Fire Island

Ecosystem Overview

The Fire Island ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 92 taxonomic genera. Located in Suffolk County, New York, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 21 frequently observed species and 19 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. This location ranks #1 for species diversity among 64 Suffolk County County natural areas, placing it in the 98th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

100

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 64 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#1 of 64 locations

98th percentile for diversity

vs. Suffolk County

0% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

‌
‌
‌
‌

Biodiversity Highlights

‌

Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

‌

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 100 total documented species.

Prunus maritima

beach plum

Very Common47 obs.

Hudsonia tomentosa

Woolly Beachheather

Very Common35 obs.

Larus marinus

great black-backed gull

Very Common26 obs.

Prunus serotina

rum cherry, black cherry

Very Common25 obs.

Euphorbia polygonifolia

Seaside Spurge

Very Common22 obs.

Toxicodendron radicans

poison ivy

Common21 obs.

Morella pensylvanica

Candleberry

Common20 obs.

Gaylussacia baccata

black huckleberry

Common18 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Common18 obs.

Ilex opaca

white holly

Common17 obs.

Baccharis halimifolia

Eastern baccharis

Common16 obs.

Argopecten irradians

Bay Scallop

Occasional14 obs.

Smilax rotundifolia

Common Catbriar

Occasional13 obs.

Vaccinium corymbosum

highbush blueberry

Occasional13 obs.

Lathyrus japonicus

sea pea

Occasional12 obs.

Aralia nudicaulis

Shotbush

Occasional10 obs.

Spisula solidissima

Atlantic Surf Clam

Occasional9 obs.

Calamagrostis breviligulata

Rare9 obs.

Juniperus virginiana

Red Cedar Juniper

Rare8 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Rare8 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 100 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.

Most Common Species

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

Want the Complete Field Guide?

‌
‌

‌

Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Fire Island. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Fire Island. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

Email Address (for delivery)

Your field guide will be delivered to this email address. Please double-check for accuracy.

$6.99

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+257%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Suffolk County County, New York

Nearby Natural Areas

Suffolk County

Importance: 0.50

100 species

0% vs. current

Patchogue

Importance: 0.40

2 species

+4900% vs. current

Village Of East Hampton

Importance: 0.40

25 species

+300% vs. current

Amityville

Importance: 0.39

6 species

+1567% vs. current

Port Jefferson

Importance: 0.37

12 species

+733% vs. current

Poquott

Importance: 0.37

27 species

+270% vs. current

Quogue

Importance: 0.37

52 species

+92% vs. current

Sagaponack

Importance: 0.36

1 species

+9900% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Suffolk County County.

Regional Comparison

‌

Regional Ranking

‌

Species Count

‌

vs. Regional Average

‌

Nearby Natural Areas

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

About This Comparison

‌
‌
‌

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+257%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Suffolk County County, New York

Nearby Natural Areas

Suffolk County

Importance: 0.50

100 species

0% vs. current

Patchogue

Importance: 0.40

2 species

+4900% vs. current

Village Of East Hampton

Importance: 0.40

25 species

+300% vs. current

Amityville

Importance: 0.39

6 species

+1567% vs. current

Port Jefferson

Importance: 0.37

12 species

+733% vs. current

Poquott

Importance: 0.37

27 species

+270% vs. current

Quogue

Importance: 0.37

52 species

+92% vs. current

Sagaponack

Importance: 0.36

1 species

+9900% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

100

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 64 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#1 of 64 locations

98th percentile for diversity

vs. Suffolk County

0% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 100 total documented species.

Prunus maritima

beach plum

Very Common47 obs.

Hudsonia tomentosa

Woolly Beachheather

Very Common35 obs.

Larus marinus

great black-backed gull

Very Common26 obs.

Prunus serotina

rum cherry, black cherry

Very Common25 obs.

Euphorbia polygonifolia

Seaside Spurge

Very Common22 obs.

Toxicodendron radicans

poison ivy

Common21 obs.

Morella pensylvanica

Candleberry

Common20 obs.

Gaylussacia baccata

black huckleberry

Common18 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Common18 obs.

Ilex opaca

white holly

Common17 obs.

Baccharis halimifolia

Eastern baccharis

Common16 obs.

Argopecten irradians

Bay Scallop

Occasional14 obs.

Smilax rotundifolia

Common Catbriar

Occasional13 obs.

Vaccinium corymbosum

highbush blueberry

Occasional13 obs.

Lathyrus japonicus

sea pea

Occasional12 obs.

Aralia nudicaulis

Shotbush

Occasional10 obs.

Spisula solidissima

Atlantic Surf Clam

Occasional9 obs.

Calamagrostis breviligulata

Rare9 obs.

Juniperus virginiana

Red Cedar Juniper

Rare8 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Rare8 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 100 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.