State 1
Pine Flatwoods

Flatwoods are mesic or wet pine woodlands or mesic shrubland on flat sandy limestone substrates consisting of ecological communities dependent on landscape position, hydrology, and fire regime. These communities consist of similar overstory vegetation with varying understory vegetation depending on hydrology and fire regimes.

Community 1.1
Wet Flatwoods

These are characterized as pine forests with sparse or absent midstory and a dense groundcover of hydrophytic grasses and herbs with few shrubs. The pine canopy typically consists of one or a combination slash pine, pond pine, longleaf pine, or sand pine. Shrubs are very sparse in this community but may include large gallberry, fetterbush, and azaleas. Saw palmetto and gallberry, species also found in mesic flatwoods sites, may be present. Herbs include wiregrass, blue maidencane, and/or hydrophytic species such as toothache grass, coastalplain yellow-eyed grass, Carolina redroot, beaksedges, among others. During the wet season, water can be seen above the surface for up to 60 days, and remain wet but not inundated for the remainder of the year. Wet flatwoods are found on slightly wetter sites than mesic flatwoods, typically in micro-lows in the landscape, which allows for the establishment of hydrophytic species.

Resilience management. Wet flatwoods require fire return intervals of every 1 to 3 years to maintain community structure and composition. The longer the system goes unburned the more likely shrubs may build up in the understory and create potential for canopy fires. Canopy fires may cause pine mortality and shift the community towards a flatwoods with no overstory pine component, very similar to the wet prairie habitat but with the presence of burned stumps. Decreases in hydrology and decreases in fire return intervals can cause a shift in the community towards more woody vegetation characteristic of mesic flatwoods.

Community 1.2
Mesic Flatwoods

This community is characterized by an open canopy of tall pines with a dense, low ground layer of shrubs, grasses, and forbs. The dominant canopy tree is slash pine, longleaf pine, and / or sand pine. Characteristic shrubs include saw palmetto, gallberry, wax myrtle, and fetterbush may grow up to 10 feet in the midstory. The understory may include small oak species such as dwarf live oak, runner oak, and other herbaceous species such as wiregrass, drop seeds, witchgrass, panicgrass, bluestems, and a number of showy forbs. Mesic flatwoods are found on slightly drier areas than wet flatwoods, typically in micro-highs or knolls in the landscape, allowing for the establishment of woody species in the understory.

Resilience management. Mesic flatwoods require fire return intervals of every 3 to 7 years to maintain community structure and composition. The longer the system goes unburned the more likely shrubs may build up in the understory and create potential for canopy fires. Canopy fires may cause pine mortality and shift the community towards a mesic flatwoods with no overstory pine component, very similar to the palmetto prairie habitat. Increases in hydrology and increases in fire return intervals can cause a shift in the community towards more hydrophytic vegetation characteristic of wet flatwoods.

Community 1.3
Fire Suppressed Pine-Oak Woodland

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), Florida slash pine (P. elliottii var. densa), and/or longleaf pine (P. palustris). 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 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 community and a closed canopy oak 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.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

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 hydrology from various anthropogenic mechanisms such as drainage and ditching 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. Wet flatwoods occur on slightly lower landscape positions 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 decreases in hydrology the seasonal high water table becomes lowered allowing the encroachment of shrubs from the micro high areas into the lower areas, shifting the community composition and structure. Increased fire return intervals of every 2 to 3 years also maintains high densities of grasses and excludes shrubs. Decreases in the fire return interval to every 3 to 5 years allows for the establishment of shrub species before fire may come through and kill any new growth.

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3

This transition is driven by the suppression of fire from this system longer than its natural fire return interval. This community still represents the reference community but has a higher density of shrubby species in the subcanopy than is seen in the reference community.

Context dependence. This is dependent on the type of reference community. Wet pine flatwoods have a shorter fire return interval (2-3 years) than mesic pine flatwoods (3-7 years) and will have a shorter time before shrubs begin to grow into the subcanopy.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

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 hydrology from various anthropogenic mechanisms such as impoundments 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. Mesic flatwoods occur on slightly higher landscape positions 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 hydrology 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 hydrology over time will oversaturate the shrubs and kill them, allowing the establishment of hydrophytic grasses to become dominant. Increases in the fire return intervals to every 2 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 3 to 5 years to become established.

Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3

This transition is driven by the suppression of fire from this system longer than its natural fire return interval. This community still represents the reference community but has a higher density of shrubby species in the subcanopy than is seen in the reference community.

Context dependence. This is dependent on the type of reference community. Mesic pine flatwoods have a longer fire return interval (3-7 years) than wet flatwoods (2-3 years) and will take longer to have undesirable shrubs crowding the canopy than the wet flatwoods community.

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.1

This transition is driven by the return of frequent prescribed fire intervals that reflect the natural habitats fire return interval. This may also transition from the removal of hardwood species from the system via mechanical, biological, or chemical means. To maintain the natural community there should be little to no disturbance to the soil.

Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.2

This transition is driven by the return of frequent prescribed fire intervals that reflect the natural habitats fire return interval. This may also transition from the removal of hardwood species from the system via mechanical, biological, or chemical means. To maintain the natural community there should be little to no disturbance to the soil.

State 2
Altered Hardwood Hammocks

This state describes the transition of a natural pine flatwoods community that has had fire excluded from its system long enough to develop a closed canopy of oaks and other shrubby indicator species. This forest type will often have a relict pine canopy and the understory will reflect the type of flatwoods community it established from.

Characteristics and indicators. These differ from natural hardwood hammock communities by their establishment on flatwoods soil as well as key indicator species.

Community 2.1
Altered Wet Hardwood Hammock

This describes the transition of a wet pine flatwoods that has been excluded from fire for long enough to establish a closed canopy of oaks and shrubby species. This will often have a sparse to dense groundcover of grasses and forbs with shrubs in the subcanopy, a closed canopy of oaks and a relict canopy of pine. These may be small inclusions within a larger pine flatwoods community or extensive.

Community 2.2
Altered Mesic Hardwood Hammock

This describes the transition of a mesic pine flatwoods that has been excluded from fire for long enough to establish a closed canopy of oaks and shrubby species. This will often have a sparse groundcover of grasses and forbs with a dense layer of shrubs, often saw palmetto, in the subcanopy, a closed canopy of oaks and a relict canopy of pine. These may be small inclusions within a larger pine flatwoods community or extensive.

Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2

The transition from an altered wet hardwood hammock to an altered mesic hardwood hammock involves the shifting of species composition in the reference community. Decreases in hydrology from various anthropogenic mechanisms such as drainage and ditching are ways this community begins to transition to a mesic community.

Context dependence. The reference communities of Wet flatwoods occur on slightly lower landscape positions 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 hydrology 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 2 to 3 years also maintains high densities of grasses and excluding shrubs. Decreases in the fire return interval to every 3 to 5 years allows for the establishment of shrub species before fire may come through and kill any new growth.

Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1

The transition from an altered mesic hardwood hammock to an altered wet hardwood hammock involves the shifting of species composition in the reference community.

Context dependence. The reference community of Mesic flatwoods occur on slightly higher landscape positions 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 hydrology 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 hydrology over time will oversaturate the shrubs and kill them, allowing the establishment of hydrophytic grasses to become dominant. Increases in the fire return intervals to every 2 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 3 to 5 years to become established.

State 3
Palmetto Prairie

Palmetto Prairies consist of low shrubs and grasses occupying vast, level expanses on generally treeless landscapes. Common shrubs are saw palmetto, which is often stunted, dwarf live oak, gallberry, fetterbush, shiny blueberry, netted pawpaw, Atlantic St. John's wort, dwarf wax myrtle, and dwarf huckleberry. These are mixed with about an equal proportion of herbs, predominantly wiregrass, along with bottlebrush threeawn, hemlock witchgrass, broomsedge bluestem, lopsided indiangrass, and cypress witchgrass, plus numerous forbs including narrowleaf silkgrass, milkworts, meadowbeauties, yellow-eyed grasses, and wild pennyroyal. Drier sites tend to have fetterbush and coastalplain staggerbush; wetter sites lack these and have Elliott’s yellow-eyed grass.

Characteristics and indicators. This state is similar to mesic pine flatwoods but lacks the overhead pine component. They share similar soils of poorly to very poorly drained spodosols with an organic hardpan, but is believed lack of drainage dissection of the landscape results in more frequent flooding than in mesic pine flatwoods.

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 flooding immediately afterwards prevent the growth of pine species.

Community 3.1
Intact Palmetto Prairie

This community is an intact community which represents the natural hydrology and fire frequency that is used to maintain this community. The vegetation consists of low shrubs and grasses which occupy vast level expanses on generally treeless landscapes,

Resilience management. This community is maintained by stressors at the beginning of the growing season, with fire return intervals averaged every 1 to 2 years as well as periodic ponding during the summer months to prevent the growth of a pine or hardwood overstory.

Community 3.2
Degraded Palmetto Prairies

This community represents a natural palmetto prairie community that has been subject to an alteration of hydrology, fire frequency, or some management change which results in a degraded habitat. Changes in hydrology and/ or fire frequency may allow the growth of pines, which may often be small and stunted. Overgrazing or overstocking of species may cause soil degradation and lower the desired species community of rangeland species.

Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2

This transition is driven by habitat degradation, which may occur in many ways. Changes in hydrology may result in direct or indirect drawdown of the water table via means such as ditching or drainage. Changes in fire frequency may alter the species composition and structure, shifting away from the desired conditions. Over grazing and/ or over stocking may increase soil degradation which can alter hydrology and allow the growth of less desired species.

Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1

This is a broad mechanism that focuses on the restoration of the altered habitat. This may include filling in canals or ditches which have lowered the water table, restoring accurate historical fire return intervals, or removal of grazing species to meet management criteria for stocking rates.

State 4
Cabbage Palm Flatwoods

Cabbage Palm Flatwoods are flatwoods similar to wet pine flatwoods characterized by an open overstory of pines, a midstory of cabbage palms, and a dense understory of grasses. They occur on more neutral to alkaline sands, and are similar to other flatwoods with the presence of a hardpan that reduces percolation above and below its surface. Fire return intervals of every 1 to 2 years help maintain this community.

Characteristics and indicators. 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.

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 4.1
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.

Resilience management. 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.

State 5
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/). These species are common in areas where natural processes are interrupted via hydrology or fire regimes. The introduction of these species pose serious threats to endangered and threatened habitats and plants within Florida as they become outcompeted for habitats and nutrients.

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 6
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) and have been anthropogenically altered for commodity production.

Community 6.1
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. This community correlates with the 1994 FOTG Range Site Description 156BY003FL- 156B South FL Flatwoods. All Values seen below are derived from the range site description above.

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.

Forest overstory. This site may have widely scattered Slash Pines or Longleaf pines present, or may be tree less.

Forest understory. In excellent range condition, this site is dominated by Chalky Bluestem, Creeping Bluestem, or South Florida Bluestem.
In the poor or fair range condition, this site can be easily recognized by its association of Saw Palmetto, Gallberry, and Wiregrass.

Community 6.2
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 6.3
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. It is especially important as livestock grazers continues to experience extraordinarily high fuel and other input costs. This ecosite correlates with the 2013 Florida Forage Suitability Group G156BC241FL (Sandy over Loamy Soils on Flats on Mesic and Hydric Lowlands).All Values seen below are derived from the forage suitability group above.

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 6.4
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 exports from Florida consist 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 with land use conversion 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 6.5
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 6.1A
Community 6.1 to 6.2

This pathway is driven by land use conversion practices that prepare for modified land use. In some circumstances, conversion might include the removal of existing vegetation and habitat.

Pathway 6.2A
Community 6.2 to 6.1

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 re-establishing native species. This is a time-consuming process and often results in slightly altered community structure and composition more susceptible to invasive or undesirable plant establishment. Once restored to a natural capacity the introduction of grazing species to the system creates a managed rangeland.

Pathway 6.2B
Community 6.2 to 6.3

This pathway is driven by preparing the land for pasture. 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 6.2C
Community 6.2 to 6.4

This pathway is driven by the preparation of land for agricultural uses. This change is dependent on the type of agricultural community 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 6.2D
Community 6.2 to 6.5

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 6.3A
Community 6.3 to 6.2

This pathway is driven by land use conversion practices that prepare for modified land use. In some circumstances, conversion might include the removal of existing vegetation and habitat.

Pathway 6.4A
Community 6.4 to 6.2

This pathway is driven by land use conversion practices that prepare for modified land use. In some circumstances, conversion might include the removal of existing vegetation and habitat.

Pathway 6.5A
Community 6.5 to 6.2

This pathway is driven by land use conversion practices that prepare for modified land use. In some circumstances, conversion might include the removal of existing vegetation and habitat.

State 7
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., Immokalee sand-Urban land complex, 0 to 2 percent 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 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 7.1
Reclaimed Areas

Reclaimed areas are areas that have been modified through anthropogenic means that are restored to a 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 7.2
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 7.3
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 7.4
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 7.1A
Community 7.1 to 7.2

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

Pathway 7.1B
Community 7.1 to 7.4

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

Pathway 7.2A
Community 7.2 to 7.1

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

Pathway 7.2B
Community 7.2 to 7.3

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 7.2C
Community 7.2 to 7.4

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

Pathway 7.3A
Community 7.3 to 7.1

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

This transition is from the absence of fire from the reference state for a long enough time that the canopy is closed off and has a secondary hardwood canopy with a relict canopy of pine. Very infrequent non-catastrophic fires may also occur that burn the grasses but not the shrubs or other hardwood trees that are crowding the canopy.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

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. This transition can be driven primarily by the acute / rapid mortality of overstory pine species, shifting the community from an widely spaced canopy to no canopy. This may happen in various ways including logging of overstory pine, disease from pests such as bark beetles, or from intense canopy fires. 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.

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 hydrology 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 T1C
State 1 to 4

This mechanism which drives the transition from pine flatwoods to cabbage palm flatwoods depends on a change in fire frequency. Increased fire frequency every 1 to 2 years may prevent pine seedlings from germinating while allowing fire loving cabbage palm to thrive. Whereas decreased fire frequency 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.

Constraints to recovery. 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 T1D
State 1 to 5

The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as hydrology or changes 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 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.

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

Transition T1E
State 1 to 6

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 T1F
State 1 to 7

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

Transition T2A
State 2 to 1

An altered hardwood hammock may be restored to its native pine flatwoods community under specific conditions, which once a transition occurs must be maintained to prevent the shift back to the altered hardwood hammock state. 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. From this state pine can regenerate quicker than oak species, and with regular fire return intervals which match that of the native pine community, may return to the reference state. Selective logging may also be utilized to remove unwanted hardwood species in the canopy, sub canopy, and shrub layer to meet desired conditions of the reference community. Periodic fires must then be reestablished to maintain the restored pine flatwoods community.

Context dependence. Reestablished fire return intervals into the system may prevent this newly restored pine flatwoods habitat from hardwood growth by killing the sprouts when they begin to grow into the canopy.

Transition T2B
State 2 to 3

An altered hardwood hammock may transition to a palmetto prairie community under specific conditions, which once a transition occurs must be maintained to prevent the shift back to the altered hardwood hammock state. 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. Selective logging may also be utilized to remove unwanted hardwood species in the canopy, sub canopy, and shrub layer to meet desired conditions of the reference community. Periodic fires must then be reestablished to maintain the prairie community.

Context dependence. 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.

Transition T2C
State 2 to 4

This mechanism which drives the transition from hardwood hammock to cabbage palm flatwoods depends on a change in fire frequency. Increased fire frequency to every 1 to 2 years may prevent pine seedlings from germinating while allowing fire loving cabbage palm to thrive. Whereas decreased fire frequency 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.

Transition T2D
State 2 to 5

The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as hydrology or changes 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 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.

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

Transition T2E
State 2 to 6

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 T2F
State 2 to 7

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

Transition T3A
State 3 to 1

Increasing the time between fire return intervals from 1 to 2 years towards every 3 to 5 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 hydrology 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 hydrology 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 T3B
State 3 to 4

This mechanism which drives the transition from palmetto prairie to cabbage palm flatwoods depends on a change in fire frequency. Increased fire frequency to every 1 to 2 years may prevent pine seedlings from germinating while allowing fire loving cabbage palm to thrive. Whereas decreased fire frequency 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.

Constraints to recovery. 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 T3C
State 3 to 5

The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as hydrology or changes 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 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.

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

Transition T3D
State 3 to 6

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 7

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

Transition T4A
State 4 to 1

Increasing the time between fire return intervals from 1 to 2 years towards every 3 to 5 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 hydrology 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. 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 T4B
State 4 to 3

This is driven by either the mechanical/ biological / 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 T4C
State 4 to 5

The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as hydrology or changes 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 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.

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

Transition T4D
State 4 to 6

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 T4E
State 4 to 7

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

Restoration pathway R5A
State 5 to 1

Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the unwanted species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for community species composition is needed for specific management. 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 unwanted species is a time dependent process, with removal types taking long times to be considered effective.

Restoration pathway R5B
State 5 to 2

Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the unwanted species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for community species composition is needed for specific management. 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 unwanted species is a time dependent process, with removal types taking long times to be considered effective.

Restoration pathway R5C
State 5 to 3

Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the unwanted species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for community species composition is needed for specific management. 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 unwanted species is a time dependent process, with removal types taking long times to be considered effective.

Restoration pathway R5D
State 5 to 4

Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the unwanted species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for community species composition is needed for specific management. 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 unwanted species is a time dependent process, with removal types taking long times to be considered effective.

Transition T5A
State 5 to 6

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 T5B
State 5 to 7

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

Restoration pathway R6A
State 6 to 1

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

Restoration pathway R6B
State 6 to 2

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

Restoration pathway R6C
State 6 to 3

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

Restoration pathway R6D
State 6 to 4

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

Transition T6A
State 6 to 7

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

Transition T7A
State 7 to 6

This transition is driven by the restoration of a reclaimed land towards a naturally managed resource such as agriculture, rangeland, silviculture, or improved pasture.