.....Barrier islands such as Folly, contain some very interesting species of plant life. The flora of these islands must be able to survive the very harsh conditions of the beach environment. High winds, salt spray, and low moisture levels are just a few of the problems these plants must face. The beach face is by far the most harsh on the barrier island, with the land becoming more suitable for plant life as one moves inward.
Using information such as, types of flora present, soil, and environmental conditions, we can divide the island into different zones. The image below shows the profile of a barrier island from the surf zone to the maritime forest.
Place your mouse over the different areas in the profile below to see its name appear in the box to the right. Then click on the area to learn more about the types of plants that live there.

The image below shows the profile of a barrier island from the maritime forest to the salt marsh.
Place your mouse over the different areas in the profile below to see its name appear in the box to the right. Then click on the area to learn more about the types of plants that live there.


Where Do You Live? The activity is available in Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf) format.

Wetland Transect Activity