Gulf Coast Prairie/Marsh The Gulf Coast stretches along the Gulf of Mexico for hundreds of miles. Near the gulf waters you can see marshes, barrier islands, estuaries where salty sea water and fresh river water meet. Farther west are the prairies and grass lands. The Gulf Coast is home to many wildlife and plants. Size: it is approximately 21,000 square miles. Plant Life:
Trees
Sugar
berry
Water oak
Willow oak
Shumard red oak
Southern live oak
American elm
Yaupon
Grasses
Big blue stem
Bushy bluestem
Inland sea-oats
Sugarcane plumegrass
Gulf cordgrass
Eastern gammagrass
Wildflowers
Lance-leaf coreopsis
Coralbean
Spider lily
Cardinal flower
Turk’s cap
Gulf Coast penstemon
Scarlet sage
Indian paintbrush
Beach evening primrose
Showy evening primrose
Wildlife:
MuskAlligator
Diamond back terrapin
Bull frog
Roseate spoonbill
Black skimmer
Gulls
Terns
Pelicans
Topography: Wetland marshes and rolling grassy dunes with praries farther inland. Soil type: Soils are acidic sands and sandy loams. Loam is another word for the dark soil typically used for planting. Climate: Warm subtropical climate receiving between 40 and 60 inches of rainfall per year. rat
Coyote
Marsh rice rat
Mink
River otter
Bottlenose dolphin


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