If Florida didn't exist, which state would have the most biodiversity?? (ranking, climate)

[nature's message]

Had Florida never existed, which state would have the most biodiversity?

[Akhenaton06]

Just find a ranking of states by biodiversity and the #2 state would be #1. Frankly, I didn't even know Florida was #1 for biodiversity.

[nature's message]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Just find a ranking of states by biodiversity and the #2 state would be #1. Frankly, I didn't even know Florida was #1 for biodiversity.

I read somewhere that the Everglades alone contained the most biodiversity in the United States.

[GLS2010]

I'm gonna guess and say Hawaii, if not then maybe Louisiana

[PDX_LAX]

Originally Posted by nature's message

I read somewhere that the Everglades alone contained the most biodiversity in the United States.

False.

http://www.natureserve.org/library/stateofunions.pdf

[JustCallMeTC]

I figured the Florida comment was BS.

[TANaples]

I would have picked California. Actually, I think it is much more diverse than Florida, especially given the fact that there are mountains, so besides tropical, you will have have the higher elevation plants and trees.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by TANaples

I would have picked California. Actually, I think it is much more diverse than Florida, especially given the fact that there are mountains, so besides tropical, you will have have the higher elevation plants and trees.

Tropical environments generally breed much greater biodiversity due to the abundance of water and energy (sunlight). That's why you have factoids like the Amazon hosting a tenth of the world's plants and animals despite it having almost the same topography and climate throughout and covering a region that isn't anywhere near a tenth of the world's surface area.

To the OP, where'd you get the info on Florida having the greatest biodiversity? Does it include aquatic species?

[Hasdrubal]

I think Texas is pretty diverse, if not the most one.

[BPerone201]

Hawaii and California