florida-scrub

Florida scrub is a fire-adapted, xeric ecoregion found on sandy coastal and inland ridges throughout Florida, characterized by shrubby evergreen vegetation and dwarf oaks growing in nutrient-poor, well-drained soils. Its harsh abiotic conditions — low soil moisture, minimal nutrients, and periodic wildfires — make it a compelling system for studying plant adaptations to stress, including drought tolerance, nutrient-acquisition strategies, and fire-response traits. The ecosystem's isolation and ecological severity have also driven significant plant endemism, making it important for conservation biology and the study of speciation in fragmented habitats.