MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED LANDS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT PLAN PART II: MANAGEMENT OF SPECIFIC HABITAT TYPES CHAPTER 1: THE PINE ROCKLAND HABITAT Prepared by: URS Corporation Southern With the support of The Institute for Regional Conservation and Muller and Associates, Inc. August 2007 EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PART II: Management of Specific Habitat Types CHAPTER 1: The Pine Rockland Habitat Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE PINE ROCKLAND ECOSYSTEM................................................................................................1 1.2 PURPOSE ..............................................................................................................................................................2 2.0 HISTORICAL REFERENCE CONDITIONS FOR THE PINE ROCKLAND ECOSYSTEM ....................3 2.1 ORIGINAL PINE ROCKLAND DISTRIBUTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.................................................................3 2.2 PHYSIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................................3 2.2.1 Geology.......................................................................................................................................................3 2.2.2 Soils.............................................................................................................................................................5 2.2.3 Hydrology....................................................................................................................................................5 2.3 CLIMATE..............................................................................................................................................................6 2.4 VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION .....................................................................................................6 2.4.1 Canopy ........................................................................................................................................................6 2.4.2 Subcanopy ...................................................................................................................................................7 2.4.3 Herb Layer ..................................................................................................................................................7 2.5 ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER HABITAT TYPES .......................................................................................................8 2.6 HISTORICAL SUCCESSIONAL PROCESSES .............................................................................................................9 2.6.1 Fire............................................................................................................................................................10 2.6.2 Tropical Cyclones .....................................................................................................................................10 2.6.3 Freezes ......................................................................................................................................................11 2.7 RARE ORGANISMS .............................................................................................................................................11 3.0 CURRENT CONDITIONS, THREATS, AND TRENDS ................................................................................12 3.1 CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF PINE ROCKLANDS..................................................................................................12 3.2 PHYSIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................................................12 3.2.1 Soils...........................................................................................................................................................12 3.2.2 Hydrology..................................................................................................................................................14 3.2.3 Sea Level Rise ...........................................................................................................................................14 3.3 CLIMATE............................................................................................................................................................14 3.4 VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION ...................................................................................................14 3.4.1 Canopy ......................................................................................................................................................15 3.4.2 Subcanopy .................................................................................................................................................15 3.4.3 Herb Layer ................................................................................................................................................16 3.4.4 Edges.........................................................................................................................................................16 3.5 ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER HABITAT TYPES .....................................................................................................16 3.6 SUCCESSIONAL PROCESSES UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS...............................................................................16 3.6.1 Fire............................................................................................................................................................16 3.6.2 Tropical Cyclones .....................................................................................................................................17 3.6.3 Human Controlled Processes....................................................................................................................17 3.7 RARE ORGANISMS .............................................................................................................................................18 3.7.1 Plants ........................................................................................................................................................18 3.7.2 Animals .....................................................................................................................................................21 3.8 FRAGMENTATION, OWNERSHIP, AND PRESERVATION STATUS OF REMAINING FRAGMENTS ..............................23 3.8.1 Fragmentation...........................................................................................................................................23 3.8.2 EEL Program ............................................................................................................................................23 3.8.3 Parks & Recreation Department...............................................................................................................23 3.8.4 Other Public Lands ...................................................................................................................................23 3.8.5 Private Preserves ......................................................................................................................................24 Page ii EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3.8.6 Natural Forest Community System............................................................................................................24 3.8.7 Other .........................................................................................................................................................24 3.9 FUTURE PRESERVATION ESTIMATES..................................................................................................................25 3.10 EXOTIC ORGANISMS ........................................................................................................................................25 3.10.1 Plants ......................................................................................................................................................25 3.10.2 Animals ...................................................................................................................................................25 3.11 OTHER PROBLEM SPECIES ...............................................................................................................................27 3.12 POLLUTANTS....................................................................................................................................................28 3.13 CULTURAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................28 4.0 MANAGEMENT ISSUES ..................................................................................................................................29 4.1 ACQUISITION NEEDS FOR REMAINING PINE ROCKLAND