluted such 

 areas in the United States. The estuary 

 now provides over ^0% of Florida's oysters 

 and is part of a major spawning ground for 

 blue crabs along the Florida gulf coast 

 (Livingston and Joyce 1977). The bay 

 serves as an important nursery for penaeid 

 shrimp and finfishes and is characterized 

 by some of the highest densities of 

 infaunal invertebrates of any comparable 

 area in the United States. 



11. The hiqhly profitable 

 Apalachicola oyster industry and various 

 sport and commercial fisheries directly 

 and indirectly provide the economic and 

 cultural basis for a high oroportion of 

 the peoole in the region (Livinqston 

 iq83c). 



27 



