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Pre-Visit
Activities : South Carolina Habitats
Background MAIN | OBJECTIVES | STANDARDS | BACKGROUND | PROCEDURES | ASSESSMENT | RESOURCES
Key
Points
Background Ecoregions
The Piedmont region is in the northwest of the state and extends from the mountains to the Fall Line that crosses the state through Columbia. It is a generally flat area with gently-sloping hills and wide river valleys. As most of the soil in the Piedmont is composed of clay, a substance difficult for water to flow through, very little rainwater can soak into the soil. Much of the rainwater runs off to join the many streams and rivers that cover the landscape. The Piedmont is a warm, humid area. Because of its distance from the ocean, it does not receive the temperature-regulating effects the ocean provides and thus has wider temperature extremes than the coast. It has a rainfall range of 45 to 60 inches a year.
The Coastal Plain is an area of flat land that comprises more than half of the state’s area. Though hilly in certain places, most of the plain is flat and slowly lowers in elevation from the Sandhills to the Coast. This flatness results in many swamps and other wetlands as the slope is often too gradual to cause water to continuously flow. The climate of the region is warm and humid with an average yearly rainfall of 46 inches. The Coastal Zone or Coast is an area of land at the edge of the Ocean extending from the North Carolina to the Georgia border that is about ten miles wide. Of all the regions of South Carolina, the Coast is the most dynamic. The salinity of the rivers and wetlands in this region change throughout the day as tides rise and fall. Barrier islands, beaches and salt marshes will change in size and shape as waves and ocean currents erode and deposit sand. Because of sea breezes and proximity to the Ocean, the Coast tends to be cooler than areas even just a few miles more inland from the Coast. The Coast tends to be warm and humid with abundant rainfall. Habitats Receiving water from the Mountains as well as the Piedmont, Piedmont rivers flow rapidly with a large volume of water. Though they flow through an area much flatter than the Mountains, these rivers have the force to erode away the clay of the soil and create valleys. The eroded red clay particles give the Piedmont rivers their murky, red coloration. These rivers are cool, well-oxygenated and composed of riffles, rapids and pools. In certain parts of the river where the water flows slower, sediment can be deposited to form sand flats and even islands. Many plants and animals are associated with the Piedmont river habitat.
 American
Alligator American alligators, the largest land reptile in the United States, are found throughout the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. These crocodilians grow from 8 to 12 feet in length, though individuals up to 18 feet in length have been found. Despite their size and their reputation, they are generally not a threat to people. In a quarter century, there have been only six documented alligator attacks on people in South Carolina and none were fatal. An alligator’s diet consists of mainly of fish, birds and small mammals. Generally if a person is attacked, it is because the alligator was protecting itself or its young and not because it was seeking a meal. Like any wild animal, though, it is a good idea to keep a respectful distance from an alligator, and not to engage in any activity the animal finds threatening such as approaching it. Alligators need freshwater to survive and are found in freshwater swamps, marshes, impoundments, lakes, ponds and the backwaters of large rivers. Alligators are cold-blooded, aquatic animals that depend on the sun for warmth and freshwater aquatic habitats for food. For this reason, they are found only in the Southeastern United States, where the climate is warm and water is plentiful. Alligators need at least pond-sized bodies of water to move around with as well as areas of land easily accessible for basking in the sun. Adult alligators feed on fish, turtles, aquatic birds, water snakes and small mammals. Many alligators also feed on carrion. Alligators are carnivores, but they are also opportunistic feeders, and will not turn down an easy meal. Because alligators are very large animals with hard scales for protection, they do not have any natural predators as adults. For this reason, shelter is not as much of a requirement for alligators as it is for other animals. They do need to protect themselves from the elements, though, so during droughts or the winter they will dig holes in the ground, called dens, to stay warm or to find moisture. Alligators are often found in the day basking in the sun on the shore of some body of water. Unable to maintain a constant body temperature, alligators depend on external sources to raise or lower their body temperature. Absorbing sunlight warms the alligator and prepares it for evening hunting. If it becomes too warm, it will move to the water to cool off. In the winter when temperatures drop, alligators go into a semi-dormant state, and generally do not become active again until March. Female alligators are very protective mothers. In June the female builds a mound made of dirt and vegetation about seven feet in diameter and one to two feet in height. In the middle of this mound she digs a hole and lays 15 to 80 eggs. This nest acts as an incubator that keeps temperatures for the eggs in the upper eighties. During this time, the mother watches the nest with a protective eye and keeps hungry predators away. When the eggs begin hatching in September, the mother helps the young by digging them out of the nest and gently carrying some of the young in her jaws to the water. It is amazing that jaws capable of exerting 3,500 pounds of pressure per square inch on a prey item can be used for such delicate actions. For up to a year the mother will stay with the young to protect them from predators. During this time, the young alligators feed on insects, crayfish and frogs.
Cypress trees are gymnosperms, cone-bearing plants. The seed-bearing cones grow to about one inch in diameter. Both cones and their seeds can float in water, which serves as their main mechanism of dispersal in the swamps. Seedlings cannot germinate when submerged, and those inundated for only a short time die. Therefore, cypress regeneration occurs only on the higher edges and ridges of swamps. Mature trees now growing in standing water began growing long ago, up to centuries earlier, when the river’s position differed enough to create seasonally dry conditions.
The presence of brook trout indicates high-quality streams. Brook trout require low water temperature (less than 70 degrees) and moving water with lots of oxygen. Brook trout prefer water temperatures between 54 and 60 degrees, but they cannot live in water over 69 degrees. Confined to a narrow range of oxygen concentration, these fish are very sensitive to water quality changes. The addition of too much sediment from runoff or toxic materials in the stream will eliminate the brook trout. Adult brook trout migrate downstream to feed in larger streams, but migrate back upstream in order to spawn. For successful reproduction, these fish require a gravel bottom in shallow water where the eggs are laid. The eggs remain dormant for 90 to 210 days depending on the severity of the winter. When the water begins to warm, the young brook trout hatch and move to very shallow, rapidly-flowing water called riffles. These areas, only one to six inches deep, provide shelter from larger predators that cannot swim into such shallow water. Feeding primarily on caddis fly larvae (Pycnopsyche sp.), first year fish seldom exceed three inches in length. Adult brook trout vary in size depending on the size of the stream. In small streams, they can be six inches long and weigh only two to three ounces. In larger streams and rivers, mature brook trout can reach 18 inches or more and weigh several pounds. In the mid 1800’s, before fishing pressure became great and other species were introduced, brook trout weighing eight pounds were not uncommon. Compared to other trout species, brook trout have a short life span of only four to five years. Adults prefer the slower stretches of streams – particularly undercut banks where they can easily ambush their favorite food, the mayfly. Besides mayfly, brook trout feed on other aquatic insects and arthropods. Brook trout populations have receded because of overfishing, loss of habitat and introduction of non-native trout species. The European brown trout and the Western American rainbow trout have been introduced into mountain streams of South Carolina. Because they occupy a similar niche to the brook trout, they compete with the brook trout for food and space. There is not enough food and space to sustain large populations of all three species, and so brook trout numbers have declined. Female gag groupers mature sexually at five to six years of age and spawn in water over 200 feet deep. The eggs and planktonic larvae that hatch are carried inshore to the estuaries by eddies spinning off the Gulf Stream. Juvenile gag move inshore into salt marshes to feed primarily on grass shrimp and mature. Within a few months they will reach lengths of up to twelve inches and will begin to swim offshore to the live bottom reefs. Typical of the grouper family, this fish has a long life expectancy and tends to remain in its preferred habitat and behave territorially. During the spring, many gags migrate to southern Florida to spawn in a narrow area of ocean water. They congregate together in large groups and release their eggs and sperm into the water where fertilization occurs externally. Adult gags then migrate back to their original territory, and the eggs eventually hatch and the current carries the gag larvae into estuaries.
Their body shapes are ideal for fishing in shallow water. They stand in the water motionless on their long, spindly legs. When prey is spotted, they swiftly bring down their sharp beaks with their long, flexible necks and snatch up their prey. Despite spending much of their time on the ground wading in shallow water, egrets have large, strong wings. If humans or other potentially dangerous animals approach, egrets will spread their wings and fly off to safer ground. Egrets nest in trees, sometimes building nests forty feet in the air. Nests are built out of reeds and sticks and will contain up to five or six eggs. Egrets nest in colonies known as heronies, and it is not unusual to see twenty or thirty egrets roosting together in one tree. Adult bass feed mostly on small fish, especially juvenile sunfish, and sometimes attempt to consume fish too large to swallow. Largemouth generally shun bright light by hiding in the shadows of submerged logs or under vegetation such as lily pads. They become very attached to structures such as stumps, brush piles and other debris. They use them for cover and shelter and seldom stray. They forage most actively at dawn and dusk. Unlike striped bass and white bass, largemouth stick to shallow edges and avoid deeper, open water. The extensive edges of Piedmont reservoirs provide ample habitat for largemouth bass, which sometimes reach high populations. They can also be found in the pools of Piedmont rivers. Although they prefer clear, high-quality water, they can adapt to a wide variety of temperature, depth, clarity and even changing salinity in the upper reaches of coastal rivers. Lemon sharks prefer warm, shallow waters and will often swim in schools. While some sharks need to continue swimming in order to breathe, the lemon shark does not, and can often be found lying on the sandy bottom. Lemon sharks are active both day and night and feed on fish, rays, squid, crustaceans and the occasional seabird. Lemon sharks sometimes make long migrations while searching for food. While not aggressive towards man, they can be dangerous if provoked.
Oysters are sessile animals, meaning they attach themselves to a hard surface and remain there their entire lives. Usually the hard surface is another oyster shell. In their larval stages, oysters are free swimming. As they move around, the larvae have chemical sensors that can detect the presence of other oyster shells. When the larva finds an oyster shell, it attaches itself to the shell and begins to form shell material of its own. The clumps of oysters that attach themselves to each other are known as oyster beds. Oysters are filter feeders that get their food by pumping water through their bodies and straining out organic matter. When covered by the tides, a single oyster can strain about seven gallons of water a day. They feed on microorganisms and detritus (broken down pieces of plant and animal matter). Filter feeding makes oysters vulnerable to contaminants in the water. Bacteria or toxins in the water can collect in the oyster’s body as it feeds. Excess sediment can smother the oyster. To remain healthy, oysters need to be in clean, uncontaminated water. Oysters, like many marine animals, have gills that allow them to pull the oxygen they need right out of the water.
Uniquely adapted to its aquatic environment, the otter has webbed toes, a water repellant coat, and the ability to close its ears and nostrils while diving. The otter also has long whiskers that help it to detect prey underwater. These adaptations allow the animal to exist chiefly on a diet of fish, which they catch with their superior underwater swimming skills. Otters are also known to eat frogs, turtles, snakes, crayfish and an occasional bird. Beavers are very important to otters. If beavers frequent a particular area, there is a good chance that otters will also be found there. The ponds created by beaver dams are prime habitat for the otter. Otters often use the abandoned dens of beavers as shelters. If a beaver den is not available, they also may be found in hollow trees or between rocks or roots, building nests out of sticks, leaves and grass. Otters are active and curious. They spend much of their time playing with each other and exploring their environment. While other animals may play to practice hunting and survival skills, otters often play for pure enjoyment, a rare trait in animals and usually a sign of higher intelligence. Mating takes place in the fall after rival males battle for a mate. After a gestation period of up to 270 days, the female otter gives birth to one to three young, called kits, in a den with an underwater entrance constructed beneath the bank of a stream, river or lake. The mother otter defends her kits fiercely and they remain with her as a family unit for over a year. The otter has few natural enemies other than man, who trap it for its rich, thick pelt, and who also have lowered populations through habitat destruction and roadkill. Look for otters in larger streams or rivers where food is abundant and the water is unpolluted and quiet. The best time to look is early morning or evening. Spartina, like other plants, has to get oxygen into its roots as well as its leaves. Because Spartina grows in standing water, it has developed special adaptations to do so. The wet marsh soil contains a minimum of oxygen, and the abundant bacteria found in the soil consume the little oxygen available. Spartina grass has evolved a special system of hollow tubes that runs from leaf openings, called stomata, down to the roots to move carbon dioxide from the air through diffusion to the roots, and to allow oxygen produced by photosynthesis to escape. Like other plants, Spartina grass needs direct sunlight in order to be able to make the food it needs to survive. Because it is the only plant that can grow in the spaces of the salt marsh, it does not have other plants competing for the space and blocking out the sunlight. While Spartina can grow in other habitats, it cannot compete successfully with other plants and so is rarely found outside of the saltmarsh. In the saltmarsh, though, it reigns supreme. Its special adaptations to this saltwater-soaked habitat have allowed it to flourish there, and a habitat that is hostile to most plant life is filled with lush vegetation. K-2
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Despite
being the state ranked 40th in physical size, South
Carolina is in the top fifteen for the biodiversity it supports.
Each of the ecoregions of South Carolina ( the Mountains, Piedmont,
Sandhills, Coastal Plain, Coast and Ocean) have their own unique
physical and climate characteristics. Because of these differences,
South Carolina supports a wide variety of habitats and species.
Below is listed information about the physical characteristics
of each ecoregion as well as descriptions of the habitats and
animals used in this activity that are found in these ecoregions.
The
smallest in area of the five regions, the Mountain region is
located in the northwest corner of the state and found in only
three counties. It is part of the Blue Ridge chain of the Appalachian
Mountains. It is an area characterized by mountains and valleys,
rocky outcrops, waterfalls and fast-moving streams. Mountains
in this region can be above 3000 ft in elevation. The climate
in this region tends to be cooler and less humid than the rest
of the state but with a higher rainfall amount, ranging from
60 to 80 inches a year.
The
Sandhills are a band of hills that run across the midlands of
the state roughly where Columbia is located. The Sandhills compose
approximately twelve percent of the state’s area. These hills
are the remains of ancient sand deposits when the ocean used
to cover this part of the state. Between 250 and 450 feet above
sea level, the Sandhills are higher than the surrounding Piedmont
and Coastal Plain. During the summer it is generally the hottest
area of the state with a high humidity. It receives approximately
44 inches of rain, but because of the looseness of the sandy
soil, water drains quickly. Soil tends to be very dry and animals
and plants must adapt themselves to this aridity.
Blackwater
swamps occur in the Coastal Plain. Because of the flatness of
this region, the blackwater rivers are slow-moving and follow
a winding, meandering path. When rainfall amounts are high,
the water in these rivers floods over the banks into the woods
and creates the swamp habitat. Depending on rainfall amounts
this swamp habitat can last a few days or a few months. The
still, warm water of blackwater swamps is filled with organic
material and provides habitat for a number of plants and animals.
Saltmarshes
are found throughout the Coastal Zone anywhere saltwater brought
in by the tides floods over the land. These marshes exist within
a couple miles of the coastline. The twice daily flooding by
the tides of salty water makes this a difficult habitat for
plants. Only a handful of plants can grow in this environment,
but those that can grow there flourish. Along with rainforests
and the kelp forest, the saltmarsh is one of the most productive
habitats on earth as far as producing plant matter. The nutrients
from these plants create a major food source for many animals.
Many aquatic and terrestrial animals can be found in or near
a saltmarsh.
The
inshore ocean is a body of water that has high salinity and
generally stable conditions. Though hurricanes and other major
storms can stir up the shallow waters above the continental
shelf, ocean waters are generally not affected by the weather.
Water temperatures vary only slightly through the year. This
shallow water also receives an influx of nutrients from the
input of freshwater rivers. The stability of this environment
and its high nutrient concentration make the inshore ocean one
of the most productive habitats on earth.
Bald Cypress Tree
In most growing conditions, bald cypress trees develop vertical
root projections called knees, which may reach six feet or more
in height. The purpose of the knees is still being researched.
It has been speculated that the knees may act as a snorkel to
bring oxygen to the submerged roots, as an anchor to provide added
stability to a large tree with a shallow root system, and/or as
a refrigerator to store food in the form of starch for use by
the plant. At this time, research has not produced conclusive
evidence and the purpose of the knees remains a mystery.
Brook
Trout
Gag
Grouper
Great
Egret
Largemouth
Bass
Lemon
Shark
Oyster
River
Otter 
Spartina
Grass
