patrickbdevaney/mia9 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Experimentation will be required to determine appropriate densities. At some sites with dense
canopy trees or saplings, trees should be removed to achieve lower densities. Prescribed fires
may also be used to reduce densities of sapling pine trees. Conversely, some pine rockland sites
Management Policy
Pine rockland EEL sites shall be managed in an attempt to restore or approach
historical vegetative structure conditions, including the management of canopy
density, understory density, herb layer density and diversity, and exotics at preserve
edges.
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 32
may need pine reintroductions or augmentations to reach target densities. Pines can be planted as
tubelings or directly seeded (Mayo 2000). If using tubelings, pine plantings on a single site
should be sparser than needed for target densities. Periodic plantings at intervals of five (5) to ten
(10) years should be used to achieve target densities to achieve a multi-aged pine stand. If using
seeds, the seed source should be local, preferably from Miami-Dade County. As has been done in
the past, all pines currently utilized for reintroductions or augmentations on pine rockland EEL
sites, whether tubelings or seeds, should originate from local sources.
4.3.2 Understory Density
Understory vegetation densities should be managed in an effort to attain historical conditions. As
noted previously, understory heights were probably less than two (2) feet and overall shrub and
palm cover less than 25%. Ludlum Pineland serves as an example of a site that is probably close
to desired conditions.
Reaching this condition would require hardwood and palm reduction at most pine rockland sites,
preferably by prescribed fire or mechanical removal followed by prescribed fire. Reduction of
understory densities, including hardwoods and palms, would result in better conditions for
prescribed fire. With less fuel, fires are easier to control, produce much less smoke, have less
chance of reaching the pine canopy, and result in lower fire temperatures that may be beneficial
to native herbs and make sites less prone to invasion by exotic and ruderal plant species. While
not preferred, in the absence of fire, manual or mechanical removal, herbicide application, or a
combination of techniques could be utilized to manage understory density in pine rocklands.
4.3.3 Herb Layer
Herb layers should be managed to have a diversity of native species that are indigenous to the
pine rockland community. Following recommended canopy (see Section 4.3.1) and subcanopy
(see Section 4.3.2) management guidelines should be sufficient at most sites to achieve a desired
dense and diverse herb layer. A density target is not provided here because herb layer density
and composition is so variable in pine rocklands. Canopy and subcanopy management focuses
primarily on restoring the historical fire regime at pine rocklands. Reintroduction or
augmentation of native grasses and forbs may be required at some sites. The details of this
practices will be included at the site-specific plans level in Part III of this document.
At pine rockland sites that have been subjected to fire suppression, the diversity of forbs, grasses,
and sedges can be greatly reduced. Following treatment of the canopy and subcanopy, and
reintroduction of fire, many species may reappear from a soil seed bank or dormant roots.
Following restoration by prescribed burning, many fire-suppressed sites would benefit from the
replanting of native herbs. Native species should be used that were historically on or in the
vicinity of the pine rockland fragment being restored. Lists of appropriate species can be found
online at www.regionalconservation.org in the Natives for Your Neighborhood and Floristic
Inventory of South Florida databases. Any reintroductions or augmentations should use
germplasm from pine rocklands as close to the introduction site as possible to ensure that similar
genetic material is used.
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 33
If the application of prescribed fire is absolutely impossible, there are several alternatives that are
available, although less desirable. These options include grazing, herbicide application, and
mechanical treatment. The benefits and disadvantages of these alternatives are detailed in
Section 4.6.4 of this management plan, Alternatives to Prescribed Burning.
4.3.4 Edges
Edges of pine rocklands should be managed to eliminate the occurrence of exotic pest plants
(especially Brazilian pepper, Burma reed, and natal grass) and minimize ruderal species that may
invade pine rocklands after fires.
Open areas with exposed limestone at the edges of pine rocklands (such as fire breaks) can often
be refugia for pine rockland herbs where habitat quality has degraded in the interior of sites.
Removal of all loose soil by mechanical scraping, resulting in the exposure of oolitic limestone,
around the edges of pine rockland sites could be beneficial. Pine rockland herbs should colonize
scraped areas. An added benefit is that exposed limestone is poor habitat for many exotic and
ruderal species that are a threat to pine rocklands. Scraped open areas at the edges of pine
rocklands should be put on a mowing cycle that allows indigenous pine rockland herbs to flower
and fruit before being mowed again, perhaps at a three (3) to six (6) month cycle. Some chemical
control of exotic ruderal plant species would also be beneficial to native species colonizing the
area.
4.4 Rare Organisms
EEL’s pine rockland sites should be managed to provide habitat for rare organisms indigenous to
the ecosystem. Small fragments of pine rockland are suitable habitat for many species of plants,
small vertebrates, and invertebrates. Rare plants and animals that could be managed on EEL
sites, in conjunction with ecosystem management, are discussed below.
4.4.1 Plants
Pine rocklands are habitat to a large number of rare plants, including species that are considered
by one or more agencies and organizations as Endangered, Threatened, or Critically Imperiled.
Some of these plant species only occur in Miami-Dade’s pine rocklands outside of ENP, making
the proper management of EEL’s pine rocklands important to prevent their extinction. Two
examples of these rare endemics are Goulds wedge sandmat and Mosier's false boneset (Bradley
and Gann 1999).
General management recommendations for the pine rockland ecosystem, discussed in this
chapter, should be sufficient for the preservation of most rare plant species. The use of
prescribed fire is the most critical habitat management tool needed to ensure the survival of rare
Management Policy
Natural populations of rare organisms should be managed to ensure their long-term
survival on pine rockland EEL sites. Where appropriate, rare organisms should be
augmented, reintroduced, or introduced to sites where they are either rare, extirpated,
or within their natural ranges, respectively.
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 34
plant species. However, extra precaution should be taken around rare plant populations to
prevent trampling when removing fuel. Hand removal of duff layers around plants to reduce fire
temperatures would also be beneficial.
Species-specific management of plants should be needed very rarely. In some situations,
discussed on a case by case basis in Part III of this management plan, special management
techniques may be beneficial to extremely rare plants. Small, isolated populations of rare plants
may suffer from reduced pollination (or no pollination) because of extirpation of pollinators,
genetic bottlenecks causing reduced fitness, increased herbivory or parasitism, or loss in
stochastic events (floods, hurricanes, car crashes, tree falls, chemical spills, etc.) because of

Experimentation will be required to determine appropriate densities. At some sites with dense

canopy trees or saplings, trees should be removed to achieve lower densities. Prescribed fires

may also be used to reduce densities of sapling pine trees. Conversely, some pine rockland sites

Management Policy

Pine rockland EEL sites shall be managed in an attempt to restore or approach

historical vegetative structure conditions, including the management of canopy

density, understory density, herb layer density and diversity, and exotics at preserve

edges.

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

Page 32

may need pine reintroductions or augmentations to reach target densities. Pines can be planted as

tubelings or directly seeded (Mayo 2000). If using tubelings, pine plantings on a single site

should be sparser than needed for target densities. Periodic plantings at intervals of five (5) to ten

(10) years should be used to achieve target densities to achieve a multi-aged pine stand. If using

seeds, the seed source should be local, preferably from Miami-Dade County. As has been done in

the past, all pines currently utilized for reintroductions or augmentations on pine rockland EEL

sites, whether tubelings or seeds, should originate from local sources.

4.3.2 Understory Density

Understory vegetation densities should be managed in an effort to attain historical conditions. As

noted previously, understory heights were probably less than two (2) feet and overall shrub and

palm cover less than 25%. Ludlum Pineland serves as an example of a site that is probably close

to desired conditions.

Reaching this condition would require hardwood and palm reduction at most pine rockland sites,

preferably by prescribed fire or mechanical removal followed by prescribed fire. Reduction of

understory densities, including hardwoods and palms, would result in better conditions for

prescribed fire. With less fuel, fires are easier to control, produce much less smoke, have less

chance of reaching the pine canopy, and result in lower fire temperatures that may be beneficial

to native herbs and make sites less prone to invasion by exotic and ruderal plant species. While

not preferred, in the absence of fire, manual or mechanical removal, herbicide application, or a

combination of techniques could be utilized to manage understory density in pine rocklands.

4.3.3 Herb Layer

Herb layers should be managed to have a diversity of native species that are indigenous to the

pine rockland community. Following recommended canopy (see Section 4.3.1) and subcanopy

(see Section 4.3.2) management guidelines should be sufficient at most sites to achieve a desired

dense and diverse herb layer. A density target is not provided here because herb layer density

and composition is so variable in pine rocklands. Canopy and subcanopy management focuses

primarily on restoring the historical fire regime at pine rocklands. Reintroduction or

augmentation of native grasses and forbs may be required at some sites. The details of this

practices will be included at the site-specific plans level in Part III of this document.

At pine rockland sites that have been subjected to fire suppression, the diversity of forbs, grasses,

and sedges can be greatly reduced. Following treatment of the canopy and subcanopy, and

reintroduction of fire, many species may reappear from a soil seed bank or dormant roots.

Following restoration by prescribed burning, many fire-suppressed sites would benefit from the

replanting of native herbs. Native species should be used that were historically on or in the

vicinity of the pine rockland fragment being restored. Lists of appropriate species can be found

online at www.regionalconservation.org in the Natives for Your Neighborhood and Floristic

Inventory of South Florida databases. Any reintroductions or augmentations should use

germplasm from pine rocklands as close to the introduction site as possible to ensure that similar

genetic material is used.

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

Page 33

If the application of prescribed fire is absolutely impossible, there are several alternatives that are

available, although less desirable. These options include grazing, herbicide application, and

mechanical treatment. The benefits and disadvantages of these alternatives are detailed in

Section 4.6.4 of this management plan, Alternatives to Prescribed Burning.

4.3.4 Edges

Edges of pine rocklands should be managed to eliminate the occurrence of exotic pest plants

(especially Brazilian pepper, Burma reed, and natal grass) and minimize ruderal species that may

invade pine rocklands after fires.

Open areas with exposed limestone at the edges of pine rocklands (such as fire breaks) can often

be refugia for pine rockland herbs where habitat quality has degraded in the interior of sites.

Removal of all loose soil by mechanical scraping, resulting in the exposure of oolitic limestone,

around the edges of pine rockland sites could be beneficial. Pine rockland herbs should colonize

scraped areas. An added benefit is that exposed limestone is poor habitat for many exotic and

ruderal species that are a threat to pine rocklands. Scraped open areas at the edges of pine

rocklands should be put on a mowing cycle that allows indigenous pine rockland herbs to flower

and fruit before being mowed again, perhaps at a three (3) to six (6) month cycle. Some chemical

control of exotic ruderal plant species would also be beneficial to native species colonizing the

area.

4.4 Rare Organisms

EEL’s pine rockland sites should be managed to provide habitat for rare organisms indigenous to

the ecosystem. Small fragments of pine rockland are suitable habitat for many species of plants,

small vertebrates, and invertebrates. Rare plants and animals that could be managed on EEL

sites, in conjunction with ecosystem management, are discussed below.

4.4.1 Plants

Pine rocklands are habitat to a large number of rare plants, including species that are considered

by one or more agencies and organizations as Endangered, Threatened, or Critically Imperiled.

Some of these plant species only occur in Miami-Dade’s pine rocklands outside of ENP, making

the proper management of EEL’s pine rocklands important to prevent their extinction. Two

examples of these rare endemics are Goulds wedge sandmat and Mosier's false boneset (Bradley

and Gann 1999).

General management recommendations for the pine rockland ecosystem, discussed in this

chapter, should be sufficient for the preservation of most rare plant species. The use of

prescribed fire is the most critical habitat management tool needed to ensure the survival of rare

Management Policy

Natural populations of rare organisms should be managed to ensure their long-term

survival on pine rockland EEL sites. Where appropriate, rare organisms should be

augmented, reintroduced, or introduced to sites where they are either rare, extirpated,

or within their natural ranges, respectively.

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

Page 34

plant species. However, extra precaution should be taken around rare plant populations to

prevent trampling when removing fuel. Hand removal of duff layers around plants to reduce fire

temperatures would also be beneficial.

Species-specific management of plants should be needed very rarely. In some situations,

discussed on a case by case basis in Part III of this management plan, special management

techniques may be beneficial to extremely rare plants. Small, isolated populations of rare plants

may suffer from reduced pollination (or no pollination) because of extirpation of pollinators,

genetic bottlenecks causing reduced fitness, increased herbivory or parasitism, or loss in

stochastic events (floods, hurricanes, car crashes, tree falls, chemical spills, etc.) because of