State 1
Pine Flatwoods

Pine Flatwoods are the reference state on these soils throughout the Florida peninsula. These are open canopy pine woodlands on flats and flatwoods landscape positions derived from marine deposits. The reference communities are dependent on microtopography, slight differences in hydroperiods and fire return intervals. These will often succeed or transition into different communities dependent on management or lack of management of the reference community, but is highly unlikely that the reference communities will succeed or transition into one another.

Characteristics and indicators. Pine flatwoods are characterized by an open overstory of pine trees with a dense understory of grasses and / or shrubs dependent on microtopography.

Resilience management. The main threats to these habitats include fire suppression and alteration of the natural hydroperiod. Fire is used in these communities to prevent woody species encroachment and buildup of fuels. Alteration of the natural hydroperiod of these areas may intensify the effects of species encroachment and fire intensity.

Community 1.1
Wet Flatwoods

Figure 11. Example of Wet Flatwoods grading into mesic flatwoods in the background. Microsite in the left middleground shows root mat support mesic composition of saw palmetto.

These are pine flatwoods found on micro-low positions, with depth to seasonal high-water tables range from 0 to 6 inches below the surface. The overstory is often identified as open, widely spaced pines, often slash pine (Pinus elliottii) or Florida slash pine (P. elliottii var densa). The understory is often identified as a dense cover of grasses and forbs. During the wet season, periphyton or other algal species may be present as a thin layer of ground cover between existing plants.

Resilience management. Maintenance of these communities is dependent on frequent fire intervals estimated at every 1 to 3 years. This frequent interval is enough to maintain the grassy understory and inhibit invasion by shrubs. The overstory pines are tolerant of light surface fires due to its thick bark and their seeds need the mineral soil and open sunlight that fires provides to germinate. Fires typically occur in the growing seasons (April to mid-August), and will often reduce the resilience of hardwood species, decrease shrub invasion, and promote flowing of desired herbaceous groundcover. Many factors including fire frequency, season of fire, soil moisture, groundwater levels, etc. will often influence the outcome of vegetative response to fire. Specific management plans should be made based off individual assessment of an area. A seasonal high-water table often seen at 0 to 6 inches often limits growth of shrubby and subcanopy species. Fires at too long of an interval (5 to 10 years) can lead to an increase in woody species cover and decline in grasses and forb cover, shifting this community to a fire suppressed flatwood. In these cases physical removal or mowing of woody vegetation as well as reintroducing a natural fire interval of every 1 to 3 years may be necessary to restore a suppressed area back, but may cause damage to soil structure and desired vegetation. Alteration of natural hydroperiods, whether directly or indirectly, may make these areas more vulnerable to undesirable woody species encroachment as well as invasive species.

Community 1.2
Mesic Flatwoods

These are pine flatwoods found on micro-high positions, with depth to seasonal high-water tables range from 6 to 18 inches below the surface. The overstory is often identified as open, widely spaced pines, often slash pine (Pinus elliottii) or Florida slash pine (P. elliottii var densa). The understory is often identified as a dense cover of shrubs, grasses, and forbs.

Resilience management. Maintenance of these communities is dependent on frequent fire intervals estimated at every 2 to 4 years. This frequent interval is enough to maintain the shrubby and grassy understory while creating suitable conditions for reproduction of several species. The overstory pines are tolerant of light surface fires due to its thick bark and their seeds need the mineral soil and open sunlight that fires provides to germinate. Fires typically occur in the growing seasons (April to mid-August), and will often reduce the resilience of hardwood species, decrease shrub invasion, and promote flowing of desired herbaceous groundcover. Wiregrass requires fire to flower, along with a number of other characteristic herbs, including, but not limited to, whitetop aster (Oclemena reticulata), many-flowered grass-pink, crowpoison (Stenanthium densum), and grassleaf goldenaster (Pityopsis oligantha). Many factors including fire frequency, season of fire, soil moisture, groundwater levels, etc. will often influence the outcome of vegetative response to fire. Specific management plans should be made based off individual assessment of an area. Fires at too long of an interval (5 to 10 years) can lead to an increase in woody species cover and decline in grasses and forb cover, shifting this community to a fire suppressed flatwood. In these cases physical removal or mowing of woody vegetation as well as reintroducing a natural fire interval of every 2 to 4 years may be necessary to restore a suppressed area back, but may cause damage to soil structure and desired vegetation. Alteration of natural hydroperiod, whether directly or indirectly, may make these areas more vulnerable to undesirable woody species encroachment as well as invasive species.

Community 1.3
Fire Suppressed Flatwoods

This community describes a reference flatwoods community that has had fire excluded from its system long enough for fire suppressed shrubs to grow into the subcanopy and into the canopy. These areas will typically have the reference overstory of widely spaced pines: slash pine (Pinus elliottii) or Florida slash pine (P. elliottii var densa). The unburned area will allow for shrubs such as gallberry (Ilex glabra), coastalplain staggerbush (Lyonia fruticosa), wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), and fetterbush (Lyonia lucida) to grow in height and density, often shading the understory. Increased shading will decrease the biodiversity of herbaceous species found in the reference communities. Absence of fire will also allow for the growth of oaks (Quercus virginiana, Q. laurifolia) into the midcanopy and if fire is absent long enough, create a closed canopy forest.

Resilience management. This community is often seen as a transitional community between a reference community and a closed canopy oak - palm dominated forest. This community will vary slight based on the reference community, but common features include unburned flatwoods which allow for shrub growth into the sub- and mid-canopy. Restoration of a natural reference community often is dependent on the removal of the overgrown shrubby species and reintroducing the natural fire return interval consistent to that of the reference community. If fire remains absent from this community for long periods of time the shrubs and shrubby trees may mature and form a closed canopy forest dominated by oaks and shrubs devoid of fire with sparse to absent groundcover. Due to the absence of fire these areas will begin to accumulate large amounts of woody and herbaceous debris, increasing the fuel load and making the area more susceptible to catastrophic fires. A catastrophic fire may cause mass mortality of the overstory pines, creating an open prairies or grassland habitat after species recovery.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Wet flatwoods occur on slightly lower landscape positions (along the scale of inches) than mesic flatwoods, which allows for the accumulation of water during the rainy season, creating habitat suitable for hydrophytic grasses and sparse trees. Large root mats may create micro highs that allow for the establishment of few shrubs and saw palmettos. With changes in long term hydroperiods, the seasonal high water table becomes lowered allowing the encroachment of shrubs from the micro high areas into the lower areas, shifting the community. Increased fire return intervals of every 1 to 3 years also maintains high densities of grasses and excluding shrubs. Longer fire return interval allows for the establishment of shrub species before fire may come through and kill any new growth. The transition from a wet to mesic pine flatwoods involves the shifting of species composition from hydrophytic grasses as the dominant understory composition to a more densely shrub populated understory. Decreases in long term hydroperiod are ways this community begins to transition to a mesic flatwoods. Decrease of the fire return interval also allows for the establishment of shrubs and saw palmettos that are characteristic of mesic flatwoods.

Context dependence. These are slight elevation differences that can exist within the natural range of variability within this site context.

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Disturbances to the natural maintenance of these communities may allow for the growth of undesirable woody and shrubby species into the system. This transition is often seen through fire suppression when fire is estimated to be absent from the system for 5 to 10 years. This transition may also be seen via decrease in the natural hydroperiod of the area, whether directly (canal ditching) or indirectly (lowering of surrounding lands water table). The removal of these stressors may create an opportunity for undesirable woody and shrubby species and structure into the reference community.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Mesic flatwoods occur on slightly higher landscape positions (along the scale of inches) than wet flatwoods, which allows for the establishment of shrubs characterized by saw palmettos as well as an open canopy of tall pines. With increases in long term hydroperiods the seasonal high water table becomes higher allowing for water to be present in this community for a longer period of time each year (up to 60 days). This increase in long term hydroperiod over time will oversaturate the shrubs and kill them, allowing the establishment of hydrophytic grasses to become dominant. Shorter fire return intervals to every 1 to 3 years will shift the plant community to high densities of grasses and excluding shrub species that depend on longer fire return intervals of every 2 to 4 years to become established. The transition from a mesic to wet pine flatwoods involves the shifting of species composition from a dense, low ground layer of shrubs grasses and forbs to hydrophytic grasses as the dominant understory composition. Increases in long term hydroperiods are ways this community begins to transition to a wet flatwoods. Increase of the fire return interval also allows for the establishment of hydrophytic grasses that are characteristic of wet flatwoods.

Context dependence. These are slight elevation differences that can exist within the natural range of variability within this site context.

Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3

Disturbances to the natural maintenance of these communities may allow for the growth of undesirable woody and shrubby species into the system. This transition is often seen through fire suppression when fire is estimated to be absent from the system for 5 to 10 years. This transition may also be seen via decrease in the natural hydroperiod of the area, whether directly (canal ditching) or indirectly (lowering of water table). The removal of these stressors may create an opportunity for undesirable woody and shrubby species and structure into the reference community.

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.1

This restoration to the natural reference community may be achieved by the reduction and removal of the undesirable woody or shrubby species and reintroducing the natural fire return interval back into the reference community. Reduction and removal of undesirable species may include methods of mechanical (mowing, cutting), chemical (herbicides), or biological removal. Some methods of removal may create soil disturbances which makes the area more susceptible to invasion of exotic species into this system. Fire return intervals of every 1 to 3 years should be reintroduced after the reduction and removal of the undesired species to prevent excess fuel loads in the system to prevent catastrophic fires.

Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.2

This restoration to the natural reference community may be achieved by the reduction and removal of the undesirable woody or shrubby species and reintroducing the natural fire return interval back into the reference community. Reduction and removal of undesirable species may include methods of mechanical (mowing, cutting), chemical (herbicides), or biological removal. Some methods of removal may create soil disturbances which makes the area more susceptible to invasion of exotic species into this system. Fire return intervals of every 2 to 4 years should be reintroduced after the reduction and removal of the undesired species to prevent excess fuel loads in the system to prevent catastrophic fires.

State 2
Prairies

Prairies are the altered state of pine flatwoods in areas of overstory mortality. Individual communities are dependent on the reference community and will reflect similar to the same microtopography, hydroperiods, and fire return intervals. These communities can often be identified as having similar characteristics to its reference flatwoods state, with the absence of the living overstory species. Standing dead pines or burned stump holes may be present and may be used to identify this state. Overstory mortality may be the result of a catastrophic fire which killed the overstory trees or by biological processes such as fusiform rust caused by fungi.

Characteristics and indicators. Indicators of these communities is dependent on the reference state it originates from but will both be generally treeless landscapes with dense groundcover of grasses and / or shrubs.

Resilience management. This state is maintained by stressors at the beginning of the rainy season, where natural fire return intervals of every 1 to 2 years as well as the maintenance of a high seasonal high water table.

Community 2.1
Palmetto Prairies

Palmetto prairies are the altered prairies community of the mesic flatwoods reference community. It is similar in species composition to its reference community with the absence of overstory pines. These habitats are often important for many animal species as habitat and forage including burrowing owls, gopher tortoises, and northern bobwhites.

Resilience management. Maintenance of these communities is dependent on frequent fire intervals estimated at every 1 to 2 years. This frequent interval is enough to maintain the shrubby and grassy understory while creating suitable conditions for reproduction of several species and prevent the reintroduction of pines into the overstory. Fires typically occur in the growing seasons (April to mid-August), and will often reduce the resilience of hardwood species, decrease shrub invasion, and promote flowing of desired herbaceous groundcover. Wiregrass requires fire to flower, along with a number of other characteristic herbs, including, but not limited to, whitetop aster (Oclemena reticulata), many-flowered grass-pink, crowpoison (Stenanthium densum), and grassleaf goldenaster (Pityopsis oligantha). Many factors including fire frequency, season of fire, soil moisture, groundwater levels, etc. will often influence the outcome of vegetative response to fire. Specific management plans should be made based off individual assessment of an area. Fires at too long of an interval (5 to 10 years) can lead to an increase in woody species cover and decline in grasses and forb cover, shifting this community to a fire suppressed prairie. In these cases physical removal or mowing of woody vegetation as well as reintroducing a natural fire interval of every 1 to 2 years may be necessary to restore a suppressed area back, but may cause damage to soil structure and desired vegetation. Alteration of natural hydroperiods, whether directly or indirectly, may make these areas more vulnerable to undesirable woody species encroachment as well as invasive species. Absence of fire for a short period may allow for pines to become reestablished, and transition back to a mesic flatwoods over time if fire frequency is decreased.

Community 2.2
Fire Suppressed Prairie

This community describes a prairie community that has had stressors excluded from its system long enough for suppressed shrubs to grow into the subcanopy and pines encroach into the canopy. These areas will typically be absent of overstory pine species common to the flatwoods state. These areas will allow for shrubs such as gallberry (Ilex glabra), coastalplain staggerbush (Lyonia fruticosa), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), and fetterbush (Lyonia lucida) to grow in height and density, often shading the understory. Increased shading will decrease the biodiversity of herbaceous species found in the reference communities. Stressors include fire suppression from a prairie system or drawdown of the seasonal high-water table. Drawdown of the water table is often seen indirectly through canal creations of adjacent habitats, lowering the water table for a whole area. Absence of fire will also allow for the growth of dwarf oaks, including live oak (Quercus virginiana) into the midcanopy and if fire is absent long enough, create a closed canopy forest.

Resilience management. This community is often seen as a transitional community between a reference prairie community and a closed canopy oak dominated forest. This community will vary slight based on the reference community, but common features include unburned or hydrologically suppressed prairies which allow for shrub growth into the sub- and mid-canopy. Restoration of a natural reference community often is dependent on the removal of the overgrown shrubby species and reintroducing the natural stressors consistent to that of the reference community. If fire remains absent from this community for long periods of time (greater than 20 years) the shrubs and dwarf oaks may mature and form a closed canopy forest dominated by oaks, palms, and shrubs devoid of fire with sparse to absent groundcover. Due to the absence of fire these areas will begin to accumulate large amounts of woody and herbaceous debris, increasing the fuel load and making the area more susceptible to catastrophic fires. Restoration of the hydroperiod of an area, if possible, may include filling in drainage ditches and canals to restore the seasonal high-water table.

Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Disturbances to the natural maintenance of these communities may allow for the growth of undesirable woody and shrubby species into the system. This transition is often seen through fire suppression when fire is estimated to be absent from the system for 5 to 10 years. This transition may also be seen via decrease in the natural hydroperiod of the area, whether directly (canal ditching) or indirectly (lowering of water table). The removal of these stressors may create an opportunity for undesirable woody and shrubby species and structure into the reference community.

Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1

This restoration to the natural reference community may be achieved by the reduction and removal of the undesirable woody or shrubby species and reintroducing the natural fire return interval back into the reference community. Reduction and removal of undesirable species may include methods of mechanical (mowing, cutting), chemical (herbicides), or biological removal. Some methods of removal may create soil disturbances which makes the area more susceptible to invasion of exotic species into this system. Fire return intervals of every 1 to 2 years should be reintroduced after the reduction and removal of the undesired species to prevent excess fuel loads in the system to prevent catastrophic fires.

State 3
Pine - Oak - Cabbage Palm Forests

This state describes a change in fire frequency that will change the community composition and structure. This includes two communities featuring cabbage palms and oak species becoming dominant in the subcanopy with pines. This will often shift the canopy from being open and sparse to closed and dense with hardwood and palms.

Characteristics and indicators. This is characterized by the presence of a low, closed, dense canopy dominated by hardwood and palm species on poorly drained sandy soils in flatwoods landscape positions. There will often be an emergent relict overstory of pine coming out of the oak canopy. Species which close the canopy in the absence of fire include oaks, cabbage palms, bays, and other subtropical species.

Resilience management. To return to a pine flatwoods, removal of the closed canopy must happen. This can occur by selective logging of oak species and other canopy species. Fire must also be reintroduced into the system, and will often remove the layer of leaf litter accumulated by the mesic conditions created by the closed canopy.

Community 3.1
Cabbage Palm - Pine Flatwoods

This state is characterized by cabbage palm species in the sub canopy or shrub layer, under an open layer of pine species. Natural fire return intervals are similar to wet flatwoods, along a shorter interval of every 1 to 2 years. Cabbage palms have a very slow growth cycle and can spend 10 to 15 years or more in a grass-like state before the trunk will grow. The grass-like state is dependent and tolerant on fire for growth and after the trunk becomes visible grows at slow rates up to 6 inches per year. This community is maintained by fire, and in the absence of fire will succeed to the final subclimax community within the pine flatwoods and palmetto prairie ecosite of mixed hardwood cabbage palm hammock.

Resilience management. This state can be maintained by regular fire intervals of every 1 to 2 years that prevents the establishment of shrubby species. Mechanical removal from hand removal or roller chopping may shift the community back towards a wet pine flatwood community, with an increased chance of encroachment of invasive species.

Community 3.2
Mixed Hardwood - Cabbage Palm Hammock

This community is seen as the final subclimax community within the pine flatwoods and palmetto prairie eco site. It is created when fire has been excluded from the system for long periods of time. Time estimates of succession are believed to be 25 years or more without fire to have a fully formed hardwood-dominated hammock. Flatwoods that have hardwood shrubs growing in the midstory are close to this transition.

Resilience management. These are formed when fire has been excluded from the system for long periods of time. As shrubs grow in the midstory, the ground layer becomes more shaded and retains higher moisture conditions, helping exclude fire from the system. If fire is reintroduced to the system during periods of drought, large fuel loads in the understory may cause catastrophic fires which transition the community back to palmetto prairies or cabbage palm dominated flatwoods.

Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2

This is driven by the absence of fire from the system which allows for hardwood species growth over time. This shades the understory creating more moist conditions and helping further exclude fire from the system.

Context dependence. Estimates of fire exclusion is to be 25 years or more. Flatwoods dominated by shrubs in the midstory are close to this transition.

Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1

This is driven when fire is reintroduced into the system and kills the hardwood fire intolerant species. Depending on the amount of understory litter and hardwood growth, a catastrophic fire may transition the community into a palmetto prairie (if canopy fire).

State 4
Invasive Non-Native Community

This state consists of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Non-Native Category 1 Species list . More information on these species list can be found: https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/63140/file/Florida%E2%80%99s_Pest_Plants.pdf or by contacting the UF / IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/), the UF / IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/), or the FWC Invasive Plant Management Section (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/invasive-plants/). This community will not represent every possibility of invasive species but rather the most common in these areas.

Characteristics and indicators. Non-native species include species that exist outside of Florida's natural range and introduced to the state by people, weather, or any other means.

Resilience management. This state can be found as a part of any other state and can completely destroy the native habitat if not properly managed. Restoration to natural communities after exotic invasion include practices such as mechanical, biological, and chemical removals.

State 5
Managed Resource Areas

The following communities comprise the major land uses in the United States and the land uses receiving the majority of the conservation treatment that address soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources within the USDA.

Characteristics and indicators. These land uses consist of areas that are not completely naturalized (i.e. native habitat) but are not completely altered by anthropogenic means.

Community 5.1
Rangeland

Rangelands are described as lands on which the indigenous vegetation is predominately grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, and possibly shrubs or dispersed trees. Existing plant communities can include both native and introduced plants. Primary export from Florida ranges are cattle and have been present in the state since their first introduction by Spanish explorers in 1521. This is the reference community for this state because it requires very little alterations to the landscape for grazing species. Rangelands provide a diversity of ecosystems and also provide a diverse and significant production of economic benefits and ecosystem goods and services. Livestock production along with sustainable wildlife populations provide for the major direct economic benefits, but also tourism, recreational uses, minerals/energy production, renewable energy, and other natural resource uses can be very significant. Vital ecosystem contributions include clean water, clean air, fish/wildlife habitat, as well as intangible considerations such as historical, cultural, aesthetic and spiritual values.

Resilience management. Grazing, by both domestic livestock and wildlife, is the most common ecological management process, with fire and weather extremes also being significant ecological factors. For information regarding specific cattle grazing techniques please contact your local NRCS office.

Community 5.2
Open Transitional Managed Communities

This is an area that is managed to maintain open land before shifting to another community. These communities are often used as transitional periods from one practice to another and could lead to an abandoned / fallow field.

Community 5.3
Improved Pasture

Pasture is a land use type having vegetation cover comprised primarily of introduced or enhanced native forage species that is used for livestock grazing. Pasture vegetation can consist of grasses, legumes, other forbs, shrubs or a mixture. The majority of these forages are introduced, having originally come from areas in other states or continents. Most are now naturalized and are vital components of pasture based grazing systems. Pasture lands provide many benefits other than forage for livestock. Wildlife use pasture as shelter and for food sources. Well managed pasture captures rainwater that is slowly infiltrated into the soil which helps recharge groundwater. Many small pasture livestock operations are near urban areas providing vistas for everyone to enjoy. Pasture is the basis of any livestock operation that is truly sustainable. It is especially important as livestock grazers continues to experience extraordinarily high fuel and other input costs.

Resilience management. Pastures receive periodic renovation and cultural treatments such as tillage, fertilization, mowing, weed control, and may be irrigated. For more information regarding specific pasture management please contact your local NRCS office.

Community 5.4
Agriculture

The agriculture industry includes cultivated crops, aquaculture, and apiculture. Cultivated cropland includes areas used for the production of adapted crops for harvest. These areas comprises land in row crops or close-grown crops that are in a rotation with row or close-grown crops. Primary export from Florida consists of fruits, greenhouse and nursery products, sugar cane, and the signature export of citrus. Aquaculture includes the cultivation and maintenance of aquatic plants, aquatic reptiles, crustaceans, food/ ornamental fish, shellfish, and other miscellaneous species for harvesting. Apiculture includes the maintenance of honeybees and hives to provide beeswax, honey/ other edible bee products, crop pollination services, and sales of bees to other beekeepers. These areas have been modified resulting in land clearing practices and hydrologic management to fit the growers needs.

Resilience management. Major natural resource concerns facing agricultural lands include: (1) erosion by wind and water, (2) maintaining and enhancing soil quality, (3) water quality from nutrient and pesticides runoff and leaching, and (4) managing the quantity of water available for irrigation. For more specific information regarding cropland please contact your local NRCS office.

Community 5.5
Silviculture

Silviculture is land used in controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society such as wildlife habitat, timber, water resources, restoration, and recreation on a sustainable basis. These are forestry practices that include thinning, harvesting, planting, pruning, prescribed burning and site preparation, for managed goals such as wildlife habitat creation or harvesting. Many managed silvicultural lands in Florida include tree plantations for growth of tropical ornamental species such as palms; and lumber, pulp, and paper species such as slash pine, longleaf pine, cypress, and eucalyptus. This community also include management practices of agroforestry, the intentional mixing of trees and shrubs into crop and/or animal production systems to create environmental, economic and social benefits. This is included in this community and not any other state because the primary management is for tree species. This may include practices such as riparian forest buffers, windbreaks, forest farming, silvopasture, and alley cropping.

Resilience management. Management of silvicultural lands require specific prescriptions based on the management goals for the stand, and may include thinning, harvesting, planting, pruning, prescribed burning and site preparation. For more information regarding specific management for silviculture practices please contact your local NRCS office.

Pathway 5.1A
Community 5.1 to 5.2

This pathway is driven by land clearing practices that consists of removing the existing vegetation from the habitat and altering the habitat to prepare for modified land use.

Pathway 5.2A
Community 5.2 to 5.1

This pathway is driven by the restoration of the native habitat for the use of rangeland. This includes restoration of both the hydrology and landscape in advance of replanting native species. This is a time-consuming process and often results in second-hand community structure. Once restored to a natural capacity the introduction of grazing species to the system creates a managed rangeland.

Pathway 5.2B
Community 5.2 to 5.3

This pathway is driven by preparing the land for pasteurization. This includes the planting of vegetation consisting of grasses, legumes, other forbs, shrubs or a mixture that will provide preferred forage for managed grazing species.

Pathway 5.2C
Community 5.2 to 5.4

This pathway is driven by the preparation of land for agricultural uses. This change is dependent on the type of agricultural community is being created, but often depends on the growing, maintenance, and cultivation of an agricultural product for consumers. This community may require modification to the land to fit the hydrologic requirement of the growing crop.

Pathway 5.2D
Community 5.2 to 5.5

This pathway is driven by the preparation of the land for silvicultural purposes. This change is dependent on the type of silvicultural product being cultivated, as many different practices require different growth requirement.

Pathway 5.3A
Community 5.3 to 5.2

This pathway is driven by land clearing practices that consists of removing the existing vegetation from the habitat and altering the habitat to prepare for modified land use.

Pathway 5.3B
Community 5.3 to 5.4

This pathway is driven by the preparation of land for agricultural uses. This change is dependent on the type of agricultural community is being created, but often depends on the growing, maintenance, and cultivation of an agricultural product for consumers. This community may require modification to the land to fit the hydrologic requirement of the growing crop.

Pathway 5.3C
Community 5.3 to 5.5

This pathway is driven by the preparation of the land for silvicultural purposes. This change is dependent on the type of silvicultural product being cultivated, as many different practices require different growth requirements.

Pathway 5.4A
Community 5.4 to 5.2

This pathway is driven by land clearing practices that consists of removing the existing vegetation from the habitat and altering the habitat to prepare for modified land use.

Pathway 5.4B
Community 5.4 to 5.5

This pathway is driven by the preparation of the land for silvicultural purposes. This change is dependent on the type of silvicultural product being cultivated, as many different practices require different growth requirements.

Pathway 5.5A
Community 5.5 to 5.2

This pathway is driven by land clearing practices that consists of removing the existing vegetation from the habitat and altering the habitat to prepare for modified land use.

State 6
Human Altered & Human Transported Areas

These areas include soils that were intentionally and substantially modified by humans for an intended purpose, commonly for terraced agriculture, building support, mining, transportation, and commerce. The alteration is of sufficient magnitude to result in the introduction of a new parent material (human-transported material) or a profound change in the previously existing parent material (human-altered material). They do not include soils modified through standard agricultural practices or formed soils with unintended wind and water erosion. When a soil is on or above an anthropogenic landform or microfeature, it can be definitely be associated with human activity and is assigned to a unique taxa, usually found as an "Urban land complex" within that communities natural soil properties (e.g., Grande Oaks fine sand- Urban land complex, 0-2% slopes).

Characteristics and indicators. Evidence of these areas include soils with manufactured items (e.g. artifacts) present in the profile, human altered-materials (e.g., deeply excavated or deeply plowed soil) or human-transported material (e.g., fill), and position on or above anthropogenic landforms (e.g., flood-control levees) and microfeatures (e.g., drainage ditches). Detailed criteria regarding the identification of anthropogenic (artificial) landforms, human-altered materials, and human-transported material are in the "Keys to Soil Taxonomy" (Soil Survey Staff, 2014).

Community 6.1
Reclaimed Areas

Reclaimed areas are areas that have been modified through anthropogenic means that are restored to a natural or second-hand natural community. Areas that can be reclaimed are any intensely urbanized areas, and may be required to be reclaimed after urban use (e.g., active mines must be reclaimed). Examples of reclaimed lands may be shut down phosphate mining operations, superfund sites, or brownfields. These practices include the identification, removal, and stockpiling soil materials before altering the land, and revegetation and replacement of soil materials after altering the land. This also applies to nearby urban areas that have been adversely affected by the anthropogenic activities.

Community 6.2
Urban

This urban community consists of development for human use. Urban areas include a variety of land uses, e.g., inner city or urban core, industrial and residential areas, cemeteries, parks, and other open spaces; the overall function which may benefit the quality of human life. These often form an urban soil mosaic, where the natural landscape has been fragmented into parcels with distinctive disturbance and management regimes and, as a result, distinctive characteristic soil properties. Within this community there are three different levels of urbanization, based off population dynamics, residential density, and intensity of development. These are labeled as low-intensity, medium-intensity, and high-intensity urban areas, which can eventually be split apart into its own separate state. Low-intensity urban areas may consist of single dwelling homes with little impact on the surrounding community which still somewhat represents the natural community (e.g., represents natural landscape, hydrology, and vegetation) , other examples of this are urban parks, cemeteries, or campgrounds with little urban development. Medium-intensity urban areas consist of larger urban dwellings with some natural features, but have been modified to meet urban needs (e.g., towns). High-intensity urban areas are areas of heavily modified areas with complete alterations of the natural landscape, hydrology, and vegetation to support a very large population, which once constructed is permanently altered (e.g., metropolis areas).

Community 6.3
Non-Reclaimed Areas

Non-reclaimed areas are areas that have been modified through anthropogenic means that are unable to be restored to a natural or second-hand natural community. Areas that cannot be reclaimed are areas under active mining status or mined areas before the Phosphate Land Reclamation Act in 1975, which leaves shut down operations alone. These areas also include fallow mines that have been flooded and are now permanent bodies of water.

Community 6.4
Landfills

This is an anthropogenic site for the disposal of waste material. It includes manufactured layers (artificial, root limiting layer below the soil surface) that are representative of human altered and human transported sites. These layers are often alternative between natural fill material and geotextile liners, asphalt, concrete, rubber or plastic that are built up and can rise above the surrounding landscape by 30 meters or more often impeding water, gas, or roots from moving through the profile.

Pathway 6.1A
Community 6.1 to 6.2

This shift in communities is driven by clearing and developing the land for the desired community.

Pathway 6.1B
Community 6.1 to 6.4

This transition is driven by the deposition of manufactured layers along with anthropogenic waste which is consistently built upon.

Pathway 6.2A
Community 6.2 to 6.1

This transition is driven by the revegetation, reestablished hydrology, and replacement of displaced soil materials after altering the land.

Pathway 6.2B
Community 6.2 to 6.3

This transition is driven from heavy industrial or urban development which causes the land to become non-reclaimable. This transition is rare due to the many environmental laws and regulations that must be followed when developing.

Pathway 6.2C
Community 6.2 to 6.4

This transition is driven by the deposition of manufactured layers along with anthropogenic waste which is consistently built upon.

Pathway 6.3A
Community 6.3 to 6.1

This transition is driven by the revegetation, reestablished hydrology, and replacement of displaced soil materials after altering the land.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Pine Flatwoods may transition to palmetto prairies under specific conditions, which once a transition occurs must be maintained to prevent the shift back to pine flatwoods. Unmaintained pine flatwoods may build high fuel loads that regular fire return intervals would normally prevent from establishing, which can allow the next fire to climb ladder fuels such as vines into the canopy. Canopy fires spread from tree to tree independent of the ground fire, which after consuming the live needles as its fuel, may kill the tree, leaving either the snag behind or burning down to the stump hole. Reestablishment of the natural fire return interval after this canopy fire may prevent native pines from becoming established, giving the appearance of palmetto prairies. Logging may also give the appearance by the removal of overstory pine species.

Constraints to recovery. Reestablished fire return intervals into the system (every 1 to 2 years) may prevent this new palmetto prairie habitat from shifting back into the pine flatwoods state by killing seedlings before they can become established.

Context dependence. Normal fire return intervals for pine flatwoods vary on the type of vegetation and hydroperiod of the system, but range from 3 to 15 years, with longer intervals allowing more shrubs and shorter intervals allowing more grasses. Catastrophic canopy fires may occur at any point, but usually happen when there is a high fuel load after multiple years of no burning. Palmetto prairies have normal fire return intervals every 1 to 2 years, which prevents the establishment of pine species.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

This mechanism which drives the transition from pine flatwoods to an altered hardwood hammock is driven by a change in fire frequency. Removal of fire from the system, or its long term absence (>25 yrs) can allow the growth of understory species that were once limited by fire.

Constraints to recovery. Removal of midstory and newly entered canopy species would need to be removed, and desired shrub and tree density would need to be restored. Fire would need to be reintroduced into the system as well.

Transition T1C
State 1 to 4

The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as changes in natural hydroperiods or in fire regimes. Typically once a change in one of the two factors mentioned above occurs, non-native or exotic invasive species become established and begin to compete with native species for habitat and nutrients.

Constraints to recovery. Recovery from non-native or exotic invasive species may be difficult due to many adaptations which allow them to outcompete and survive in altered conditions. Localized knowledge for each species must be known for best removal of it without harming the native environment, and often different treatments must be applied over one given area.

Context dependence. Growth of non-native and exotic invasive species can be rapid following a change in a natural stressor such as fire frequency or natural hydroperiods which might have once kept the invasive species at bay.

Transition T1D
State 1 to 5

Modify the land for the desired land use. This may include the establishment of grazing species or the modification of land for the cultivation of crops of other desired products.

Transition T1E
State 1 to 6

This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 1

Increasing the time between fire return intervals from 1 to 2 years towards every 2 to 4 years, as seen in mesic pine flatwoods, can assist in the reestablishment of pine species. Similar understory species will be present in both palmetto prairies and mesic pine flatwoods. Decreasing the long term hydroperiod of the surrounding area through ditching or drainage might also allow the reestablishment of pine species in palmetto prairies, but makes the area more vulnerable to invasive species encroachment.

Context dependence. Palmetto prairies exclude pine species by high fire return intervals of every 1 to 2 years in at that start of the growing season as well as a relatively high seasonal high water table. The combination of both stress from water and fire exclude pine species, but allow for the establishment of understory species similar to a mesic pine flatwoods. Because these communities occur in similar landscapes and often form as intermixed communities, decreases in long term hydroperiods can allow for the encroachment of pine species from the surrounding habitats into the palmetto prairie. Increases in the time between fires may also allow for establishment of pine species into the area, shifting the community from a palmetto prairie to a mesic pine flatwood.

Transition T2B
State 2 to 3

This mechanism which drives the transition from palmetto prairie to cabbage palm flatwoods depends on a change in fire frequency. Increases in fire return intervals to every 1 to 2 years may prevent pine seedlings from germinating while allowing fire loving cabbage palm to thrive. Whereas decreases in fire return intervals may allow for the encroachment of species such as cabbage palm and other hardwood species to become established. Logging of overstory pines may also cause this shift if a seedbank of cabbage palms are present, allowing them to become established.

Context dependence. Cabbage palms are very slow growing trees and spend the first 10 to 15 years or more within a grass-like state, making this transition towards a fully established state a long process (decadal scale).

Transition T2C
State 2 to 4

The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as changes in natural hydroperiods or in fire regimes. Typically once a change in one of the two factors mentioned above occurs, non-native or exotic invasive species become established and begin to compete with native species for habitat and nutrients.

Constraints to recovery. Recovery from non-native or exotic invasive species may be difficult due to many adaptations which allow them to outcompete and survive in altered conditions. Localized knowledge for each species must be known for best removal of it without harming the native environment, and often different treatments must be applied over one given area.

Context dependence. Growth of non-native and exotic invasive species can be rapid following a change in a natural stressor such as fire frequency or natural hydroperiods which might have once kept the invasive species at bay.

Transition T2C
State 2 to 5

Modify the land for the desired land use. This may include the establishment of grazing species or the modification of land for the cultivation of crops of other desired products.

Transition T2D
State 2 to 6

This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.

Transition T3A
State 3 to 1

To transition this state towards a more traditional pine flatwood community, mechanical or chemical removal is required to remove the cabbage palm trees. Because these sub canopy trees are fire dependent and fire tolerant, regular use of prescribed fire is ineffective. Increases in hydrology can also be seen as ineffective because they are tolerant of high water tables and can be seen in standing water, increasing hydrology can destroy the whole community. Mechanical removal such as roller chopping or cutting the trees is an effect way of removing them from the habitat and transitioning back to a pine flatwoods.

Constraints to recovery. Cabbage palm trees spend a long time in a grass-like state which can be difficult to effectively remove from the system unless dug out completely. This is a costly process, whereas waiting for the trunk to become present is also very time consuming.

Context dependence. Mechanical Removal

Transition T3B
State 3 to 2

This is driven by either the mechanical/ chemical removal of species and / or the reintroduction of fire into the system. As time passes and the area is left unburned, hardwood species may begin to grow and create a build-up of leaf litter which if ignited can cause canopy fires killing the hardwood tree species. This would drive the vegetative community back to a palmetto prairie state.

Context dependence. Cabbage palm trees spend a long time in a grass-like state which can be difficult to effectively remove from the system unless dug out completely. This is a costly process, whereas waiting for the trunk to become present is also very time consuming.

Transition T3C
State 3 to 4

The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as changes in natural hydroperiods or in fire regimes. Typically once a change in one of the two factors mentioned above occurs, non-native or exotic invasive species become established and begin to compete with native species for habitat and nutrients.

Constraints to recovery. Recovery from non-native or exotic invasive species may be difficult due to many adaptations which allow them to outcompete and survive in altered conditions. Localized knowledge for each species must be known for best removal of it without harming the native environment, and often different treatments must be applied over one given area.

Context dependence. Growth of non-native and exotic invasive species can be rapid following a change in a natural stressor such as fire frequency or natural hydroperiods which might have once kept the invasive species at bay.

Transition T3D
State 3 to 5

Modify the land for the desired land use. This may include the establishment of grazing species or the modification of land for the cultivation of crops of other desired products.

Transition T3E
State 3 to 6

This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.

Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 1

Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the non-native and exotic invasive species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for individual non-native or exotic invasive species is needed for specific management. Sometimes introduction of fire regimes may prevent or stop the growth of non-native or exotic invasive species, but many species are fire tolerant. Mechanical removal might include roller chopping, harvesting, or cutting and removal of invasive species. Chemical removal might include aerial dispersal from planes, or basal bark injection treatments.

Context dependence. Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal of non-native and exotic invasive species is a time dependent process, with both removal types taking long times to be considered effective.

Restoration pathway R4B
State 4 to 2

Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the non-native and exotic invasive species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for individual non-native or exotic invasive species is needed for specific management. Sometimes introduction of fire regimes may prevent or stop the growth of non-native or exotic invasive species, but many species are fire tolerant. Mechanical removal might include roller chopping, harvesting, or cutting and removal of invasive species. Chemical removal might include aerial dispersal from planes, or basal bark injection treatments.

Context dependence. Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal of non-native and exotic invasive species is a time dependent process, with both removal types taking long times to be considered effective.

Restoration pathway R4C
State 4 to 3

Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the non-native and exotic invasive species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for individual non-native or exotic invasive species is needed for specific management. Sometimes introduction of fire regimes may prevent or stop the growth of non-native or exotic invasive species, but many species are fire tolerant. Mechanical removal might include roller chopping, harvesting, or cutting and removal of invasive species. Chemical removal might include aerial dispersal from planes, or basal bark injection treatments.

Context dependence. Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal of non-native and exotic invasive species is a time dependent process, with both removal types taking long times to be considered effective.

Restoration pathway R4D
State 4 to 5

Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the non-native and exotic invasive species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for individual non-native or exotic invasive species is needed for specific management. Sometimes introduction of fire regimes may prevent or stop the growth of non-native or exotic invasive species, but many species are fire tolerant. Mechanical removal might include roller chopping, harvesting, or cutting and removal of invasive species. Chemical removal might include aerial dispersal from planes, or basal bark injection treatments.

Context dependence. Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal of non-native and exotic invasive species is a time dependent process, with both removal types taking long times to be considered effective.

Transition T4A
State 4 to 6

This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.

Restoration pathway R5A
State 5 to 1

These practices include the restoration of both the natural hydroperiods and landscape in advance of revegetating the area (if needed).

Restoration pathway R5B
State 5 to 2

These practices include the restoration of both the natural hydroperiods and landscape in advance of revegetating the area (if needed).

Restoration pathway R5C
State 5 to 3

These practices include the restoration of both the natural hydroperiods and landscape in advance of revegetating the area (if needed).

Transition T5A
State 5 to 4

The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as changes in natural hydroperiods or in fire regimes. Typically once a change in one of the two factors mentioned above occurs, non-native or exotic invasive species become established and begin to compete with native species for habitat and nutrients.

Context dependence. Recovery from non-native or exotic invasive species may be difficult due to many adaptations which allow them to survive and outcompete in intolerable conditions. Localized knowledge for each species must be known for best removal of it without harming the native environment, and often different treatments must be applied over one given area. Growth of non-native and exotic invasive species can be rapid following a change in a natural stressor such as fire frequency or natural hydroperiods which might have once kept the invasive species at bay.

Transition T5B
State 5 to 6

This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.