Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 156B–Southern Florida Lowlands
This area is in the Floridian section of the Coastal Plain province of the Atlantic Plain. It is on nearly level lowlands. A few hummocks rise 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) above the general level of the landscape. Elevation ranges from near sea level to 26 feet (8 meters).This area is a dominantly wetland ecosystem that has been heavily influenced by human activity. It supports hummock and slough wetland vegetation. Remaining native savanna and scrub areas consist of native grasses, forbs, sedges, and a few scattered pines. Slash pine and cabbage palm are the dominant overstory species. Saw palmetto, cordgrasses, and bluestems make up the understory. Major wildlife species include white-tailed deer, feral hog, gray fox, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, rabbit, tree squirrel, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, mourning dove, Florida mallard, and woodpecker.
Classification relationships
All portions of the geographical range of this site falls under the following ecological / land classifications including:
-Environmental Protection Agency's Level 3 and 4 Ecoregions of Florida: 75 Southern Coastal Plain; 75d Eastern Florida Flatwoods (Griffith, G. E., Omernik, J. M., & Pierson, S. M., 2013)
-Soil Conservation Service, 26 Ecological Communities of Florida: 11- Upland Hardwood Hammock (Florida Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society, 1989)
Ecological site concept
The Hardwood Forested Uplands are closed canopy forests dominated by temperate evergreen tree species that are naturally protected from fire by their position on the landscape. These hammock species include both mesic hammocks and xeric hammocks. This site ranges from low, flat, and moist sites where flooding is a rare but influencing factor to high, flat, and dry sites where fires are rare, and flooding is excluded. These are not considered fire- adapted communities and can tolerate low intensity fires, with mature trees providing enough shade and lead litter that retain soil moisture and allow for the establishment of other hammock species. This community has been heavily impacted by human activity, primarily clearing for agriculture and urbanization within the MLRA and is very limited in distribution.
The Sandy Scrubby Flatwoods on Rises and Knolls will occur on slightly lower landscape positions found on somewhat poorly drained sandy soils. The Sandy Scrubby Flatwoods and Hammocks will often grade into the Hardwood Forested Uplands ecosite.
The High Sandy Pine and Scrub on Knolls and Ridges will occur on higher landscape positions found on somewhat excessively to excessively well drained sandy soils.
The Wet Hardwood Forests ecosite may be confused with the Hardwood Forested Uplands ecosite due to the vegetative composition and structure of this community. The Wet Hardwood Forests are found in lower landscape positions with more hydrophytic species. Soil drainage includes very poorly to poorly drained soils.
The Sandy Flatwoods and Hammocks ecosite may be confused with the Hardwood Forested Uplands if fire is excluded from the system for an extended period of time. This will cause the scrubby species in this ecosite to grow into the canopy creating an altered mesic hammock state. It differs by the presence of very poorly to poorly drained soils.
The Sandy over Loamy Flatwoods and Hammocks ecosite may be confused with the Hardwood Forested Uplands if fire is excluded from the system for an extended period of time. This will cause the scrubby species in this ecosite to grow into the canopy creating an altered mesic hammock state. It differs by the presence of very poorly to poorly drained soils.
The Sandy Scrubby Flatwoods on Rises and Knolls ecosite may be confused with the Hardwood Forested Uplands if fire is excluded from the system for an extended period of time. This will cause the scrubby species in this ecosite to grow into the canopy creating an altered xeric hammock state. It differs by the presence of somewhat poorly to moderately well drained soils.
The High Sandy Pine and Scrub on Knolls and Ridges ecosite may be confused with the Hardwood Forested Uplands if fire is excluded from the system for an extended period of time. This will cause the shrubby species in this ecosite to grow into the canopy, creating an altered xeric hammock state. It differs by the presence of somewhat excessively to excessively drained soils.
This ecological community was historically and currently in lesser extent found in two topographic positions within this ecoregion: (1) on levees of rivers, and (2) midslope or ecotones between xeric communities such as scrub and low-lying wetland communities such as strand swamps. Within wetland communities these sites may occur as “islands” within a pine-cypress- or graminoid-dominated community or “islands” on elevated areas within wetlands. Mesic hammocks occur on higher sites where well-drained soils are rarely inundated, and in ecotones between wetlands and upland communities where fires are rare, occurring as small low intensity ground fires. Xeric hammocks occur on high sites with well-drained soils with the exclusion of flooding and fire allowing an oak canopy to grow. This site may be confused with the climax community of a pine flatwoods but will be distinguished mainly by the presence of moderately well to somewhat excessively drained soils.
Table 3. Representative physiographic features (actual ranges)
Runoff class
Very low to low
Flooding duration
Extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours) to very brief (4 to 48 hours)
Flooding frequency
None to rare
Ponding frequency
None
Elevation
10–80 ft
Slope
5%
Ponding depth
2 in
Water table depth
40–80 in
Climatic features
The climate of east central Florida is warm and temperate getting an average annual precipitation amount of 40 to 62 inches (1,015 to 1,575 millimeters). About 60 percent of the precipitation occurs from June through September. The center of the area is the driest part. Most of the rainfall occurs as moderate-intensity, tropical storms that produce large amounts of rain from late spring through early autumn. Late autumn and winter are relatively dry. The average annual temperature is 73 to 78 degrees F (23 to 25 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages 365 days.
Table 4. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range)
365 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)
365 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)
53-59 in
Frost-free period (actual range)
365 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)
365 days
Precipitation total (actual range)
52-61 in
Frost-free period (average)
365 days
Freeze-free period (average)
365 days
Precipitation total (average)
56 in
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
Line
Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
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Figure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
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Figure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range
Bar
Line
Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
(2) CANAL POINT USDA [USC00081276], Belle Glade, FL
(3) PORT SALERNO 5W [USC00087304], Stuart, FL
(4) FT PIERCE ST LUCIE CO INTL AP [USW00012895], Fort Pierce, FL
(5) VERO BEACH 4SE [USC00089219], Vero Beach, FL
(6) MELBOURNE INTL AP [USW00012838], Melbourne, FL
(7) TITUSVILLE [USC00088942], Titusville, FL
Influencing water features
This ecological site is only influenced by freshwater hydrology via rainfall. When this ecosite occurs in an isolated setting such as a knoll and have great hydrologic differences of the surrounding areas, this site has very abrupt ecotones which can dramatically shift species composition from hardwood hammocks to wetter sites within short distances (Hardwood swamp forests, marshes and wet prairies). This site may very rarely flood if found along such abrupt ecotones with lower, wetter communities during intense storm events such as hurricanes and tropical storms. Increases in hydrology including fluctuations in streamflow, artificially elevated high-water levels, and prolonged hydroperiods may weaken or kill some of the hammock trees as well as changes in the understory, shifting a mesic hammock towards a hydric hammock community and allowing more hydrophytic species to establish. Decreases in hydrology from water table drawdown or ditching may shift a mesic hammock towards a xeric hammock and allow the invasion of some non-native exotic species and make the area more susceptible to fire entering the system. Drawdowns in the water table may also render hardwood hammocks more susceptible to catastrophic fires. These hammocks can tolerate a large gradient of soil moisture conditions.
Wetland description
NA
Soil features
Soils of hardwood hammocks are deep, nearly level to gently sloping, Moderately well to somewhat excessively drained soils formed in sandy marine deposits. Soils range from very acidic to moderately acidic soil reaction. The top layer often includes sand mixed with little organic matter. They are able to maintain high moisture content due to heavy shading of the ground layer and the accumulation of organic leaf litter. They have 40 inches to greater than 80 inches of fine sand or sand. Diagnostic subsurface horizon is an argillic horizon below 40 inches or is absent. Representative soils may include Jonathan, Hobe, Duette, and Archbold.
Table 5. Representative soil features
Parent material
(1) Marine deposits (2) Eolian deposits
Surface texture
(1) Fine sand
(2) Sand
Drainage class
Moderately well drained to somewhat excessively drained
Permeability class
Rapid to very rapid
Depth to restrictive layer
80 in
Soil depth
80 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"
Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"
Not specified
Available water capacity (0-80in)
1.2–3.1 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-80in)
Not specified
Electrical conductivity (0-80in)
1 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-80in)
1
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-80in)
4.4–5.8
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-80in)
Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-80in)
Not specified
Ecological dynamics
The information presented in this ecological site description (ESD) and state-and-transition model (STM) were developed using archaeological and historical information, published and unpublished scientific reports, professional experience, consultation with technical experts, and NRCS inventories and studies. The information presented represents a complex set of plant community dynamic and environmental variables. Not all scenarios or plants are represented and included. Key indicator plants, animals, and ecological processes are described to help guide land management decisions and actions.
The Hardwood Forested Uplands ecosite are oak hammocks with a closed canopy, dominated by primarily temperate hardwood and some evergreen tree species that is naturally protected by fire by its position within the landscape. Mature hammocks are able to keep soil moisture levels high through sufficient shading via canopy cover and leaf litter accumulation to prevent fires from destroying their environment. Fires may be rare or occasional depending on several factors including how often the surrounding community burns and the size of the oak hammock. Fire is not considered an important component in oak hammocks but is tolerable with species adapted to low intensity fires, protected by thick bark. When fire is suppressed in the surrounding community, often by human activities, oak hammocks may encroach into the surrounding communities. In hammocks where fires are present, low intensity ground fires during the winter months may assist in oak regeneration by reducing the number of competing species that are fire intolerant. Unmaintained hammocks may have a more established midstory of shrubs due to a lack of fire maintenance. This is a difficult community to impact due to oaks ability to resprout readily from underground rhizomes after removal, which is why selective logging does not influence species composition greatly. While these hammocks may be able to recover from and rely on ground fires, destructive fires may kill the oak species, returning the community back to a pine dominated community or to a cabbage palm forest, dependent on what the hammock transitioned from, which can eventually regain a hammock community structure with pine as a co-dominant species.
Oak hammocks provide valuable habitat to animals depending on mature oaks for shelter and sustenance, as well as the aesthetic value for recreation and ecotourism. However, disturbances such as selective logging remove canopy trees affecting the canopy structure, which can influence species composition as well as increasing the amount of light on the forest floor, making the area more susceptible to fires. This community is considered the preferred habitat of feral hogs (Sus scrofa), which does not compete with native wildlife, but is more to be controlled to minimize soil disturbances from rooting that decreases diversity of native ground species. Soil disturbances and canopy openings allow for the spread of exotic species including Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), skunk vine (Paederia foetida), camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum), old world climbing fern (L. microphyllum), white-flowered wandering jew (Tradescantia fluminensis), sword fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia), Caesar’s weed (Urena lobata), and cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica).
State and transition model
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This state describes mesic or xeric hardwood forests dominated mainly by oak species. These communities are typically found on well drained soil on knolls within the landscape. They are not typically pyrogenic but can tolerate low ground fires which maintain species diversity and community structure.
Community 1.1 Mesic Hammock
Mesic hammocks are well-developed evergreen hardwood and / or palm forests on soils that are rarely inundated. The low closed canopy is usually dominated by oaks and cabbage palms, with occasional subtropical species present in the canopy as well. The shrub layer can be either dense or open, tall or short, depending on the time since the last fire. This community forms on islands on high grounds within wetter environments such as freshwater wetlands, as patches of forest within prairie communities, and along higher ecotones with river levees and sandy ridgelines. The higher landscape position makes flooding rare in this community and is protected from fires on most sides, but often borders on pyrogenic community.
Resilience management. Species structure and composition may vary slightly based on time since last disturbance. Occasional disturbances which maintain this community include natural disturbances such as wind damage from weather events which may open the canopy, fire entering infrequently from surrounding pyrogenic communities which maintain ground structure, and infrequently flooding which deposit nutrients as well as drowning less flood tolerant species.
Xeric hammocks are similar to mesic hammocks characterized by low closed canopy forests dominated by oak species. This community may form when fire has been excluded from the reference community as well as a decrease in hydrology within the system. This allows for the establishment for more xeric species. This community usually forms as small pockets within mesic hammocks and other well drained communities (i.e. scrub/ sandhill vegetation). While more commonly found along ridgelines in the central peninsula, xeric hammocks may be found in this MLRA as a result of extensive drainage and urbanization.
Resilience management. This community is maintained by natural disturbances which maintain vegetative structure and composition. Common natural disturbances which help maintain community composition and structure include wind from storm events which open the canopy to successive growth, ground fires to control the growth of the sub canopy, or infrequently flooding which may kill less flood tolerant species.
Disruption of natural hydrological regimes by draining or ditching or by excessive pumping of ground water lowers the water table and may shift species composition in some hammocks toward xeric hammock composition. Reduction of ground fires with the decreased hydrology may also allow growth of more xeric species.
Pathway 1.2A Community 1.2 to 1.1
Increases in hydrology will shift the community structure away from xeric species towards more mesic species composition due to more hydric conditions of the soil. Fire reintroduced into the system can also shift the species composition to more fire tolerant mesic species.
State 2 Cabbage Palm / Pine Dominated Forest
This state describes the hammock community after a catastrophic fire burns through the duff layer and kills the roots of less fire tolerant species such as oaks. While oaks are tolerant of low intensity ground fires which burn surficial litter, high intensity fires can kill these species. The remaining vegetation are species that are tolerant of high intensity fires, and will remain as dominant species until the shade-tolerant species such as oak can become reestablished over time.
Community 2.1 Shade Intolerant Species dominated forest
Trees and shrubs that are able to rapidly recolonize an area after a destructive fire are those which are pyrogenic shade intolerant species such as cabbage palms and pine species. These species can grow fairly rapidly whereas shade tolerant species such as oaks take longer to grow and are able to grow in the understory under a pine canopy.
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 native 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 removal.
State 4 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 4.1 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 4.2 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 4.3 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 community correlates with the 2013 Florida Forage Suitability Group G156BC121FL (Sandy Soils on Rises, Knolls, and Ridges of Mesic Uplands).
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.
Figure 7. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0002, Bahiagrass (Pensacola). Growth Curves and Dry Matter Distribution for Introduced Warm Season Perennial Grass: Bahiagrass (Pensacola) (Paspalum notatum, pH 5.0 – 6.5).
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Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0003, Bahiagrass (Argentine). Growth Curves and Dry Matter Distribution for Introduced Warm Season Perennial Grass: Bahiagrass (Argentine) (Paspalum notatum, pH 5.0 – 6.5).
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Figure 10. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0004, Bermudagrass (Tifton 85). Growth Curves and Dry Matter Distribution for Introduced Warm Season Perennial Grass: Bermudagrass (Tifton 85) (Cynodon dactylon).
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Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0005, Native Warm Season Perennial Grasses. Growth Curves and Dry Matter Distribution for Native Warm Season Perennial Grasses.
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Figure 12. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0006, Rhizoma Perennial Peanut. Growth Curves and Dry Matter Distribution for Legume or Legume/ Grass Combination: Rhizona Perrenial Peanut (Arachis glabrata, pH 5.8-7.0).
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Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0007, Introduced Warm Season Annual Grasses. Growth Curves and Dry Matter Distribution for Introduced Warm Season Annual Grasses.
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Community 4.4 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 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 4.5 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 4.1A Community 4.1 to 4.2
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 4.2A Community 4.2 to 4.1
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 4.2B Community 4.2 to 4.3
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 4.2C Community 4.2 to 4.4
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 4.2D Community 4.2 to 4.5
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 4.3A Community 4.3 to 4.2
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 4.4A Community 4.4 to 4.2
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 4.5A Community 4.5 to 4.2
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 5 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 or 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 5.1 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 5.2 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 5.3 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 5.4 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 5.1A Community 5.1 to 5.2
This shift in communities is driven by clearing and developing the land for the desired community.
Pathway 5.1B Community 5.1 to 5.4
This transition is driven by the deposition of manufactured layers along with anthropogenic waste which is consistently built upon.
Pathway 5.2A Community 5.2 to 5.1
This transition is driven by the revegetation, reestablished hydrology, and replacement of displaced soil materials after altering the land.
Pathway 5.2B Community 5.2 to 5.3
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 5.2C Community 5.2 to 5.4
This transition is driven by the deposition of manufactured layers along with anthropogenic waste which is consistently built upon.
Pathway 5.3A Community 5.3 to 5.1
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 driven by the removal of overstory oaks which allows for the growth of shade intolerant species to thrive. This transition can occur naturally from windthrow or a catastrophic fire that may occur due to lowered hydrology or in periods of extreme drought which burns the duff layer and kills the roots of fire intolerant species. While oaks can tolerate low intensity ground fires, high intensity fires may kill the root system of the oaks, transitioning the community to a cabbage palm / pine forest while the oak species resprout. This transition can also be caused anthropogenically from selective logging of the overstory oaks.
Transition T1B State 1 to 3
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 T1C State 1 to 4
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 T1D State 1 to 5
This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.
Restoration pathway R2A State 2 to 1
Time is the mechanism for the transition back to oak hammocks if the seed stock hasn't been destroyed in the stand clearing event. Oak are shade tolerant species which can filter sunlight in shaded conditions, allowing them to grow slowly. Over time they can become reestablished as part of the overstory, creating a low closed canopy with an emergent layer of pine species and cabbage palms.
Transition T2B State 2 to 3
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 T2C State 2 to 4
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 5
This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.
Restoration pathway R3A State 3 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 R3B State 3 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.
Transition T3A State 3 to 4
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 T3B State 3 to 5
This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.
Restoration pathway R4A State 4 to 1
These practices include the restoration of both the hydrology and landscape in advance of revegetating the area (if needed).
Restoration pathway R4B State 4 to 2
These practices include the restoration of both the hydrology and landscape in advance of revegetating the area (if needed).
Transition T4A State 4 to 5
This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.
Restoration pathway R5A State 5 to 4
This transition is driven by the restoration of a reclaimed land towards a naturally managed resource such as agriculture, rangeland, silviculture, or improved pasture.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 4.3 plant community composition
Mature hammocks are considered important to wildlife, providing cover, nesting sites, and forage for a vast amount of species. Migratory birds use hammocks for cover and forage, as well as neighboring wetland animals using hammocks for shelter during periods of high floods. Common species that may be found in oak hammocks include:
Hydrologic inputs vary with season. Rainfall is distributed very unevenly throughout the year with the majority of rainfall dropped in the summer months. Ground-water level in hardwood hammocks fluctuate accordingly to the amount of rainfall throughout the year. Any surface water that is detained in hammocks exists by sheet flow and small streams or through percolation into groundwater. Shallow-lying permeable limestone tends to restrict the development of surface drainage, limiting rivers in this terrain to only a few tributaries. During heavy rains, sheet flow is slowed from the dense vegetation, reducing soil erosion and allowing greater absorption into the soil. Excess runoff flows into lower communities, contributing to the hydric conditions of other ecological communities such as pine flatwoods and freshwater marshes.
Drawdowns in the water table due to agricultural uses can transition mesic hammocks to xeric hammocks, and result in overall drier soil conditions in xeric hammocks.
Recreational uses
Oak hammocks provide aesthetic values for recreation and in larger areas around the state are used for hunting and has typically been sought out for home sites, campgrounds and recreation areas. Within this MLRA this site has close to disappeared to the extensive agronomic and urban development and what little natural areas remain have been highly influenced by the surrounding landscape, changing the hydrology and fire regimes.
Wood products
Selective logging for mature canopy trees is a continuous disturbance to these sites, with heavy machinery disturbing the soil allowing for the invasion of non-native species.
Other products
Many oak hammocks on public and private lands are leased for cattle ranching and are degraded by cattle grazing and trampling. These hammocks provide pockets of shade for cattle to use to during hot days and are left as small islands by ranchers when converting land to pastures. Improper grazing and trampling destroy soil structure, promotes erosion, eliminates native shrubs and herbaceous species, girdles and kills saplings, and opens up the hammock to invasion by exotic plants.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented was derived from NRCS clipping data, current and historical literature, field observations, and personals contacts with local, state and federal partners. This is a provisional level ESD and is subject to change as more information becomes available, for any questions please contact your local NRCS office.
Other references
Carey, Jennifer H. 1992. Pinus elliottii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).
Carey, Jennifer, H. 1992. Quercus virginiana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station,
Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).
Clewell, A. F. 1991. Florida rivers: the vegetational mosaic. In The rivers of Florida (pp. 47-63). Springer, New York, NY.
Ewel, J. J., & Myers, R. L. (Eds.). 1990. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press.
Florida Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society. 1989. 26 Ecological Communities of Florida.
Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). 2010. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL
Gann, G.D., Bradley, K.A. and Woodmansee, S.W. 2009. Floristic Inventory of South Florida Database. Institute for Regional Conservation.
Kambly, S., Moreland, T.R., 2009, Land cover trends in the Southern Florida Coastal Plain: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5054, 16 p.
Laessle, A. M., & Monk, C. D. 1961. Some live oak forests of northeastern Florida. Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences, 24(1), 39-55.
McNab, W.H.; Cleland, D.T.; Freeouf, J.A.; Keys, Jr., J.E.; Nowacki, G.J.; Carpenter, C.A., comps. 2007. Description of ecological subregions: sections of the conterminous United States [CD-ROM]. Gen. Tech. Report WO-76B. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 80 p
McPherson, B. F., Hendrix, G. Y., Klein, H., & Tyus, H. M. 1976. The environment of south Florida: a summary report (Vol. 1011). US Government Printing Office.
Veno, P.A. 1976. Successional relationships of five Florida plant communities. Ecology, 57 (3), 498-508.
Volk, M. I., Hoctor, T. S., Nettles, B. B., Hilsenbeck, R., Putz, F. E., & Oetting, J. 2017. Florida land use and land cover change in the past 100 years. Florida's Climate: Changes, Variations, & Impacts.
Contributors
Jack Ferrara Craig Prink Martin Figueroa Jamie Bean
Approval
Charles Stemmans, 2/07/2025
Acknowledgments
St. Johns River Water Management District
Florida State Parks
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to
determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or
more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment
location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant
community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date
02/07/2025
Approved by
Charles Stemmans
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on
Annual Production
Indicators
Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are
not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range
of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial
distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be
mistaken for compaction on this site):
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar
cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or
decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize
degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if
their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become
dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive
plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the
ecological site:
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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