Editing Sanibel, Florida (section)

==Ecology==
===Flora and fauna===
[[File:Sylvilagus palustris from Sanibel (Florida) 1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Marsh rabbit]]s are common in Sanibel]]
The island's curved [[shrimp]]-like shape forms Tarpon Bay on the north side of the island. It is linked to the [[mainland]] by the [[Sanibel Causeway]], which runs across two small manmade islets and the [[Intracoastal Waterway]]. A short bridge links Sanibel Island to [[Captiva Island]] over [[Blind Pass]]. 
The [[Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum]] on Sanibel is the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to the study of shells. The Gulf-side beaches are excellent on both Sanibel and Captiva, and are world-renowned for their variety of [[Exoskeleton|seashells]], which include [[coquina]]s, [[scallop]]s, [[whelk]]s, [[sand dollar]]s, and many other species of both shallow-water and deeper-water [[Mollusca|mollusks]], primarily [[Bivalvia|bivalves]] and [[Gastropoda|gastropods]].
Sanibel Island is home to a significant variety of [[birds]], including the [[roseate spoonbill]] and several nesting pairs of [[bald eagle]]s. Birds can be seen on the beaches, the causeway islands, and the reserves, including [[J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge]]. Common sights include [[Brown pelican|pelicans]], [[heron]]s, [[egret]]s, and [[anhinga]]s, as well as the more common birds like [[tern]]s, [[Scolopacidae|sandpipers]], and [[gull|seagulls]].

[[File:Loggerhead turtle track Sanibel Island Florida.JPG|thumb|[[Loggerhead sea turtle|Loggerhead turtle]] track on a beach in Sanibel]]

There is a population of [[American alligator]]s on Sanibel Island. A lone rare [[American crocodile]] had been seen at the Wildlife Refuge for over 30 years, but she died in 2010 of unseasonably cold winters or old age.<ref name="crocmemorial">{{cite web |url=http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jan/29/old-age-or-cold-snap-blame-crocodiles-death-sanibe/ |title=Old age or cold snap to blame for crocodile's death on Sanibel Island |access-date=2012-03-01}}</ref>  A memorial was set up at [[J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge]] honoring "Wilma", as she was known by the residents.<ref name="crocmemorial"/>  A new crocodile was introduced in May 2010 when she was found on a private property and relocated to [[J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge]].<ref name=newcroc>{{cite web |url=http://www.captivasanibel.com/page/content.detail/id/507503.html |title='Ding' Darling receives new female crocodile |access-date=2012-03-01}}</ref>  Plants on the island include the native [[Coccoloba uvifera|sea grape]], [[sea oats]], [[mangrove]]s, and several types of [[Arecaceae|palm trees]]. The [[Casuarina|Australian pine]] is an introduced species that has spread throughout the island, to some extent overpowering native vegetation and trees. Once mature, the pine blocks sunlight and drops a thick bed of pine needles that affect the soil's pH and prevents new native growth. The ground is very soft under these pines.

The local form of the [[marsh rice rat]] has been recognized in some classifications as a separate [[subspecies]], ''Oryzomys palustris sanibeli''.<ref>Wolfe, J.L. 1982. [http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-176-01-0001.pdf Oryzomys palustris]. Mammalian Species 176:1&ndash;5.</ref>

===Wildlife refuges===
[[File:Bobcat (Lynx rufus), Sanibel Island, Florida 01.JPG|thumb|left|[[Bobcat]]s are sometimes seen in Sanibel]]
Preserving the island's natural ecology has always been important to its citizens and visitors alike. A driving force in the preservation of the island is the [[Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation]] which was founded in 1967 with a mission to "preserve natural resources and wildlife habitat on and around the islands of Sanibel and Captiva."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sccf.org/content/57/Our-History.aspx |title=Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation |access-date=2009-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705192015/http://sccf.org/content/57/Our-History.aspx |archive-date=2009-07-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{convert|1300|acre|km2}} of land on Sanibel are under the supervision of the Foundation; included in this land there is a "Marine Laboratory which actively conducts research in areas including [[seagrass]]es, [[mangroves]], harmful [[algal bloom]]s, fish populations and shellfish restoration."<ref name=conservation>{{cite web |url=http://www.sccf.org/ |title=Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation |access-date=2009-07-15}}</ref> Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation also has a project called RECON ([[River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network]]) which includes a "network of eight in-water sensors that provide real-time, hourly readings of key water quality parameters."<ref name="conservation"/>  The foundation also serves to protect the wildlife on the island and has a variety of education programs designed to instruct people about the island's unique ecology.

The biggest wildlife refuge on the island is the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Covering more than {{convert|5200|acre|km2}} of land, the refuge strives to ensure that these lands are "preserved, restored and maintained as a haven for indigenous and migratory wildlife as part of a nation-wide network of Refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service" The lands also serve to provide a home for many endangered and threatened species.<ref name=ding>{{cite web |url=http://www.ding-darling.org/wildlife.html |title=J.N. "Ding" Darling Foundation |access-date= 2009-07-13}}</ref> Currently the refuge provides a home for over 220 species of birds native to the island.<ref name=NWR>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/facts/jndcon.pdf |title="Ding" Darling FWS |access-date=2009-07-15}}</ref> Visitors to the refuge can walk, bike, drive, or kayak though the wildlife drive which takes you through {{convert|5|mi|spell=in|abbr=off}} of mangrove tree forests and tidal flats, this drive is perfect for watching the island's wildlife and looking at the island's native vegetation. To show that preserving the wildlife really is important, the drive is closed one day every week, Friday, so that the wildlife can have a day to themselves where they can scavenge for food closer to the drive and not have to be bothered by or fearful of humans. There is also an education center which features "interactive exhibits on refuge ecosystems, the life and work of "Ding" Darling, migratory flyways, and the National Wildlife Refuge System."<ref name=darling>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/dingdarling/VisitorInformation.html |title=J.N. "Ding" Darling Visitor Center |access-date= 2009-07-13}}</ref>

===Beaches and seashells===
[[File:West Gulf Drive, Sanibel.JPG|thumb|A view looking north on the beach at West Gulf Drive Beach access point #7, Sanibel, Lee County, Florida. The whitish objects are all shells, and so are some of the brown objects.]]
Sanibel's beaches attract visitors from all around the world, partly because of the large quantities of seashells that wash up there. Many sand dollars can be found as well. One of the reasons for these large accumulations of shells is that Sanibel is a barrier island that is "part of a large plateau that extends out into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] for miles. It is this plateau that acts like a shelf for seashells to gather." Sanibel also has an "east-west orientation when most islands are north-south. Hence, the island is gifted with great sandy beaches and an abundance of shells."<ref name=beaches>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanibel-captiva.org/play/beaches.asp |title=Where to Play |access-date=2009-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720134811/http://www.sanibel-captiva.org/play/beaches.asp |archive-date=2009-07-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

People lucky enough to find the elegant brown-spotted shell of [[Scaphella junonia|a Junonia]] on a Sanibel beach often get their picture in the local newspapers. Junonia volutes are reasonably common living in deep water but only rarely wash up; a beach find of a whole shell is greatly prized. Junonia shells can be purchased at local shell shops and are displayed at the [[Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum]], in some of the glass display tables at the Sanibel Cafe, and at the Sanibel Shell Fair in early March.

Throughout the year, people come to Sanibel's beaches to gather shells. People are often seen bending down as they look for seashells, and this posture is known as the "Sanibel Stoop."<ref name=stoop>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanibelisland.com/shelling.html |title=Sanibel Island Shelling and Beaches |access-date=2009-07-16}}</ref> There are beaches almost all around the island. There are even beaches along the Sanibel causeway that are great for fishing and [[windsurf]]ing. Beach parking is very limited, and in high season finding a convenient parking space can be a challenge.

Lighthouse Beach is named after [[Sanibel Island Light|Sanibel Lighthouse]], which includes a popular fishing pier and nature trails. The island's most secluded beach is Bowman's Beach; no hotels are in sight and the beach has a "pristine and quiet" atmosphere.<ref name="beaches"/>