The Nature of Perdido Key Beach Dune Habitat
Situated on the border of southwest Alabama and northwest Florida is a small island paradise named Perdido Key. The azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico and its surrounding  waters frame the famed white beaches of this very special place. These beaches and their dune habitat play host to a variety of visitors and residents throughout the year.
The beach dune habitat of Perdido Key is characterized by several rows of wind built sand dunes. “Frontal” or “primary” dunes are vegetated with grasses including sea oats, bunch grass, and beach grass. Among other plant species growing in primary dunes are Florida rosemary, railroad vine and beach morning glories. “Secondary” dunes, further inland, support saw palmetto, slash and sand pines, and scrubby shrubs and oaks. Growing between the dunes are cordgrass, salt-grass and, among others, pennywort.
The scrub and grasses growing on dunes are vital to the health of Perdido Key’s beach habitat. The roots of plants are the “fingers” which hold sand in place, preventing it from blowing away in the wind or washing away in the tidal surge of hurricanes or other storms. Without the critical holding power of dunes and their plants our beaches would blow and erode away.
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