Brooker Creek Preserve

Brooker Creek Preserve is home to many native species of flora. Plant records show various native epiphytes, such as the air plant Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica. Keeping these ecosystems safe does more than just protect local wildlife; it also helps with regional climate mitigation. By preventing development on this land, the preserve keeps blue carbon stored in the ground, making the area a long-term carbon sink, which helps to keep the environment healthy over time. == Hydrology ==

Brooker Creek Preserve is a major part of the local water system. It filters runoff and helps to keep the water clean in the streams that eventually flow into the Tampa Bay watershed. This effect reaches past the preserve itself; protecting these wetlands helps maintain the water quality downstream at the coast. For example, this stability is vital for young sportfish in the Tampa Bay estuary. It shows how the health of the inland preserve is tied directly to the coastal ecosystem. ==Aboriginal history==

"Native people hunted and gathered here for thousands of years, leaving behind spear points that date from 7000 BCE to 900 CE." The most recent aboriginal tribe to occupy the land that encompasses the Brooker Creek Preserve was the Tocobaga tribe. The Tocobaga declined in the 17th century and became extinct in the 18th century due to disease and violence. ==Gallery==

Photos added here are from the nature trail near the education center. File:Brooker creek nature walkway.jpg|Brooker Creek nature walkway File:Brooker creek nature walk.jpg|Brooker Creek nature walk ==See also==