patrickbdevaney/mia9 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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132 acres at the Richmond Pineland Complex. The University owns two distinct parcels. One 65-
acre parcel is the University South Campus off of Southwest 152nd Avenue, just west of Miami
Metrozoo. The University currently has plans to develop this property for private homes,
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 25
destroying the pine rockland. The second parcel, recently transferred from the U.S. Government,
is 67 acres at Southwest 168th Street and 117th Avenue. The University has not announced its
plans for the property, but full preservation is unlikely.
3.9 Future Preservation Estimates
There are currently about 1,092 acres of pine rocklands that are protected by government
agencies or private organizations and citizens. The EEL program has almost exhausted all
opportunities for new pine rockland acquisitions because remaining pine rocklands are owned by
unwilling sellers or are too small. The largest remaining areas of pine rockland that are not
preserved are within the Richmond Pineland Complex and are owned by the Department of
Defense, Federal Board of Prisons, University of Miami, and Miami-Metrozoo. These areas total
to about 585 acres. Even if half of this acreage is acquired by EEL or other wise preserved, and
the EEL makes two more planned acquisitions in other parts of the county, there is likely to be
no more than about 1,400 to 1,500 acres of pine rockland preserved in perpetuity in Miami-Dade
County.
3.10 Exotic Organisms
Several non-indigenous plant and animal
species have become, or could potentially
become, pest species affecting the quality
of the pine rockland remnants in EEL sites.
Some of the plant and animal species are
briefly discussed below.
3.10.1 Plants
Exotic plant species occur in every pine
rockland fragment in Miami-Dade County.
In botanical surveys of 99 pine rockland
fragments in 2004 and 2005, 173 exotic
plant taxa were recorded. The most
frequently recorded exotic plants, in
decreasing order of frequency, were Brazilian pepper, Burma reed, woman’s tongue, natal grass,
shrubverbena, Australian umbrellatree, gold coast jasmine, shrubby false buttonweed, wild bean,
and China brake. Of these 173 exotics, 57 are listed as Category I or II invasive species by the
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) (Appendix C).
The most problematic invasive plant species in pine rocklands include Brazilian pepper, Burma
reed, and natal grass. These species are aggressive invaders and once established can spread very
quickly throughout a site if they are not managed.
3.10.2 Animals
Since virtually all exotic animal introductions have been human-mediated, a population boom in
Miami-Dade County over the last 30-40 years has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number
of established exotic species in this area. As a result, populations of exotic animals have invaded
Miami-Dade County pineland with invading Burma reed
Photo by Keith Bradley, IRC
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 26
all available habitats within urbanized MiamiDade County, including pine rocklands, and many
species are expanding their range into the
neighboring wilderness areas. The most frequently
observed animal species in Miami-Dade pine
rocklands is often the introduced brown anole.
While the full biological and ecological
implications of this invasion are poorly
understood, there are certain species that are
clearly more problematic than others. Feral
domestic cats also commonly have negative
impacts on pine rockland EEL sites. For a
discussion on F. catus, please refer to Section
5.2.2.2 of Part I of this document. Other species
that are known to have potential detrimental
impacts to pine rockland communities are
discussed below in further detail and Table 4
includes a list of exotic species that are commonly
found in Miami-Dade pine rocklands.
• Red imported fire ant – The red imported fire
ant (RIFA) was introduced into the U.S. from
Brazil into either Mobile, Alabama or
Pensacola, Florida between 1933 and 1945 and
is now widespread throughout the southeastern
U.S. (Collins and Scheffrahn 2001). RIFA
have been documented to cause harm to
humans and wildlife as well as economic harm
(Stimac and Alves 1994; Collins and
Scheffrahn 2001; Willcox and Giuliano 2006).
RIFA are omnivorous, but they tend to prefer insects as their primary food source (Willcox
and Guiliano 2006). S. invicta have a number of impacts on wildlife. They have eliminated
many areas of native ant populations through competition and predation as well as
eliminating food sources utilized by some wildlife species. Ground-nesting wildlife is
especially susceptible to RIFA. Within Nixon Smiley Pineland, S. invicta have the potential
to affect ground-nesting birds; small mammals; reptiles such as Florida box turtles, native
lizard and snake species; and native invertebrates (Willcox and Giuliano 2006). While fire
ants are found in a range of habitats, within Miami-Dade County’s natural areas, they are
most closely associated with pine rocklands because of the drier upland environment and the
open canopy.
• European starling – Starlings were introduced to New York in the 1890’s and have since
successfully colonized most of North America (Ehrlich et al. 1988). Starlings are prevalent in
most any habitat type with suitable nesting habitat, including tree cavities, bird boxes or
buildings. They are, however, partial to areas with low forest density, leaving pine rockland
habitat to be a preferred natural setting in South Florida. An abundance of birds that dwell in
Table 4: Exotic animals commonly
present in pine rockland habitat in
Miami
Scientific Name Common Name
Aedes aegypti Yellow fever mosquito
Aedes albopictus Asian tiger mosquito
Anolis sagrei Brown anole
Apis mellifera Honey bees
Boa constrictor Boa constrictor

132 acres at the Richmond Pineland Complex. The University owns two distinct parcels. One 65-

acre parcel is the University South Campus off of Southwest 152nd Avenue, just west of Miami

Metrozoo. The University currently has plans to develop this property for private homes,

EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 25

destroying the pine rockland. The second parcel, recently transferred from the U.S. Government,

is 67 acres at Southwest 168th Street and 117th Avenue. The University has not announced its

plans for the property, but full preservation is unlikely.

3.9 Future Preservation Estimates

There are currently about 1,092 acres of pine rocklands that are protected by government

agencies or private organizations and citizens. The EEL program has almost exhausted all

opportunities for new pine rockland acquisitions because remaining pine rocklands are owned by

unwilling sellers or are too small. The largest remaining areas of pine rockland that are not

preserved are within the Richmond Pineland Complex and are owned by the Department of

Defense, Federal Board of Prisons, University of Miami, and Miami-Metrozoo. These areas total

to about 585 acres. Even if half of this acreage is acquired by EEL or other wise preserved, and

the EEL makes two more planned acquisitions in other parts of the county, there is likely to be

no more than about 1,400 to 1,500 acres of pine rockland preserved in perpetuity in Miami-Dade

County.

3.10 Exotic Organisms

Several non-indigenous plant and animal

species have become, or could potentially

become, pest species affecting the quality

of the pine rockland remnants in EEL sites.

Some of the plant and animal species are

briefly discussed below.

3.10.1 Plants

Exotic plant species occur in every pine

rockland fragment in Miami-Dade County.

In botanical surveys of 99 pine rockland

fragments in 2004 and 2005, 173 exotic

plant taxa were recorded. The most

frequently recorded exotic plants, in

decreasing order of frequency, were Brazilian pepper, Burma reed, woman’s tongue, natal grass,

shrubverbena, Australian umbrellatree, gold coast jasmine, shrubby false buttonweed, wild bean,

and China brake. Of these 173 exotics, 57 are listed as Category I or II invasive species by the

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) (Appendix C).

The most problematic invasive plant species in pine rocklands include Brazilian pepper, Burma

reed, and natal grass. These species are aggressive invaders and once established can spread very

quickly throughout a site if they are not managed.

3.10.2 Animals

Since virtually all exotic animal introductions have been human-mediated, a population boom in

Miami-Dade County over the last 30-40 years has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number

of established exotic species in this area. As a result, populations of exotic animals have invaded

Miami-Dade County pineland with invading Burma reed

Photo by Keith Bradley, IRC

EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 26

all available habitats within urbanized MiamiDade County, including pine rocklands, and many

species are expanding their range into the

neighboring wilderness areas. The most frequently

observed animal species in Miami-Dade pine

rocklands is often the introduced brown anole.

While the full biological and ecological

implications of this invasion are poorly

understood, there are certain species that are

clearly more problematic than others. Feral

domestic cats also commonly have negative

impacts on pine rockland EEL sites. For a

discussion on F. catus, please refer to Section

5.2.2.2 of Part I of this document. Other species

that are known to have potential detrimental

impacts to pine rockland communities are

discussed below in further detail and Table 4

includes a list of exotic species that are commonly

found in Miami-Dade pine rocklands.

• Red imported fire ant – The red imported fire

ant (RIFA) was introduced into the U.S. from

Brazil into either Mobile, Alabama or

Pensacola, Florida between 1933 and 1945 and

is now widespread throughout the southeastern

U.S. (Collins and Scheffrahn 2001). RIFA

have been documented to cause harm to

humans and wildlife as well as economic harm

(Stimac and Alves 1994; Collins and

Scheffrahn 2001; Willcox and Giuliano 2006).

RIFA are omnivorous, but they tend to prefer insects as their primary food source (Willcox

and Guiliano 2006). S. invicta have a number of impacts on wildlife. They have eliminated

many areas of native ant populations through competition and predation as well as

eliminating food sources utilized by some wildlife species. Ground-nesting wildlife is

especially susceptible to RIFA. Within Nixon Smiley Pineland, S. invicta have the potential

to affect ground-nesting birds; small mammals; reptiles such as Florida box turtles, native

lizard and snake species; and native invertebrates (Willcox and Giuliano 2006). While fire

ants are found in a range of habitats, within Miami-Dade County’s natural areas, they are

most closely associated with pine rocklands because of the drier upland environment and the

open canopy.

• European starling – Starlings were introduced to New York in the 1890’s and have since

successfully colonized most of North America (Ehrlich et al. 1988). Starlings are prevalent in

most any habitat type with suitable nesting habitat, including tree cavities, bird boxes or

buildings. They are, however, partial to areas with low forest density, leaving pine rockland

habitat to be a preferred natural setting in South Florida. An abundance of birds that dwell in

Table 4: Exotic animals commonly

present in pine rockland habitat in

Miami

Scientific Name Common Name

Aedes aegypti Yellow fever mosquito

Aedes albopictus Asian tiger mosquito

Anolis sagrei Brown anole

Apis mellifera Honey bees

Boa constrictor Boa constrictor