Aquatic Invertebrates of Remnant Florida Scrub in Martin County, Southeastern Florida

Florida scrub is a unique habitat type in the Southeastern United States. Once thought completely barren and undeserving of protection, it is now recognized for its unique geological history and high levels of endemism. Very few intact stands of Florida scrub remain today. Despite the attention given to certain taxa in this unique system, there exists a gap in the literature on the invertebrate communities in scrub wetlands, the dynamics of which are highly important for many threatened species. Herein, a list of aquatic invertebrate species from wetlands surveyed in 2017 in Martin County, FL, is presented. Several of these species represent new county records. This report provides a snapshot of the invertebrate community structure in remnant Florida Scrub habitat.

Automated summary

Florida scrub is a unique habitat type in the Southeastern United States, known for its high levels of endemism and unique geological history. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the invertebrate communities in scrub wetlands, which are crucial for threatened species. This report presents a list of aquatic invertebrate species from wetlands surveyed in Martin County, FL in 2017, providing a snapshot of the invertebrate community structure in remnant Florida Scrub habitat.