patrickbdevaney/mia9 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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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
initial small population sizes. Such rare plant populations would benefit from more specific
management techniques, when it concurs with habitat management, including cross pollination
from other populations (or transplants between populations), reintroduction of pollinators, and
establishment of greenways or stepping stones between isolated populations to facilitate
pollinator travel resulting in gene flow between populations.
It is also recommended that ex-site collections of rare plants be maintained to prevent their
extirpations or extinctions. Such collections of some species are already being maintained by
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG), the Center for Plant Conservation, Marie Selby
Botanical Gardens, and IRC. Where rare plants have been extirpated from sites within their
historic ranges, they could be reintroduced from these collections. Specific examples are detailed
in Gann et al. (2002) and discussed for specific sites in Part III of this management plan.
4.4.2 Animals
Management goals for native fauna in general should be aimed at simply restoring and
maintaining natural pine rocklands habitats, in an effort to support the associated animal
communities. In addition, the following species should receive special attention as outlined
below.
• Gopher tortoise – Management efforts should aim to preserve large tracts of habitat that
are burned at regular intervals to maintain a dense herb layer. Translocation of this
species should be avoided and, when necessary, done only with extreme caution due to an
upper respiratory tract infection caused by Mycoplasma agassizii currently infecting wild
populations of gopher tortoise.
• Rimrock crowned snake – Many of the EEL sites along the Miami Rock Ridge of eastern
Miami-Dade County are within the historic range of this species and contain appropriate
habitat. Efforts should be made to maintain rockland habitat in those parks. Additionally,
this species appears to be somewhat tolerant of marginal habitats so areas surrounding
these sites, even urban development, should be encouraged to incorporate natural
landscaping and to provide cover material for refugia.
• Florida leafwing butterfly – EEL pinelands along the edge of ENP may be crucial for this
species’ recovery. To assist in this process, further habitat loss from development and fire
suppression, resulting in succession, must be stemmed. Other threats to this species
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 35
include chemical impacts of pesticides used in mosquito control and overcollection for
commercial and recreational purposes.
• Bartram’s hairstreak butterfly – In order for this species to recover, further habitat loss
from development and fire suppression, resulting in succession, must be stemmed. Other
threats to this species include chemical impacts of pesticides used in mosquito control
and overcollection for commercial and recreational purposes.
4.5 Exotic Organisms
The invasion of exotic organisms, especially plants, into pine rocklands is one of the greatest
threats to the ecosystem. As discussed in Part I, Section 5.2.2.1 and 5.2.2.2 of this management
plan, exotic organisms can disrupt and alter ecosystem processes, vegetation structure, and
composition. Management of exotic plants and animals is discussed below.
4.5.1 Plants
Exotic plant species are present on all pine rockland fragments (see section 3.10.1). Exotic plant
species that are listed as Category I or II invasives by the FLEPPC (www.fleppc.org) should be
prioritized for removal from pine rocklands. Sparse populations of exotic pest plants should be
removed before removal of denser stands to maximize restored habitat area. Following removal
of sparse populations, denser populations, especially those in more degraded habitat areas,
should be removed. General guidelines for exotic plant control in pine rocklands are discussed
here, and site–specific management is discussed in Part III of this plan.
Prescribed fire can be used as the main technique to control exotic plants. Fires can kill
individuals of many species (e.g. Brazilian-pepper), limit their populations sizes, and, most
significantly, return pine rockland sites to conditions unfavorable for exotic plant invasions. Fire
management is discussed in detail in Section 4.6.
In the absence of fire, chemical control of exotic plant species has been and should remain the
preferred management technique. For some species, especially smaller populations, manual
removal hand pulling, digging, or cutting) can also be used. Control of especially dense
populations of exotic plants in degraded pine rocklands or in disturbed areas adjacent to pine
rocklands may require more planning than removal of sparse populations. For these areas, in
addition to chemical control and manual removal, management may require bulldozing or the use

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

initial small population sizes. Such rare plant populations would benefit from more specific

management techniques, when it concurs with habitat management, including cross pollination

from other populations (or transplants between populations), reintroduction of pollinators, and

establishment of greenways or stepping stones between isolated populations to facilitate

pollinator travel resulting in gene flow between populations.

It is also recommended that ex-site collections of rare plants be maintained to prevent their

extirpations or extinctions. Such collections of some species are already being maintained by

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG), the Center for Plant Conservation, Marie Selby

Botanical Gardens, and IRC. Where rare plants have been extirpated from sites within their

historic ranges, they could be reintroduced from these collections. Specific examples are detailed

in Gann et al. (2002) and discussed for specific sites in Part III of this management plan.

4.4.2 Animals

Management goals for native fauna in general should be aimed at simply restoring and

maintaining natural pine rocklands habitats, in an effort to support the associated animal

communities. In addition, the following species should receive special attention as outlined

below.

• Gopher tortoise – Management efforts should aim to preserve large tracts of habitat that

are burned at regular intervals to maintain a dense herb layer. Translocation of this

species should be avoided and, when necessary, done only with extreme caution due to an

upper respiratory tract infection caused by Mycoplasma agassizii currently infecting wild

populations of gopher tortoise.

• Rimrock crowned snake – Many of the EEL sites along the Miami Rock Ridge of eastern

Miami-Dade County are within the historic range of this species and contain appropriate

habitat. Efforts should be made to maintain rockland habitat in those parks. Additionally,

this species appears to be somewhat tolerant of marginal habitats so areas surrounding

these sites, even urban development, should be encouraged to incorporate natural

landscaping and to provide cover material for refugia.

• Florida leafwing butterfly – EEL pinelands along the edge of ENP may be crucial for this

species’ recovery. To assist in this process, further habitat loss from development and fire

suppression, resulting in succession, must be stemmed. Other threats to this species

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

Page 35

include chemical impacts of pesticides used in mosquito control and overcollection for

commercial and recreational purposes.

• Bartram’s hairstreak butterfly – In order for this species to recover, further habitat loss

from development and fire suppression, resulting in succession, must be stemmed. Other

threats to this species include chemical impacts of pesticides used in mosquito control

and overcollection for commercial and recreational purposes.

4.5 Exotic Organisms

The invasion of exotic organisms, especially plants, into pine rocklands is one of the greatest

threats to the ecosystem. As discussed in Part I, Section 5.2.2.1 and 5.2.2.2 of this management

plan, exotic organisms can disrupt and alter ecosystem processes, vegetation structure, and

composition. Management of exotic plants and animals is discussed below.

4.5.1 Plants

Exotic plant species are present on all pine rockland fragments (see section 3.10.1). Exotic plant

species that are listed as Category I or II invasives by the FLEPPC (www.fleppc.org) should be

prioritized for removal from pine rocklands. Sparse populations of exotic pest plants should be

removed before removal of denser stands to maximize restored habitat area. Following removal

of sparse populations, denser populations, especially those in more degraded habitat areas,

should be removed. General guidelines for exotic plant control in pine rocklands are discussed

here, and site–specific management is discussed in Part III of this plan.

Prescribed fire can be used as the main technique to control exotic plants. Fires can kill

individuals of many species (e.g. Brazilian-pepper), limit their populations sizes, and, most

significantly, return pine rockland sites to conditions unfavorable for exotic plant invasions. Fire

management is discussed in detail in Section 4.6.

In the absence of fire, chemical control of exotic plant species has been and should remain the

preferred management technique. For some species, especially smaller populations, manual

removal hand pulling, digging, or cutting) can also be used. Control of especially dense

populations of exotic plants in degraded pine rocklands or in disturbed areas adjacent to pine

rocklands may require more planning than removal of sparse populations. For these areas, in

addition to chemical control and manual removal, management may require bulldozing or the use