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40 40 40 NPS Form 10-908-a fes? United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMD Approved No, 1024 -MO Section number G Page 2 Indian River Narrows Cultural Resource District When the inlet has been closed in the past it has linked the area of Orchid Island to the long narrow peninsula extending down from Cape Canaveral and would have allowed the easy migration of terrestrial animal species to populate the island.. Terrestrial animal species inhabiting the island at various times include a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals that could have been exploited for food by prehistoric and human populations. Additionally, about 255 species of fish and a number of crustaceans, mollusks, marine mammals, and marine turtles exist off the Atlantic shore of the island and about 400 species of fish, 200 mollusks, and many other animals exist in the Indian River lagoon (Jones 1990:14-11). The climate and weather of the area places Orchid Island between temperate and sub -tropical conditions. Summers are very warm and humid and the winter is relatively mild with occasional severe cold fronts. The area's average annual temperature is 72.6°F. The rainy season lasts from about May -October (average annual rainfall is 53 inches/year) and the dry season from November -April (Woodward -Clyde 1994a3-1, 3-5). Orchid Island also sits in a transitional vegetative zone between the dominant temperate vegetation of northern Florida and the sub -tropical vegetation of southern Florida. In fact, on the southern end of Orchid Island tropical plant species predominate (Thomas 1994:1). The eastern side of the island facing the Atlantic Ocean is comprised of low, coastal scrub and dune species which are tolerant of high winds, poor sandy soils and salt, such as seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera)_ gnanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia), and cactus (Opuntia spp. ). Behind the primary dune scrub area and into the cent .t portion of the island and secondary dunes begins coastal hammock vegetation dominated by larger trees, shrubs and vines, including live oak (Quercus virginiana), strangler fig (Ficus aurea), and cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) (Richards 1990:16). Toward the Indian River lagoon and in the wetland and slough areas, plants such as mangroves comprise the principal plant communities. Until a series of severe freezes struck in the 1980s, most of Orchid Island's mangroves were rel mangrove (Rhi--ophora inangle). Most mangroves growing along the lagoon now are either white mangrove (La,Runcularia racemosa) or black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) (Thomas 1994:4). The Indian River lagoon itself is a shallow, bar -built estuary which is partially enclosed front the ocean and receives freshwater inflows (Woodward -Clyde 1994a:1-2). The lagoon formed as a result of the relative stability of the barrier island system separating it from the ocean. because of the lack of washover from waves striking; the islands along its length and the long distance between inlet:,, which reduce tidal range, and the inflt x of water from inland streams and rivers, the water of the lagoon is relatively fresh (Davis 1997:159).