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)
-Florida Natural Area Inventory, 2010 Edition: Basin Marsh, Depression Marsh, Dome Swamp, Basin Swamp, Shrub Bog, Baygall (FNAI, 2010)
-Soil Conservation Service, 26 Ecological Communities of Florida: 17- Cypress Swamp, 22- Shrub Bogs- Bay Swamps, 25- Freshwater Marsh and Pond (Florida Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society, 1989)
Ecological site concept
The Histisol Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecological sites are very poorly drained sites that are seasonally inundated for four to eight months out of the year. This community is forested and non-forested wetlands found on highly organic frequently ponded soils. These are typically found in large basins or depressions that are ponded for some point during the rainy season (June to September). Fire is rare but not completely absent, and is used to maintain community structure and composition. Much of this natural community has been drained or altered and used for commercial production. This ecosite is typically seen in the southern portion of this MLRA in large extent, but is also found in smaller areas in the north and central portion of this MLRA.
The Sandy over Loamy Flatwoods and Hammocks ecosite are poorly drained communities that may occur in higher landscape positions adjacent to the isolated depression. The Sandy Flatwoods and Hammocks will generally grade into the Histisol Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite with the presence of stunted trees or form a sharp transitional boundary.
The Mineral Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite may occur immediately adjacent to the Histisol Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite. The Mineral Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite consist of mineral soils that are in similar landscape positions and inundated long enough to develop hydric conditions.
The Wet Hardwood Forests ecosite occur as knolls or small islands which are found in slightly higher landscape positions. These communities are closed canopy wetlands forested dominated by oaks and palms and will generally be small is extent found within the Histisol Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite.
The Sandy Flatwoods and Hammocks ecosite are poorly drained communities that may occur in higher landscape positions adjacent to the isolated depression. The Sandy Flatwoods and Hammocks will generally grade into the Histisol Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite with the presence of stunted trees or form a sharp transitional boundary.
The Mineral Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite may be confused with the Histisol Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite due to similar landscape position, ponding hydroperiods, and similar management, but will differ due to changes in soil properties. The Mineral Isolated Marshes and Swamps is dominated by hydric mineral soils rather than histisols, which will produce different production values for forgeable species.
The Histisol Floodplain Marshes and Swamps ecosite may be confused with the Histisol Isolated Marshes and Swamps ecosite due to similar soil properties, but will differ in landscape position and dominant hydroperiods. These differences will change management strategies for conservation practices and prescribed grazing activities.
These sites occur on large concave concave areas that are highly protected and subject to extended ponding hydroperiods, such that such that undecomposed organic matter accumulates and non-hydrophytic vegetation is excluded. Freshwater marshes and wet prairies occur in the lowest position of this landscape whereas cypress swamps occur in slightly higher positions, both holding water for long periods of time, except in extreme droughts. This ecosite is primarily found influenced by rainfall deposition throughout the entire MLRA, but can be seen in largest extent in the southern portion of the MLRA.
Table 3. Representative physiographic features (actual ranges)
Runoff class
Very low to medium
Flooding duration
Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to long (7 to 30 days)
Flooding frequency
None to rare
Ponding duration
Brief (2 to 7 days) to very long (more than 30 days)
Ponding frequency
None to frequent
Elevation
45 ft
Slope
1%
Ponding depth
30 in
Water table depth
6 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)
53-58 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)
55 in
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
Line
Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
Line
Figure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
Line
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 [USC00083207], Fort Pierce, FL
(5) FT PIERCE ST LUCIE CO INTL AP [USW00012895], Fort Pierce, FL
(6) VERO BEACH 4SE [USC00089219], Vero Beach, FL
(7) MELBOURNE INTL AP [USW00012838], Melbourne, FL
(8) TITUSVILLE [USC00088942], Titusville, FL
Influencing water features
This site is occupied by marshes or swamps, and slight changes in hydrology are the main drivers of vegetative differences. Marshes are typically homogenous in grass species throughout, shifting species as slight changes in elevation (along the scale of centimeters) may create a slightly shorter or longer hydroperiod. Average hydroperiods of surface water in this ecosite range from four to eight months per year. These areas occur along dips and depressions in low broad flats, receiving much of their water from rainfall. Due to the flat landscape and high rainfall during the summer months, some of the water comes as overflow from the uplands. These sites will typically not flood, but in extreme storm events or high rainfall years may have massive slow moving sheet water flow across the landscape.
Long-term changes in hydrology, such as drainage or drought, may change the species composition and allow for the growth of hydrophytic trees such as cypress, shifting the community to a swamp. If the area is extensively drained it can be converted to highly productive pasture or agriculture land, much of what the land use of this MLRA is. If the the long-term hydroperiod is increased (naturally or anthropogenically), species may succeed to more hydrophytic grasses until the area can no longer support these species.
Wetland description
System: Cowardin
Subsystem: Palustrine
Class: NA
Subclass: Emergent /Forested Wetland
Soil features
These are hydric soils, soil that formed under conditions of saturation, long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions throughout. This site occurs very poorly drained ponded soils in wetlands. These are very acidic to slightly alkaline organic soils typically composed of a layer of peat directly over limestone bedrock. Most of these soils are found in depressions and dips where the largest layers of peat accumulate in the deepest areas over thin layers of sand. Representative soils within this MLRA may include the ponded phase of Tomoka, Samsula, Okeelanta, Kaliga, Hontoon, and Gator.
**As more SDJR projects are completed for this MLRA, soils association may change due to the differences between county lines, changing the total acres for this ecosite.
Table 5. Representative soil features
Parent material
(1) Herbaceous organic material (2) Organic material (3) Marine deposits
Surface texture
(1) Highly organic, mucky
Drainage class
Very poorly drained
Permeability class
Slow to 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)
4.3–16.3 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)
4–7.9
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-80in)
3%
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.
This provisional ecological site (PES) includes several wetland natural communities, including forested swamps and herbaceous marshland. Although this PES concept has broad compositional and structural variation, the unifying features involve ecological processes linked to very deep and very poorly drained organic soils that pond frequently. Ponding depth and duration is seasonally influenced, depending on the annual rainfall amounts.
Histisol freshwater marshes and prairies that inhabit frequently ponded areas are typically found in closed depressions or basins, with very slight changes in elevation characterized by change in species composition. Factors such as absence of fire or shorter hydroperiods may allow for the growth of hydrophytic trees such as cypress, which are often buttressed. As these overstory species become dominant, they shade out the understory, leading to sparse, usually patchily distributed and limited to slightly higher rises.
Natural ecological processes are most influenced by ponding regimes and associated nutrient flows. Isolated forests and marshes are regularly inundated by the accumulation of rainfall during the wet season. Much of the management required for these communities is dependent on restoring the hydrology of the area. This may include filling in canals and ditches that were once used to drain the area for commercial production. These long hydroperiods result in highly anaerobic conditions, allowing for the development of histisol soils. Fire also plays an important role in these communities, which often were started by lightning strikes during the summer months in upland communities. Natural fire regimes have a shorter interval in the marshes, along the scale of every few years, to prevent invasive species and woody encroachment. Swamps have longer intervals due to the shaded conditions and less fuel to burn.
State and transition model
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This state is characterized by a hydroperiod of four to eight months and is typically dominated by hydrophytic grasses and sedges along vast open expanses. Shorter hydroperiods are found in slightly higher elevations and less frequently ponded. They are continuously wet but rarely inundated soils on slightly higher elevations. Longer hydroperiods support more homogenous grassland communities that are inundated more often. The main drivers in this community consist of hydrology and fire regimes, relying on short fire return intervals of 1 to 2 years to maintain its grass and shrub community.
Characteristics and indicators. This state is characterized by large expanses of grasslands and shrublands found on histisols in large depressions that hold standing water for long periods of time.
Community 1.1 Depression Marsh
Depression Marshes occur as a shallow, usually rounded depression with herbaceous vegetation or subshrubs, often in concentric bands. The outer, or driest, zone is often occupied by sparse herbaceous vegetation which may be followed by more and more dense zones of hydrophytic vegetation. Depression Marshes form when the overlying sands slump into depressions dissolved in underlying bedrock. They often have peat substrate in the center, deepest portion of the marsh where water is standing for most of the year, while having sandy substrates towards the outer ridges of the marsh. Depression marshes will often form as an outer rim to forested wetland communities or will often form as isolated marshes within the landscape. This community can be found widespread throughout this MLRA.
Resilience management. Fire is common in this community and without it will begin to allow shrubby growth. Fire should be allowed to burn into this community and extinguish naturally or burn through them into the surrounding community. This community is often found within other ecological communities or as isolated marshes within forested wetland or other upland communities and will often reflect fire frequencies similar to those communities.
Basin Marshes occur in a variety of isolated or mostly isolated depressions, usually around fluctuating shorelines of lakes, on the former lake bottoms of “disappearing” lakes, at the head of broad, low basins which were former embayment’s of the sea during periods of high sea level, and as large deep inclusions within pyrogenic upland communities or as inclusions in non-pyrogenic communities like basin swamps. Species composition is heterogeneous within and between marshes but can generally be divided from deepest to shallowest portions. They become regularly inundated with water originating from localized rainfall and while water is generally not flowing, this marsh may have hydrologic outputs. This community is typically seen around the headwaters of the St. Johns river basin and around lake communities within this MLRA.
This community can be distinguished from other freshwater marshes in this state by its vegetation composition as well as landscape position. Depression marshes are similar to basin marshes, but basin marshes are not a small or shallow inclusion within a pyrogenic community but is either a large landscape feature or an inclusion in an infrequently burned community.
Resilience management. Natural fire in this community is estimated to occur mainly at the end of the dry season around May, with frequency of fires depending on the hydrology of the marsh and its exposure to fire from the surrounding areas. Natural water fluctuation plays an important role in maintaining the diversity of marsh vegetation. If water levels are artificially stabilized via damming or drainage locks, species such as cattails (Typha spp.) and water hyacinth (Eichhrnia crassipes) that can tolerate longer periods of inundation can thrive. Whereas artificial drawdown of the water table from channelization for agricultural purposes may cause invasion from pest species such as southern amaranth (Amaranthus austalis) and dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) as well as allowing shrubby species to become established and shade out herbaceous vegetation. The use of prescribed burning as a management technique to control the spread of shrubby species is common within this community but is done with caution to avoid peat fires.
Wet prairie is an herbaceous community found on continuously wet, but not inundated, soils on somewhat flat or gentle slopes between lower lying wet areas and slightly higher wet or mesic flatwoods, or dry prairies. Changes in vegetation are dependent on slight variations in hydrology. Some areas may support few scattered pine or cypress species that may have established in a short period of drought. These are distinguished from marshes by having a shorter hydroperiod, shorter and more regular fire intervals, and a high diversity of grasses and other herbaceous species.
Resilience management. Changes in hydrology are one of the greatest impactors on this community. Ditching and drainage of surrounding communities due to high agricultural demands can impact this community and lower the water table, allowing for the encroachment of species such as pine, cypress, or cabbage palms. Fragmentation of habitat has altered fire regimes which would historically move through surrounding fire adapted communities such as flatwoods into the wet prairies every 2 to 3 years. Absence of fire from this community allows for the development of shrubs and trees to becomes established and shade out herbaceous species, lowering diversity of this habitat.
Shrub thickets consists of dense stands of broadleaf evergreen shrubs, vines, and short trees, one to five meters tall depending on time since fire, with or without an overstory of scattered pine or bay trees, growing in mucky soil where water is usually less than a foot deep. They are often found along the border of upland communities and lower wetland communities in poorly drained areas. The larger the shrub species have grown the longer fire has been kept from this community.
Resilience management. Shrub thickets develop when fire is excluded from the reference community, allowing for the growth of shrubby species to thrive. Regular fires tend to extinguish themselves in shrub thickets, protecting the lower wetland community. Fire intervals are estimated to occur only during drought periods, along the order of every 10 to 20 years, in which the shrubs respond by either resprouting from the rhizome if the root is not killed, or shifting to an open water community if the roots are killed. This community can expand with the assistance of physical disturbances such as logging and ditching to surrounding communities.
This transition is driven by the absence of fire from the reference community along with the alteration of natural hydrology. Exclusion of fire from the reference system has to be long enough for the establishment of woody species (estimated 12 to 15 years) which shades out the herbaceous layer. This in part with the alteration of hydrology from impacts to this community or surrounding communities can cause the growth of woody species. This is not a homogeneous process due to changes in microtopography which can create a mosaic of unevenly aged shrubs and prairie habitat.
Pathway 1.2A Community 1.2 to 1.3
This is driven by a decrease in the long term hydroperiod, allowing for the growth of more herbaceous species. This change in hydroperiod can come from anthropogenic drawdowns of the water table. However, the natural fire regime is still needed (every 1 to 2 years) to maintain this herbaceous community. If fire frequency is not maintained, shrubby and tree species may begin to encroach the area.
Pathway 1.2B Community 1.2 to 1.4
This transition is driven by the absence of fire from the reference community along with the alteration of natural hydrology. Exclusion of fire from the reference system has to be long enough for the establishment of woody species (estimated 12 to 15 years) which shades out the herbaceous layer. This in part with the alteration of hydrology from impacts to this community or surrounding communities can cause the growth of woody species. This is not a homogeneous process due to changes in microtopography which can create a mosaic of unevenly aged shrubs and prairie habitat.
Pathway 1.3A Community 1.3 to 1.2
This is driven by a increase in the long term hydroperiod, removing and replacing the diverse species with a monoculture of hydrophytic species. This change in hydroperiod can come from anthropogenic impoundments. However, the natural fire regime is still needed (every 1 to 2 years) to maintain this grassy marsh community. If fire frequency is not maintained, shrubby and tree species may begin to encroach the area.
Pathway 1.3B Community 1.3 to 1.4
This transition is driven by the absence of fire from the reference community along with the alteration of natural hydrology. Exclusion of fire from the reference system has to be long enough for the establishment of woody species (estimated 12 to 15 years) which shades out the herbaceous layer. This in part with the alteration of hydrology from impacts to this community or surrounding communities can cause the growth of woody species. This is not a homogeneous process due to changes in microtopography which can create a mosaic of unevenly aged shrubs and prairie habitat.
Pathway 1.4A Community 1.4 to 1.1
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.
Pathway 1.4B Community 1.4 to 1.2
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.
Pathway 1.4C Community 1.4 to 1.3
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.
State 2 Intact Frequently Ponded Swamps
The natural (native) vegetation of this state is mainly dominated by Bald Cypress and Pond Cypress (Taxodium distichum and T. ascendens, respectfully). Occasional fire contributes to the maintenance of a cypress dominated community; without fire, deciduous hardwood invasion and peat accumulation create a mixed hardwood and cypress swamp, and under certain conditions the stand may convert to a hardwood forest. If no adjacent water feature (i.e. rivers), the center of the swamp may contain open marshes or deeper sloughs. These organic soils create a unique environment that increases species diversity and structural development in forested wetland communities.
Characteristics and indicators. This state is characterized by nearly pure stands of cypress trees (Taxodium spp.) that are distinguished by buttressed trunks.
Resilience management. This state is maintained by both stressors from water and fire. Hydroperiods range from 100 to 300 days per year which only allow hydrophytic species to survive. Drainage of this site can allow for the invasion of non-native and exotic species and transition the site to a more mesic hardwood community. Fire is another major stressor in this state, with interior swamps estimated burning at long time periods up to every 100 to 150 years, and the edges every 3 to 5 years. The stress from fire prevents the accumulation of organic matter and transition into a hardwood community.
Community 2.1 Dome Swamp
These are defined as an isolated, forested, depression wetland occurring within a fire-maintained community. These swamps are generally small but may also be large and shallow. They occur when acid byproducts of organic matter decomposition dissolve limestone bedrock causing the soil to slump over the sinkhole, creating a conical depression. These domes have thick layers of peat in the center which is able to hold water for the majority of the year, with the tallest, biggest trees in the center of the dome and smallest, youngest trees on the outskirts. This gives the dome a distinctly rounded cross-sectional profile. Isolated freshwater marshes in the center of the dome can also give it a doughnut shape from aerial views.
Resilience management. These wetlands function as reservoirs that recharge the aquifer when adjacent water tables drop and fluctuate with seasonal rainfall. The normal hydroperiod is 100 to 300 days out of the year which acts as a stressor to maintain this community to prevent transition to another community. Normal fire return intervals range anywhere form 3 to 5 years along the outer edge to as long as 100 to 150 years along the inner dome. Fire is used to maintain this community, without periodic fires hardwood invasion and peat accumulation would convert the dome to a hardwood forest. Depending on the extent of limestone trough or sinkhole, the dome swamp may expand into an irregular formed strand or basin swamp.
Basin swamps are cypress dominated swamps that occur in any type of large landscape depression typically north of Lake Okeechobee such as old lake beds or river basins, or ancient coastal swales and lagoons that existed during higher sea levels. Micro sites on cypress knees or on root mat fibers provide habitat for more mesic species, establishing above the surface of the water.
While similar to the other cypress communities in this PES state by hydrology, natural processes, and vegetation, they differ by landscape position. Strand swamps differ from basin swamps by occurring primarily along the same latitude and south of Lake Okeechobee in elongated depressions or channels in limestone troughs. Dome swamps are typically isolated depression swamps within a surrounding pyrogenic landscape or within a larger swamp community.
Resilience management. In basin swamps the primary source of water is local rainfall with additional inputs from runoff and seepage from the surrounding uplands. Fire intervals are variable, and the interior of the swamp may go unburned for decades to centuries while the exterior is subject to frequent fires based on the fire interval of the surrounding community. Without fires basin swamps can transition to cypress dominated baygalls as hardwoods increase in density and organic matter accumulates. Whereas catastrophic peat fires can lower the ground level during periods of extreme drought into an open pond, lake, marsh or shrub thicket.
Strand Swamps are cypress dominated swamps that occur in shallow, forested, usually elongated depressions or channels situated in a trough within a flat limestone plain. Small, young cypress trees at the outer edge grade into large older trees in the deeper interior, giving the strand a distinctively rounded cross-section profile. Within this MLRA this community is commonly found directly east of Lake Okeechobee and south, being replaced by basin swamps further to the north, due to changes in local geology. Due to their close proximity to the isohyperthermic boundary some tropical species may be present within this system, but is mostly dominated by temperate species. The deepest part of this swamp is typically characterized as a canopied slough, aligned with the lowest part of the limestone bedrock.
While similar to the other cypress communities in this state by hydrology, natural processes, and vegetation, they differ by landscape position. Basin swamps differ from strand swamps by occurring in large landscape depressions north of Lake Okeechobee. Dome swamps are typically isolated depression swamps within a surrounding pyrogenic landscape or within a larger swamp community.
Resilience management. The two main drivers in this community are hydrology and fire regimes. The normal hydroperiod ranges from 100 to 300 days and water depth of 46 to 76 cm, with water levels rising with increasing rainfall around June and decreasing to their lowest levels during the winter and early spring. In undisturbed strand swamps, higher plant diversity is partly attributable to topographical variations, such as depressions caused by peat fires, high spots on old stumps, and irregularities caused by unequal solution of the underlying limestone, that allow hydrophytic species to become established. Fire occurs rarely in strand swamps, with the largest trees on the deepest peat towards the center of the strand burning least frequently. However, fires from surrounding pine-dominated communities can frequently burn into the outer edges of strand swamps. In addition to having a shorter stature, strand edges are often a monospecific stand of cypress, owing to the vulnerability of the typical understory components to fire. In this way, occasional fire contributes to the maintenance of a cypress dominated community; without fire, hardwood invasion and peat accumulation create a mixed hardwood and cypress swamp. Cypress is very tolerant of light surface fires, but muck fires burning into the peat can kill the trees and lower the ground surface, transforming a strand swamp into a slough. Where severe fires have killed cypress, coastalplain willow commonly establishes as a thicket.
Baygall, also referred to as bay swamps or bay heads, are evergreen forested wetlands of bay species in a depression with deep peat soils that are acidic within a well developed forest. They typically develop on wet soils in depressions and in stagnant drainages that maintain a saturated peat substrate via seepage, rainfall, or capillary action. This community varies in size and can range from small tree islands within marsh or prairie communities to many acres within a mature forest. They develop when fire has been excluded from cypress swamps, allowing organic matter to accumulate and creating a positive feedback that allows the establishment of bays. Cypress swamps are very similar to baygalls, with many instances of intermediate stages between these communities primarily caused by fire and logging history. However, cypress swamps experience greater water fluctuation and greater water depths than baygalls.
Resilience management. As the bay species grow, the shade intolerant cypress species are inhibited which shifts vegetation and soil conditions to favor shade tolerant species to germinate and grow in low light conditions.
Swamp expansion occurs via seeding from trees and seed dispersal from birds or other animals. If the conditions are met for dome swamps to expand then they will grow out to form a larger cypress swamp over a long period of time.
Context dependence. Swamp expansion can occur if the depression that formed the dome swamp extends further out. If the dome swamp exists within an old lake bed or river basin or ancient coastal swale or lagoon it may extend to form a fully developed basin swamp. This is not only a spatially depending process, depending on the depressions formed that allows peat accumulation, but temporally dependent as well. For the swamp to expand larger it would take along the centuries scale for full growth of trees in the representative landscape. This is also depending on the natural landscape remaining the same with no alterations in land use changes or hydrology.
Pathway 2.1B Community 2.1 to 2.3
Swamp expansion occurs via seeding from trees and seed dispersal from birds or other animals. If the conditions are met for dome swamps to expand then they will grow out to form a larger cypress swamp over a long period of time.
Context dependence. Swamp expansion can occur if the depression that formed the dome swamp extends further out. If the dome swamp exists within a limestone trough it may extend to form a fully developed strand swamp. This is not only a spatially depending process, depending on the depressions formed in limestone bedrock that allows peat accumulation, but temporally dependent as well. For the swamp to expand larger it would take along the centuries scale for full growth of trees in the representative landscape. This is also depending on the natural landscape remaining the same with no alterations in land use changes or hydrology.
Pathway 2.1C Community 2.1 to 2.4
The overarching driver which may allow for a community transition is the decrease of the long term hydroperiod. This is a wide variety of alterations which may shift species composition to allow for the growth of hardwood species. This may include abiotic factors such as drought, absence of fire, or any other events that can alter the water table, or species composition to allow for the introduction of unwanted species. This can also include biotic factors such as hog rooting or human introduction that can bring these native but undesirable to the reference community species in.
Pathway 2.2A Community 2.2 to 2.4
The overarching driver which may allow for a community transition is the decrease of the long term hydroperiod. This is a wide variety of alterations which may shift species composition to allow for the growth of hardwood species. This may include abiotic factors such as drought, absence of fire, or any other events that can alter the water table, or species composition to allow for the introduction of unwanted species. This can also include biotic factors such as hog rooting or human introduction that can bring these native but undesirable to the reference community species in.
Pathway 2.3A Community 2.3 to 2.4
The overarching driver which may allow for a community transition is the decrease of the long term hydroperiod. This is a wide variety of alterations which may shift species composition to allow for the growth of hardwood species. This may include abiotic factors such as drought, absence of fire, or any other events that can alter the water table, or species composition to allow for the introduction of unwanted species. This can also include biotic factors such as hog rooting or human introduction that can bring these native but undesirable to the reference community species in.
Pathway 2.4A Community 2.4 to 2.1
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.
Pathway 2.4B Community 2.4 to 2.2
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.
Pathway 2.4C Community 2.4 to 2.3
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.
State 3 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 are introduced to the state via people, weather events, or any other means.
Resilience management. This state can be found as a part of any other state or community 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 was previously included in the 2013 Florida Forage Suitability Group number G156BC645FL, Organic Soils in Depressions and on Flood Plains.
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)
Table 7. Annual production by plant type
Plant type
Low (lb/acre)
Representative value (lb/acre)
High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike
7275
8412
9550
Forb
2000
2500
3000
Total
9275
10912
12550
Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0014, Limpograss. Growth Curves and Dry Matter Distribution for Introduced Warm Season Perennial Grass: Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima).
Jan
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Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0019, Maidencane. Growth Curves and Dry Matter Distribution for Native Warm Season Perennial Grass: Maidencane (Panicum hemitomon).
Jan
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Figure 10. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). FL0022, St. Augustinegrass. Growth Curves for Introduced Warm Season Perennial Grass: St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum).
Jan
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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 with land use conversion practices and hydrologic management to fit the growers needs.
Resilience management. Major natural resource concerns facing cropland 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 removing the 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 replanting native species. This is a time-consuming process and often results in second-hand community structure. Once restored to a natural capacity the introduction of grazing species to the system creates a managed rangeland.
Pathway 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 requirements.
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 removing the 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 removing the 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 removing the existing vegetation and habitat.
State 5 Human Altered and 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 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 intensity urban areas, and may be required to be reclaimed after urban use (e.g., active mines must be reclaimed). 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/ active mines).
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.
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 5.2A 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 5.3A 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 establishment of woody species. This may be driven naturally or anthropogenically. Natural drivers may be drought, which can lower the water table for an expanded period of time, allowing for hydrophytic species to root and become established. These will often have buttressed trunks as a result of long hydroperiods. Anthropogenic alterations include the drawdown of the water table for commodity products. As the species grow they may shade out the understory and convert the area to a swamp.
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 survive and outcompete in intolerable conditions. Localized knowledge for each species must be known for best removal of it without harming the native environment, and often different treatments must be applied over one given area.
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 species 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
This restoration to a grassland from a forest consists of removing the woody species, allowing for light to penetrate the ground surface and grasses in the existing seedbank to grow. This removal may consist of mechanical, biological, or chemical methods to clear an area.
Transition T2A 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 survive and outcompete in intolerable conditions. Localized knowledge for each species must be known for best removal of it without harming the native environment, and often different treatments must be applied over one given area.
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 species at bay.
Transition T2B 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 T2C 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 non-native and exotic invasive species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for individual non-native or exotic invasive species is needed for specific management. Sometimes introduction of fire regimes may prevent or stop the growth of non-native or exotic invasive species, but many species are fire tolerant. Mechanical removal might include roller chopping, harvesting, or cutting and removal of invasive species. Chemical removal might include aerial dispersal from planes, or basal bark injection treatments.
Context dependence. Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal of non-native and exotic invasive species is a time dependent process, with both removal types taking long times to be considered effective.
Restoration pathway R3B State 3 to 2
Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the non-native and exotic invasive species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for individual non-native or exotic invasive species is needed for specific management. Sometimes introduction of fire regimes may prevent or stop the growth of non-native or exotic invasive species, but many species are fire tolerant. Mechanical removal might include roller chopping, harvesting, or cutting and removal of invasive species. Chemical removal might include aerial dispersal from planes, or basal bark injection treatments.
Context dependence. Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal of non-native and exotic invasive species is a time dependent process, with both removal types taking long times to be considered effective.
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 T5A 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 8. Community 4.3 plant community composition
Many species have disappeared from these sites due to the intense urbanization and habitat fragmentation within this MLRA. Species list in given from similar sites correlated within the MLRA 155 further west where these habitats are better protected and remain in a more natural state. Species commonly found in this community are:
Mammals: White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), raccoon (Procyon lotor), river otter (Lutra canadensis), opossum (Didelphis virginianus), wood rat (Neotoma floridana), bobcat (Felis lynx), mink (Mustela vison evergladensis), feral hog (Sus scrofa) and marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris).
Amphibians: Southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala), green treefrog (Hyla cinerea), barking treefrog (Hyla gratiosa), squirrel tree frog (Hyla squirella), southern dusky salamander (Desmognathus auriculatus), lesser siren (Siren intermedia), two-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma m. means), oak toad (Bufo quercicus), southern cricket frog (Acris gryllus dorsalis), pinewoods treefrog (Hyla femoralis), little grass frog (Pseudacris ocularis), and narrowmouth toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis).
Fish: Mosquito fish (Gambusia spp.), yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis), swamp darter (Etheostoma barratti), sailfin molly (Mollienesia latipinna), flagfish (Jordanella floridae), least killifish (Heterandria formosa), bowfin (Amia calva), warmouth (Chaenobryttus coronarius), Florida gar (Lepisosteus spp.), and bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus).
This community is very important for wildlife refuge area as it will hold water into and possibly though the winter months. It is well suited for waterfowl and wading birds. Aquatic animals may be found in large numbers. The permanent residents of cypress heads are relatively few, but much of the wildlife of the surrounding communities are dependent for these wetlands for breeding purposes and during periods of drought.
Hydrological functions
This ecosite was historically one of the most dominant ecosites within the MLRA, with multiple freshwater marsh and swamps dominating the landscape before the mid to late 1800s. Within 70 years, it is estimated that 70 percent of the fertile wetlands within these areas had been converted into agricultural fields to support the production of citrus, row crops, and beef cattle (SJWMD SWIM). Loss of wetland habitat reduced floodplain storage, allowing devastating floods in the central and southern parts of Florida in the 1920s and 1940s.
These communities serve as filters for water and will retain water during droughts and also help negate the effects of floods and hurricanes on inland communities. Due to urbanization needs, this area has lost much of its natural hydrology. In the southern portion of the MLRA extensive canals and ditches have been dug to make the land suitable for agriculture of citrus and other row crops. The upper St. Johns River basin maintains a more natural state due to protection of land but is still influenced by the surrounding urbanization. Much of the wetlands in the St. Johns headwaters are currently being maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as long-term restoration projects to help reduce flooding, restore and maintain natural hydrologic cycles and protect water quality of the Upper St. Johns water basin, where the majority of this ecosite is found.
This area receives high amounts of rainfall, with flat topography small elevation changes allowing for the large accumulation of standing water. These depressions typically hold water for the majority of the year, and in the central portion of this MLRA act as the headwater basin for the St. Johns River.
Recreational uses
This area provides a variety of opportunities for recreation including canoeing, kayaking, hunting, hiking, driving tours, bird watching, camping, fishing, photography, and off-roading vehicle (ORV) use in larger areas.
Wood products
This ecological site is not generally used for commercial woodland production; however, it has moderate potential productivity for areas that are drained and replanted for slash pine (Pinus elliottiii). Much of the mature cypress swamps were extensively logged during the early to mid 1900s during the war and the rebuilding effort. The cypress were seen as very valuable for their resistance to decay. Cypress trees are capable of resprouting from a cut stump, however most of the regeneration is usually from remaining seeds that were not damaged during harvesting.
Other products
Due to this community’s subjectivity to an extended hydroperiod, this site in grazed typically during the dry season. Drainage of the surrounding community for agriculture land can impact the hydrology of this community, allowing range species to enter for a portion of the year. This area can be drained, cleared, planted and grazed for pasture. This site correlates with the "ponded" soil components in the 2013 Florida Forage Suitability Group G156B645FL.
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
Brenner, M., Schelske, C. L., & Keenan, L. W. 2001. Historical rates of sediment and nutrient accumulation in marshes of the Upper St. Johns River Basin, Florida, USA. Journal of Paleolimnology, 26(3), 241-257.
Cowardin, L. M. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior.
Florida Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society. 1989. 26 Ecological Communities of Florida
Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 2010. Ten-year resource management plan for the Charles H. Bronson State Forest.
Florida Fish and Wildlife. 2016. Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area Management Plan.
Florida Fish and Wildlife. 2019. A Management Plan for Herky Huffman/ Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Florida Fish and Wildlife. 2021. Little Big Econ State Forest Management Plan Update.
Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). 2010. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL
Fretwell, J. D., Williams, J. S., & Redman, P. J. 1996. National water summary on wetland resources (Vol. 2425). US Government Printing Office.
Gann, G.D., Bradley, K.A. and Woodmansee, S.W. 2009. Floristic Inventory of South Florida Database. Institute for Regional Conservation.
Griffith, G. E., Omernik, J. M., & Pierson, S. M. 2013. Level III and IV ecoregions of Florida.
Hutchinson, J. T., & Langeland, K. A. 2010. Evaluation of aerial herbicide application for reduction of woody vegetation in a floodplain marsh. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management (JAPM), 48, 40.
John, C. V., Miller, S. J., & Morris, F. W. 2001. Numerical simulation of the effect of canal plugs on the modification of Saint Johns Marsh Conservation Area hydraulics in the Upper St. Johns River Basin, Florida. In Proceedings of the 2001 Wetlands Engineering and River Restoration Conference (pp. 27-31).
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.
Lee, M. A., Ponzio, K., & Ormiston, B. G. 1995. Fire effects and fire management in the upper St. Johns River basin marsh, Florida. In Fire in wetlands: a management perspective. Proceedings of the Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference (No. 19, pp. 142-150).
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
Neubauer, C. P., Hall, G. B., Lowe, E. F., Robison, C. P., Hupalo, R. B., & Keenan, L. W. 2008. Minimum flows and levels method of the St. Johns River water management district, Florida, USA. Environmental Management, 42(6), 1101-1114.
Scott, T. M. 2001. Text to accompany the geologic map of Florida. Florida Geologic Survey, Tallahassee, Florida.
South Florida Water Management District. 2014. Allapattah Flats Management Area Ten-Year General Management Plan.
St. Johns River Water Management District. 2022. Hydrologic Conditions of the St. Johns River Water Management District. Hydrologic Data Collection Program and Reports. Available at https://www.sjrwmd.com/data/hydrologic/
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). 2007. Upper St. Johns River Basin, Surface Water Improvement and Management Plan.
Terwilliger, V.J., Ewel, K.C. 1986. Regeneration and Growth After Logging Florida Pond cypress Domes, Forest Science, Volume 32, Issue 2, June 1986, Pages 493–506, https://doi.org/10.1093/forestscience/32.2.493
Titus, J. H. 1991. Seed bank of a hardwood floodplain swamp in Florida. Castanea, 117-127.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southeast Region (FWS). 1998. Floating Water Swamps. Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southeast Region (FWS). 1998. Freshwater Marshes and Wet Prairies. Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southeast Region (FWS). 1998. Pond Swamps. Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida.
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.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
