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The Wildlife Conservation Prioritization and Recovery Program

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www.sfrc.ufl.edu/CFEOR The Wildlife Conservation Prioritization and Recovery Program Author: David Johnson, Assistant Section Leader, FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission a framework to prioritize actions for imperiled and focal species. This approach integrates geospatial analytical techniques to model potential habitat, Population Viability Analysis results, and conservation he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation planning. FWC combines this information with area T Commission (FWC) uses a comprehensive specific and expert knowledge to determine where resource management approach to managing State focal species conservation can be proactively affected lands. Restoring the form and function of Florida’s within a specific WMA. All of this information is natural communities is the base of this management incorporated into a Species Management Strategy philosophy. Two programs provide land that is unique to each WMA. The managers with the tools to achieve strategy outlines the role of the area in specific habitat management goals. wildlife conservation and sets area- Objective-based vegetation management specific objectives for managing priority is used to monitor how specific vegetative species and their habitat. In addition, the parameters respond to FWC management strategy prescribes management to aid in and the Wildlife Conservation species recovery, prescribes monitoring Prioritization and Recovery program to allow evaluation of the species (WCPR) is used to ensure management is response to management, and ensures having the desired effect on wildlife. the information is shared with others. The goal of WCPR is to “provide assessment, Since its inception in 2008, WCPR strategies have recovery, and planning support for the Wildlife been initiated or completed for 11 areas including Management Area (WMA) system to enhance Apalachicola River and Hungryland Wildlife and management of focal species and recovery of listed Environmental Areas, Half Moon, Chassahowitzka, species.” WCPR program objectives include; and Salt Lake WMAs. The strategies are designed to prioritizing what FWC does for imperiled and focal mirror the timeline of the areas’ required species on FWC lead WMAs; ensuring the actions Management Plan and will be revisited every 10 years taken on these areas are part of statewide to determine if changes are needed. For more conservation programs/priorities; and sharing with information about WCPR or to see a completed and informing others about the work accomplished strategy please contact Dan Sullivan, Conservation on these lands. E c o l o g i s t a n d W C P R C o o r d i n a t o r 1 WCPR is a science-based approach that helps to ([email protected]). assess species needs and opportunities and provides Multiple causes of seeding rarity in scrub plum, Prunus geniculata (Rosaceae), an endangered shrub of the Florida scrub Weekley, Carl W.; David N. Zaya; Eric S. Menges and Amy E. Faivre 2010. American Journal of Botany 91(1):144-155. Conservation of an imperiled plant often requires an understanding of its reproductive ecology. Scrub plum ( Prunus geniculata ) is an endangered Florida shrub endemic to pyrogenic xeric uplands. Although plants are long-lived and may flower profusely, particularly after burning, fruit yield is sparse and seedlings are rare. We investigated potential causes of seedling rarity in scrub plum by studying its floral sex and breeding systems, fruit development, and germination ecology. We also developed a flow chart based on two time-since-fire scenarios to illustrate the cumulative impact of these factors on seedling recruitment. Breeding system experiments suggested partial gametophytic self-incompatibility in this functionally andromonoecious species, with inbreeding depression in self-compatible individuals. Predispersal seed predation, the major constraint on seedling recruitment, was lower in the first postburn season. In two field experiments, seed germination was <11% irrespective of treatment. These results indicate that seedling recruitment in scrub plum may be limited by multiple factors, including sexual reproductive failure, high predispersal seed predation, and low seed germination. The chance of a bisexual flower producing a seedling ranges from 5 in 1000 to 5 in 100 000, depending on the time since fire. Restoration of scrub plum’s historical fire regime may mitigate some of these factors. American Journal of Botany. To read the full article members click here. Holly Ober is a University of Florida Nancy Dwyer is a Fisheries and extension specialist at the North Wildlife Biologist III on the Half Florida Research & Education Center Moon Wildlife Management area (NFREC) in Quincy, Fl. Her located in Sumter County and this professional appointments include, year’s award winner of the FWC’s assistant professor in the Department Jim Stevenson Resource Manager of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, of the Year! Florida Fish and affiliate faculty at the School of Wildlife Conservation Commission Natural Resources and Environment, is the lead agency on the Half faculty program leader for the Natural Areas Training Academy Moon property which is approximately 9,500 acres bordered (NATA) and co-director of Conserved Forest Ecosystems on the west by the Withlacoochee River and the east by Outreach and Research Cooperative (CFEOR). The intent of Ventura Ranch (private property) which is approximately Holly’s research program is to find answers to applied 20,000 acres in size. Natural communities primarily include questions that deal with forest management and wildlife pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, xeric hammock, improved management issues. One of her current research projects pasture and bottomland hardwoods. Her duties include include, evaluation of understory vegetation restoration upland habitat restoration and management, exotic/invasive techniques in forests of the Southeastern U.S. The intent of species treatment and eradication, wildlife population Ober’s extension program is to provide science-based monitoring, public hunt administration, education and information about wildlife and their habitats to land managers outreach, and monitoring the Florida Scrub Jay population. and to non-scientific audiences, with the goal of encouraging Recent projects include ground cover restoration and removal stewardship of natural resources. To learn more about Holly’s of encroaching hardwoods. She also conducts numerous research and extension activities at go to http:// prescribed fires annually. She may be contacted via email at 2 nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/contact/HollyOber.shtml or contact her by [email protected] or by phone at 352-330-1370. phone: (850) 875-7150 or email [email protected]. Also please visit http://www.MyFWC.com. Colloquium on Plant Pests of Regulatory Significance Forest Stewardship Property Tour at Saturiwa Jan. 6 – April 21, 2010. Wednesdays at 4:00 PM. The Conservation Area, Property of Mike Adams, 2009 Forest colloquium is part of the Certificate in Plant Pest Risk Stewardship Landowner of the Year, St. Johns County. Assessment and Management coordinated by the UF- Feb. 25, 2010. Call the St. Johns County Extension Office IFAS Plant Medicine Program. The Colloquium and at (904) 209-0430 to register. Certificate are available via distance education (Polycom) and/or web; contact IT Specialist Kamin Miller Vegetation Monitoring in a Management Context ([email protected]; 352-392-3631 Ext. 360) for March 1-6, 2010. A Natural Training Areas (NATA) information about Polycom access. workshop and developed for USFS continuing education. Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, FL. To register Timber Tax Webinar Feb. 24th and March 17,2010; at and more information please visit http:// 12:00 noon-1:30 pm Eastern. Program will cover tax filing nata.snre.ufl.edu/schedule.htm tips for timber transactions for the 2010 tax season. Target audience: landowners, foresters, agency staff and The 2010 Southeast Partners in Flight Meeting program leaders, extension specialist and tax March 9-11, 2010. A working group of various professionals. 1.5 CFE credits available for foresters. No stakeholders in the southeast interested in avian registration required. Log in at http:// conservation and management. The meeting will be held forestrywebinar.net/ at the UF Hilton Conference Center, Gainesville, FL. For registration forms and more information, please visit: Sustainable Use and Depletion of Natural Resources: http://sepif.org/content/view/46/1/ lessons for the energy system Feb. 24, 2010 at 1:55 - 2:45 PM. Dr. Stephen Humphrey, UF School of Natural Working Across Boundaries to Protect Ecosystems Resources and Environment. 112 Newins-Ziegler Hall, March 23-25, 2010. A Natural Training Areas (NATA) Gainesville, FL. workshop addressing how political, social and ecological forces can affect natural areas and innovative management strategies. To register and more information please visit http://nata.snre.ufl.edu/ schedule.htm CFEOR Administration Charlie Houder, Suwannee River Water Management District, Steering Committee Chair Bill Cleckley, Northwest Florida Water Management District, Steering Committee Vice-Chair Newsletter Contacts Nancy Peterson, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, CFEOR Executive Director, [email protected] Melissa Kreye, School of Forest Resources and CFEOR Mission: Conservation, CFEOR Coordinator, To develop and disseminate knowledge needed to conserve [email protected] and3 manage Florida’s forest as a healthy, working ecosystem Phone 352.846.0848 ∙Fax 352.846.1277∙ PO Box 110410∙ Gainesville, FL that provides social, ecological and economic benefits on a .
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