The low areas here provide freshwater pond areas during rainy seasons. The cattails are indicator plants of this habitat. These ponds can be feeding areas for birds and homes for frogs and turtles. As the cattails die, they fill in the pond. The pond will eventually disappear and a grassland will take over.
Trees can move in along with other plants.
This changing of communities is called succession and is readily seen as you walk from the beach back through the dunes. The cemetery is located on Royal Palm. Here is the last resting place of members of old island families. Some families have been here for decades. On the island road, you will see tidal flats to your right as you turn into the airport.