Florida is full of iconic ecosystems ranging from the Florida Keys to Apalachicola Forest. The intersection of Caribbean and North American taxa on a peninsula that spans 6.5 degrees latitude has resulted in one of the most species diverse states with some of the highest levels of endemism in the United States. This diverse species pool assembles into marine communities along Florida’s extensive coastline, tree islands and “rivers of grass” in the everglades, and crystal clear springs that emerge from the state’s karst limestone topography. The majesty and diversity of ecological communities in Florida has inspired foundational research in the field of community ecology. One of the most fundamental theories in ecology, the Theory of Island Biology, was tested for the first time with invertebrate communities on mangrove islets in Florida Bay. Silver Springs was the site of one of the first and most detailed food webs ever compiled. Furthermore, some of the first phylogenetic community analyses were conducted on Florida oak communities. The tradition of innovative community ecology research in the state of Florida has continued into the present day and experts across a wide-range of ecological communities with different approaches will be showcased in this session. The stewardship of Florida’s ecological communities faces many challenges as ecological communities in Florida have and will continue to undergo dramatic alterations due to global change. Florida will likely be ground zero for rising sea levels due to its low topography and extensive coastline. Florida has some of the highest numbers of exotic and invasive species of any state; including the high profile invasive Burmese python in the Florida everglades. Understanding how ecological communities in Florida assemble, how they are maintained, and how they may change are key questions for the future of biodiversity in the “Sunshine State”.