patrickbdevaney/mia9 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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well drained with a water table from 1 to 2 m (USDA 1996). Soil mapping has not
been performed for Collier County, so little information is available on Big
Cypress pine rockland soils (Snyder et al. 1990). S. Woodmansee (The Institute
for Regional Conservation, personal communication 1998) has conducted
extensive soil tests of pine rockland soils on the Miami Rock Ridge and has found
that all pine rockland soils are slightly basic.
Rainfall in the pine rockland community varies from over 163 cm (64 inches)
average annual in the northwest portion of Miami-Dade County to between 122
and 143 cm (48 and 56 inches, respectively) average annual in the rest of the
county. Mean rainfall in the Florida Keys pine rocklands is 102 cm (40 inches),
but is variable from island to island. The majority of this precipitation (75 percent)
occurs between June and September (DERM 1995).
The hydroperiod in Long Pine Key and Big Cypress pine rocklands can range
from about 20 to 60 days/year (Duever et al. 1979), but in pine rocklands on the
Miami Rock Ridge outside of Everglades NP and most of the pine rocklands on
Big Pine Key, the water table seldom reaches the surface. Under current
conditions, the mean water table in Long Pine Key pine rocklands is reported at
0.6 to 2.0 m below the surface during the dry season and 0.3 to 1.0 m below the
surface during the wet season (Olmsted and Loope 1984).
Temperature also plays an important role in pine rocklands. Because the large
constituent of tropical and subtropical plants are more exposed to below-freezing
temperatures in the relatively open understory, they are more likely to succumb to
freeze damage than conspecifics in the sheltered rockland hammocks. Thus,
below-freezing temperatures help reduce tropical hardwood encroachment in pine
rocklands (FNAI and Florida Department of Natural Resources 1990).
Wildlife Diversity
Except for some birds and bats, most vertebrate animal species found in pine
rocklands are temperate in origin (Snyder et al. 1990). While plant species can
be transported by birds, ocean currents, or wind from the Caribbean, most
animal species had to travel to South Florida by land, and a land bridge has never
connected South Florida with the Caribbean. Pine rocklands provide food, cover,
Page 3-168
PINE ROCKLANDS Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida
roosting, and nesting sites to a wide variety of wildlife species. Fifteen species of
vertebrates are endemic to South Florida rocklands (Snyder et al. 1990), and many
of these utilize pine rocklands as habitat. Ten of these are mammals and five are
reptiles. There are no endemic birds found in pine rocklands (Snyder et al. 1990).
It has been noted that rockland habitats, including pine rocklands, contain a
lower diversity and abundance of wildlife than similar habitats to the north
(Robertson and Kushlan 1984). Snyder et al. (1990) cite the peninsula effect of
reduced species diversity in all vertebrate groups. Habitat disturbance has been
implicated with low breeding bird populations, although reduced densities have
also been found in isolated, undisturbed areas of the Big Cypress National
Preserve (Patterson et al. 1980.).
The almost-year-round relative dryness of pinelands in the Big Cypress
National Preserve has been cited as an important factor for wildlife in this
community (Duever et al. 1979). Characters which are important to wildlife
include open areas for sunning, soaring space, and a high amount of grassy forage.
Robertson and Kushlan (1984) report breeding bird densities in pine
rocklands of 3 to 15.5 species, and between 5.5 and 55.5 breeding birds per ha .
The most common included pine warbler (Dendroica discolor), red-bellied
woodpecker (Melanerpes carolina), eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna),
northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus),
bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis), loggerhead shrike
(Lanius ludovicianus), and common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) on Long Pine
Key and red-bellied woodpecker, gray kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis), and
northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) in the Florida Keys.
Dalrymple (1988) reports 22 species of reptiles and amphibians collected in
traps in pine rocklands on Long Pine Key. Among the most common species
collected were green anole (Anolis carolinensis), southern leopard frog (Rana
sphenocephala), southern toad (Bufo quercicus), black racer (Coluber
constrictor), and southeastern five-lined skink (Eumeces inexpectatus).
Some West Indian vertebrates are also found in pine rockland communities,
however, it is unknown if these were introduced by humans. Present opinion
indicates that all but the reef gecko were introduced. The greenhouse frog
(Eleutherodactylus planirostris), Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis), reef
gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus), and brown anole (Anolis sagrei) are
representative of these West Indian species (Snyder et al. 1990). The Bahamian
bark anole (Anolis distichus), Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), and
Florida mastiff bat (Eumops glaucinus floridanus) are examples of recent natural
colonizers of pine rockland habitat (Snyder et al. 1990).
The Big Cypress (=mangrove) fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia),
Florida panther (Puma (=Felis) concolor coryi), and Florida black bear (Ursus
americanus floridanus) use pine rockland habitats, but are also found in other
plant communities as well (Snyder et al. 1990). The American kestrel (Falco
sparverius), brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), eastern bluebird (Sialia
sialus), and summer tanager (Piranga rubra) formerly bred in pine rocklands
of the Miami Rock Ridge, but are no longer found there (Snyder et al. 1990).
These species, with the exception of the American kestrel and the hairy
woodpecker (Picoides villosus), are still found in the pine rocklands of the Big
Cypress National Preserve (Snyder et al. 1990).
Page 3-169
PINE ROCKLANDS Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida
Invertebrate species found in pinelands include ants, skippers, butterflies,
and arachnids. The ants originate from North America while many of the
butterflies and skippers are West Indian in origin. Typical butterflies include
Bartrams hairstreak (Strymon acis bartrami), Florida leaf wing (Anaea
troglodyta floridalis), rockland grass skipper (Hesperia meskei), and sawgrass
skipper (Euphyes pilatica klotsi) (Minno and Emmel 1993). Other
invertebrates include ogre-faced spider (Dinopsis spinosa), silver argiope
(Argiope argentata), and vinegaroons (Mastigoproctus giganteus).
Wildlife Species of Concern
Federally listed species that depend upon or utilize pine rocklands in South
Florida include: Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium), Kirtlands warbler
(Dendroica kirtlandii), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), eastern indigo
snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), and Florida panther. The pine rocklands
in the Big Cypress region and Long Pine Key provide habitat for eastern indigo
snakes and Florida panthers. The Key deer can be found utilizing the pine
rocklands on Big Pine Key. Biological accounts and recovery tasks for these
species are included in The Species section of this recovery plan.

well drained with a water table from 1 to 2 m (USDA 1996). Soil mapping has not

been performed for Collier County, so little information is available on Big

Cypress pine rockland soils (Snyder et al. 1990). S. Woodmansee (The Institute

for Regional Conservation, personal communication 1998) has conducted

extensive soil tests of pine rockland soils on the Miami Rock Ridge and has found

that all pine rockland soils are slightly basic.

Rainfall in the pine rockland community varies from over 163 cm (64 inches)

average annual in the northwest portion of Miami-Dade County to between 122

and 143 cm (48 and 56 inches, respectively) average annual in the rest of the

county. Mean rainfall in the Florida Keys pine rocklands is 102 cm (40 inches),

but is variable from island to island. The majority of this precipitation (75 percent)

occurs between June and September (DERM 1995).

The hydroperiod in Long Pine Key and Big Cypress pine rocklands can range

from about 20 to 60 days/year (Duever et al. 1979), but in pine rocklands on the

Miami Rock Ridge outside of Everglades NP and most of the pine rocklands on

Big Pine Key, the water table seldom reaches the surface. Under current

conditions, the mean water table in Long Pine Key pine rocklands is reported at

0.6 to 2.0 m below the surface during the dry season and 0.3 to 1.0 m below the

surface during the wet season (Olmsted and Loope 1984).

Temperature also plays an important role in pine rocklands. Because the large

constituent of tropical and subtropical plants are more exposed to below-freezing

temperatures in the relatively open understory, they are more likely to succumb to

freeze damage than conspecifics in the sheltered rockland hammocks. Thus,

below-freezing temperatures help reduce tropical hardwood encroachment in pine

rocklands (FNAI and Florida Department of Natural Resources 1990).

Wildlife Diversity

Except for some birds and bats, most vertebrate animal species found in pine

rocklands are temperate in origin (Snyder et al. 1990). While plant species can

be transported by birds, ocean currents, or wind from the Caribbean, most

animal species had to travel to South Florida by land, and a land bridge has never

connected South Florida with the Caribbean. Pine rocklands provide food, cover,

Page 3-168

PINE ROCKLANDS Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida

roosting, and nesting sites to a wide variety of wildlife species. Fifteen species of

vertebrates are endemic to South Florida rocklands (Snyder et al. 1990), and many

of these utilize pine rocklands as habitat. Ten of these are mammals and five are

reptiles. There are no endemic birds found in pine rocklands (Snyder et al. 1990).

It has been noted that rockland habitats, including pine rocklands, contain a

lower diversity and abundance of wildlife than similar habitats to the north

(Robertson and Kushlan 1984). Snyder et al. (1990) cite the peninsula effect of

reduced species diversity in all vertebrate groups. Habitat disturbance has been

implicated with low breeding bird populations, although reduced densities have

also been found in isolated, undisturbed areas of the Big Cypress National

Preserve (Patterson et al. 1980.).

The almost-year-round relative dryness of pinelands in the Big Cypress

National Preserve has been cited as an important factor for wildlife in this

community (Duever et al. 1979). Characters which are important to wildlife

include open areas for sunning, soaring space, and a high amount of grassy forage.

Robertson and Kushlan (1984) report breeding bird densities in pine

rocklands of 3 to 15.5 species, and between 5.5 and 55.5 breeding birds per ha .

The most common included pine warbler (Dendroica discolor), red-bellied

woodpecker (Melanerpes carolina), eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna),

northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus),

bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis), loggerhead shrike

(Lanius ludovicianus), and common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) on Long Pine

Key and red-bellied woodpecker, gray kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis), and

northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) in the Florida Keys.

Dalrymple (1988) reports 22 species of reptiles and amphibians collected in

traps in pine rocklands on Long Pine Key. Among the most common species

collected were green anole (Anolis carolinensis), southern leopard frog (Rana

sphenocephala), southern toad (Bufo quercicus), black racer (Coluber

constrictor), and southeastern five-lined skink (Eumeces inexpectatus).

Some West Indian vertebrates are also found in pine rockland communities,

however, it is unknown if these were introduced by humans. Present opinion

indicates that all but the reef gecko were introduced. The greenhouse frog

(Eleutherodactylus planirostris), Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis), reef

gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus), and brown anole (Anolis sagrei) are

representative of these West Indian species (Snyder et al. 1990). The Bahamian

bark anole (Anolis distichus), Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), and

Florida mastiff bat (Eumops glaucinus floridanus) are examples of recent natural

colonizers of pine rockland habitat (Snyder et al. 1990).

The Big Cypress (=mangrove) fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia),

Florida panther (Puma (=Felis) concolor coryi), and Florida black bear (Ursus

americanus floridanus) use pine rockland habitats, but are also found in other

plant communities as well (Snyder et al. 1990). The American kestrel (Falco

sparverius), brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), eastern bluebird (Sialia

sialus), and summer tanager (Piranga rubra) formerly bred in pine rocklands

of the Miami Rock Ridge, but are no longer found there (Snyder et al. 1990).

These species, with the exception of the American kestrel and the hairy

woodpecker (Picoides villosus), are still found in the pine rocklands of the Big

Cypress National Preserve (Snyder et al. 1990).

Page 3-169

PINE ROCKLANDS Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida

Invertebrate species found in pinelands include ants, skippers, butterflies,

and arachnids. The ants originate from North America while many of the

butterflies and skippers are West Indian in origin. Typical butterflies include

Bartrams hairstreak (Strymon acis bartrami), Florida leaf wing (Anaea

troglodyta floridalis), rockland grass skipper (Hesperia meskei), and sawgrass

skipper (Euphyes pilatica klotsi) (Minno and Emmel 1993). Other

invertebrates include ogre-faced spider (Dinopsis spinosa), silver argiope

(Argiope argentata), and vinegaroons (Mastigoproctus giganteus).

Wildlife Species of Concern

Federally listed species that depend upon or utilize pine rocklands in South

Florida include: Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium), Kirtlands warbler

(Dendroica kirtlandii), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), eastern indigo

snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), and Florida panther. The pine rocklands

in the Big Cypress region and Long Pine Key provide habitat for eastern indigo

snakes and Florida panthers. The Key deer can be found utilizing the pine

rocklands on Big Pine Key. Biological accounts and recovery tasks for these

species are included in The Species section of this recovery plan.