Pine Flatwoods Community
The pine flatwoods community is the fringe area of the Slough and has a higher elevation than the interior. This community is generally dry except during the wet season. The soil is sandy, with only small amounts of organic matter.
The pine flatwoods is very important for wildlife because it offers drier land and cover while still meeting their water needs in the adjacent wetland community. Visitors like the bobcat, wild turkey and white-tailed deer use the pine flatwoods to pass through the Slough. One of the most important functions of the Six Mile Cypress Slough is that it acts as a natural travel corridor for wildlife by connecting northern Lee County to the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve.
Just like every other community, the pine flatwoods has plants characteristic to the area. The slash pine is a common tree here and is well-adapted to this community. Its deep tap root provides access to underground water during dry times and acts as an anchor during high winds. Its thick bark and protected seeds are also resistant to the periodic natural fires that occur through pine flatwoods after lightning strikes.
